AS SEEN IN THE SUMMER 2004 ISSUE

Move over Bass Masters, electric motors are taking the saltwater community by storm!

      As the labyrinth of residential docks came into view, I couldn’t help but wonder just how many snook were actually lurking in the shadows beneath the weathered planks. Our goal was to methodically work each shadow line by tossing DOA shrimp right into, and underneath the guts of the maze. We knew for sure that somewhere in the tangle there was a population of snook patiently waiting in ambush, we just didn’t know how many or exactly where they would be hiding.

 We also knew that suspecting snook have a habit of not straying far from the security of the shadows, and if we weren’t able to present our baits right in-front of their noses, we would never be able to entice them to strike.

     Snook, commonly recognized as linesiders, are known to lie quietly in the shadows, hiding from the sunlight while waiting for unsuspecting shrimp or baitfish to come their way. Then, like an arrow leaving a bow, one sweep of their powerful tails propels them toward the meal. A quick gulp, and it’s all over in the blink of an eye.

      The area we were about to fish was similar to many paralleling both sides of the State. A row of manicured properties with price tags higher then I care to imagine lined the pristine stretch of prime river-front real estate. Protruding into the stained river water from the backyard of each was a private dock. Effectively fishing these residential docks requires stealth, finesse, and most of all the ability to get to the fish rather than hoping the fish will come to you. You see, that’s the tricky part, and the initial reason for this particular trip.

      I was more than honored when Capt Sam Heaton, Minn-Kota’s field promotions manager, invited me to spend the day targeting trout and snook in the world famous Indian River. He piqued my interest when he mentioned he had a new piece of equipment and a new twist on a couple of proven techniques he wanted to share with me. Targeting these species on grass flats and around this type of structure (docks) is really no big secret, but doing it with accuracy and efficiency does require a level of skill.

      Peering at the impenetrable row of docks ahead of us, I concluded that Sam must have something special up his sleeve. We approached the first outcrop of rustic appearing lumber Capt. Sam killed the engine, and proceeded to make his way to the bow. Effortlessly, he glided his 2300 Bay Ranger right into the interior of the multitude of pilings. Surprisingly, he made the most of the silent RipTide electric motor with 3X steering to meticulously slide the bow up to and around each protruding dock.

      The RipTide is the latest in Minn-Kota’s quest to revolutionize the saltwater electric motor industry. The new 3X steering system provided the ultimate control. By moving the tiller only 60 degrees, the lower unit actually rotates 180 degrees. With 3X steering, a slight hand adjustment is all that’s required to provide ultra responsive boat control, a necessity for this type of close quarters fishing. Another major advantage to the 3X steering is that there is no need for a reverse gear on the trolling motor. This is obviously significant because it eliminates the extra noise and water motion caused when you have to put a trolling motor in reverse.    

      Systematically working the first, second and third docks yielded zilch. It was when we approached the fourth dock that the story changed.  For close to thirty minutes cast after cast resulted in savage strikes from 3 to 5 lb. fish, obviously not the biggest of snook but still worthy adversaries. Why they were stacked under this particular dock was anyone’s guess, but Sam’s ability to maneuver the boat in and out of the pilings with surgeon like precision was clearly the key to our success. I had to agree with Sam that there was absolutely no other way we could have effectively and thoroughly fished these residential docks without the use of the electric motor.

      Obviously you can’t use your engine as you’ll immediately “blow” the fish out. Poling isn’t an option as there just isn’t enough room to properly maneuver. If you’re questioning the poling issue, take the effects of a strong current into consideration along with the fact that you’re surrounded by pilings and you’ll quickly realize poling in this situation just isn’t a realistic option. You could step up on the docks and thoroughly fish each, but I assure you that the homeowners, their toothy Doberman Pincher and local law enforcement would recommend otherwise. 

     The closest you could get and the tactic that most inshore anglers are currently implementing is drifting the outside edges and casting towards the interior of the docks. It’s a productive technique, although it’s nowhere near as effective since you’re not able to present baits to the majority of the structure and to the majority of the fish. Similar to the concentrations of baitfish, you’ll find that most snook will hold up on the shore end of a dock rather than the tip. As previously mentioned snook adore the protection of the shadows and will seldom chase bait that’s out in the ‘light’. Looking back now, most of the snook we hooked that day ate the shrimp well into the shadows.  Worthy of mention: PowerPro is a must for this application. Using monofilament, we would have been cut off time and time again on the lumber’s splintery edges. The ultra thin diameter associated with braid also allowed us the ability to literally ‘skip’ the artificial right into the strike zone. 

      Once the action subsided, we continued to work our way down the line. After busting off a single, larger fish and picking away at a few more small ones, Sam suggested a change of pace. Eager to see what else he had up his sleeve, I more than willingly obliged.

       We eased our way out of the maze of pilings, fired up the 4-stroke Yamaha and away we went in search of more fertile grounds. Our next stop was one of the many grass flats dotting the shallow river. Using the same light tackle, our new focus turned to pitching the life-like shrimp to cruising trout. With a quality pair of polarized glasses, an essential tool for inshore and offshore anglers, we could clearly make out the edges of the grassy flats in the skinny 3 to 5 foot water.

       I wanted to get a closer look and better feel for the 3X steering feature so I decided to take over the electric motor duties. The RipTide’s ease of operation is so ridiculously simple it’s not even funny.  Fighting a stiff current, I effortlessly maneuvered the Ranger parallel to the underlying grassy boundaries. We released small trout on a steady basis as we fastidiously worked each edge around a number of different flats, each of which roughly the size of a tennis court. 

      Again, I found myself convinced that the only way we could have achieved such consistent presentations was with the use of the RipTide. Granted, you of course could anchor on the edge of a grass flat, but you would be limited to casting range. Poling is another option, but what’s the sense of exerting all that energy when a twist of the wrist is all that required for precision positioning. Plus, eliminating poling duties also allows a guide an opportunity to cash in on some hot action. Without the electric motor, I strongly feel it would have been next to impossible to put together the release numbers that we did with such ease.

      Looking for something that might weigh more than a few pounds and pull a bit harder, we pulled up the RipTide, fired up the outboard and quickly shot over to a nearby mangrove shore-line. Not unlike many mangrove shore-lines, this particular stretch seemed to go on for a mile.  

       Again utilizing the electric motor, we were able to position ourselves parallel to the underlying roots and meticulously work the entire length.     My anticipation grew with each approaching pocket and about midway down the line our efforts paid off. My root beer color shrimp skipped perfectly into a dark hole under an overhanging branch and was instantly consumed by a monster snook. The attack created a huge boil which left a giant hole in the water. I heaved back and did all I could to pull the powerful opponent out of the roots. The determined native gave it all he had as I palmed the spool in an effort to win the battle. I managed to gain a foot of line at a time until the guestimatted twenty-five pounder was in the clear. It was an epic tug-of-war that lasted close to a half hour.

     Sam was already kneeling as I finally managed to ease the forty plus inch fish to the surface next to the boat. Just as he was reaching down to grab my trophy, the snook rolled one last time and like a speeding bullet, my shrimp rocketed through the air. Instantaneously the giant fish disappeared into his murky world. For a brief moment I stood there in disbelief. Just seconds ago I was connected to a huge snook, and in the blink of an eye, I was left empty handed. It didn’t take me long to snap out of it as I would have released the prize regardless, but not being able to snap any photos did hurt. After the tragedy we continued to fish the remainder of the shoreline. In addition to losing a couple of DOA’s to branches, we did manage two more snook, but their combined weight wasn’t even a fraction of the monster. 

      Getting back on track I must say that there were a few valuable lessons learned that day. Most of all, I would highly recommend that anglers utilize electric motors in their pursuit of inshore game-fish. I’m sure that hard core flats angler’s would agree that there are a number of areas which do in fact require the implementation of a poling platform and a dead silent approach. Though, there are an even greater number of areas and circumstances where the use of an electric motor is the only way to efficiently and effectively cover the entire location.

      The versatility of this powerful yet silent tool goes without saying. On that day alone we could have never fished the docks, grassy flats and mangrove shore-line as thoroughly and successfully as we did without the RipTide. Time and time again the electric motor allowed us the opportunity to position our boat exactly where it needed to be. We couldn’t have done it any other way!   
        
          
          

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