Northwest Fishing Reports

I've got a 98 merc 115 and a 6hp kicker and I'm looking to winter fish out at Roosevelt. I was wondering if there were any cooling gallys in the head that would hold water and could possibly freeze. The boat will be stored inside, but not nessesarily heated. Also worried about the 2 hour drive from the water. So in other words, wuts the best way to get the water out besides tilting the engine vertical?
Also... are those engines easy starters in the cold? Are there any tricks to cold starting 'em?
Thx

OK, we are not talking quite the same language, but let me try to help.

Outboard motors have water pumps that will drain on their own, but the dealer that sold me my 90 HP Merc told me to hit the starter switch and let it crank for a second (do not start) to pump any residual water out.

I then raise the motor and lower the motor a couple of times and that is all. I have never stored any outboard motor in a heated storage facility, and it stores in my unheated garage today.

Now inboard motors are a different story, but I am not an expert on them.

PS, I have been using outboard motors since 1964 and I have done as I suggested above. I have had motors stored outside on the boat, in the cold, down to -40 degrees F. I have never had any troubles with them.

Now, as for starting. My old 6 HP Merc and my 25 HP Evinrude were devils to start in cold weather. My newer 90 HP Merc just needs to have the primer bulb used and a good dose of Stabil Marine in it every so often. See you out on Roosevelt this winter. I'll be the guy out there at night starting next month near the full moon. LOL

Thx a bunch! This is definitely my first "big" 2 stroke. Im just used to inboard winterizing. Great tips! Now I just need chains for launching ; )
Btw, i've been a member of many different forums, but i've enjoyed this one more than any other. Its an extremely hospitable place to learn, teach, and utilize all things fishing related. Hope the attitude never sways.

Just curious,but what are you guys fishing for in the winter in ol Roosevelt?

Mostly trout, but an occasional walleye and koke. I got hooked out there bank fishing in january and february last year.

I fish out there in the winter as well with outboards. All i have done is drop the motors verticaly and I actually start them for about 5 seconds and continue to let drain while securing gear. No problems encountered.

ShakeNBake; Trout for sure, but Walleye can be great. Winter is the best time to catch the teener in Roosevelt, but you had better know the lake well if you fish at night.

DannyP, I get a little nervous about actually starting the motor, so I hit the ignition swithch and if it starts I turn it off and then crank it again. Otherewise, it looks like we both do pretty much the same thing.

I wouldn't worry about running your motors in cold weather. Ive stored 2 stroke outboards un-heated for decades without problems. If your going to store them in a cold damp environment I highly recommend correctly "fogging" the engine. If you frequently running the engine throughout the winter then it shouldn't be necessary. I always tip the motor down all the way after it has been flushed to make sure it is fully drained. If I expect extremely cold weather before I run the boat again I usually let the motor run for a few seconds after I shut off the water to make sure there is nothing left inside. I also disconnect the fuel line run the fuel out of the carbs.(not sure if this is a good plan on efi engines)

The Beauty of a 2 stroke it that with a little grease and good fuel you really have nothing to worry about.

Winter fishing at Roosevelt is a trout angler's dream, well, close to it anyway. It's my favorite time of year to fish Roosevelt, bar none, and my wife likes to fish then as much as I do. No fun boaters, no lines at the launch, no parking issues at the ramp, fish in a covered boat with heat, I do all the "get cold" stuff while my wife pilots the boat, what more could I/she ask for?

If you plan to boat in winter, and you're running an outboard, all you need to do is drop the motor as soon as you load it on the trailer and let all the water run out. If you are overnighting, make sure to lower the motor again once you park for the night so any residual water can drain. If you drain the motor this way, you have nothing left to worry about, even with a 2hr drive home. I do it all the time.

Have never heard of cranking the motor to run any additional water out, but I won't dispute it. I just follow my owner's manual for cold weather operation, and all it says to do is drop the motor to drain. I'd never run my motor out of the water, I've been told that's the fastest way to destroy an impeller.

Carbed 2-strokes can be cold blooded, and it was the one thing I didn't like about our previous boat. It had a 2005 Merc 90hp, carbed 2-stroke with some kind of fuel enrichment circuit vs a choke, and it was a royal PITA to start on those cold winter outings. Your '98 should have a choke and it should be easier to start. I eliminated all of that when we upgraded a couple years ago, and my Merc Optimax 2-stroke starts within 2 revolutions hot or cold, just like any modern car engine.

Running the motor for a few seconds will not harm engine or impeller. There is residule water in the engine when I do this right after pulling out of water. If you did it 2 hours later a few seconds would still not be enough to damage anything. It takes a little longer to heat up rubber impeller than a few seconds. They way Hewesfisher does it is a great way as well and you should have no problems. Roosevelt is a great place to fish in the winter.......

DannyP wrote:Running the motor for a few seconds will not harm engine or impeller. There is residule water in the engine when I do this right after pulling out of water. If you did it 2 hours later a few seconds would still not be enough to damage anything. It takes a little longer to heat up rubber impeller than a few seconds. They way Hewesfisher does it is a great way as well and you should have no problems. Roosevelt is a great place to fish in the winter.......

Yep, My old man was an outboard mechanic for 25 years and he always cursed me when Id run the motor without water but i NEVER had an issue in 15 years owning my own boats. I

That said, your probably fine just tipping it down to avoid screwing up the water pump

I don't mean to highjack the thread that is really a boat question. I have fished Roosevelt a few times, never had any luck with trout or walleye,let alone kokanee. Just bass,not even big ones. I was told that the fishing is good approaching winter. Could you guys give me some info about where you launch and any hot spots. It would be much appreciated.

ShakeNBake wrote:I don't mean to highjack the thread that is really a boat question. I have fished Roosevelt a few times, never had any luck with trout or walleye,let alone kokanee. Just bass,not even big ones. I was told that the fishing is good approaching winter. Could you guys give me some info about where you launch and any hot spots. It would be much appreciated.

We launch at Seven Bays and usually fish within a 30 minute boat ride from there. Read any of my Roosevelt reports for more details and specifics, I always share.

You may need to Choke the motor when starting it in the cold. Not sure how easy it starts for you now.

I've got a 2009 Mercury 50 HP and that thing is sooo cold blooded even in the warmest times of the summer. Strange. It is a manual choke. Funky motor, but it runs very well after it's started. Go figure.

During the winter months, the only issue I've had is using the priming bulb for the kicker. Even new, the bulb was super stiff when the temps get near freezing. I keep telling myself to change it out, but I've figured out that if I slap a hand warmer on it and wrap it with a towel, by the time I get to the launch it is squeezably soft. Anyone know of a make of priming bulb that stays pliable in cold weather?

Rivercamp72 wrote:I've got a 2009 Mercury 50 HP and that thing is sooo cold blooded even in the warmest times of the summer. Strange. It is a manual choke. Funky motor, but it runs very well after it's started. Go figure.

My 90 horse merc is a bit cold blooded as well, winter or summer. On some rigs, the fuel drains out of the fuel line, the motor, etc. You need to prime with the bulb, choke it, then stay on the choke until it is warmed up and the air bubbles are out of the fuel line. Then it runs perfect. If I run it a second day in a row, it starts without trouble even if cold. I have considered an aux fuel pump, but .................... don't know enough to know if it would help.

Anglinarcher,

I'll try prime then choke then check the prime again to see if the bulb has lost pressure. I also need to have the motor sitting level because of, what I've been told, a small bowl. If the motor is not level that fuel does not make it to the carb. Of course once started, good to go. I've had some "looks" at the launch when I'm floating away trying to get that thing going, but confidence does wonders. A fuel pump..I'll have to ask.

Rivercamp72 - I had an older 55HP Evinrude with same issues, a chore to get started but no issues afterwards. My solution was a can of aerosol starting fluid. A spritz or two to the intake and she'd start in an instant every time.

G-Man,
Boy, I don't know. Starter fluid is powerful stuff....