Use these easily available household items when your motor isn’t peeing. They are small, pretty much free and could save your fishing trip one day.
Not taking the marsh seriously and failing to prepare can lead to disaster for an inshore angler. Don’t be naive!
We want to have fun when we go fishing, and that is virtually guaranteed when we are prepared. So here is what to do when your motor isn’t peeing.
Outboard Motor Isn’t Peeing
First off, what do I mean by “peeing”?
Most outboard motors are equipped with a cooling system using outside water.
Outside water is circulated through cooling passages before leaving through the motor’s “pee hole”.
You’ve seen it! It looks like the motor is taking a whizz everywhere it goes.
This way the motor stays cool and doesn’t over heat. But if it were to stop peeing…
Why is it dangerous when a motor isn’t peeing?
An outboard could overheat and cease to function, leaving you stranded with no way on.
Do you want to be stuck drifting across Breton Sound? Nope!
What's the best fix when your motor isn't peeing?
Two things:
- clear the water intake
- clear the pee hole
Clearing the water intake is easy: trim up the motor, inspect the intake and remove any debris fouling its operation.
Running through thick grass is virtually a guaranteed method to clog the water intake on your lower unit.
The clog you see above is easily wiped away with your hand.
Sometimes that’s all it takes when your motor isn't peeing. However, if that doesn’t do it, then you need to clear the pee hole.
This is a dead giveaway when your motor isn’t peeing.
Clearing the pee hole isn’t easily done with your fingers. You need one (or both) of these tools:
- thumb tack
- stripped twist tie
- weed whacker line (not shown)
Use the thumb tack to clear clogs at the pee hole and twist tie (with the coating stripped off) to clear clogs further upstream when your motor isn't peeing.
Why not just stay away from thick grass?
It's a good question, because it's an obvious way to to avoid a situation where your motor isn't peeing.
Some of Louisiana's best inshore fishing – and I mean the absolute best – is found around aquatic grass (that is usually thickest near river water).
This grass provides forage and cover to developing juvenile fish and other kinds of bait, with good examples being crab, shrimp, potbelly minnows and more.
Yes, these grass mats are essentially a buffet for one of our favorite inshore species: the mighty, drag pullin' redfish!
Sight Fishing Mastery School takes you from zero to hero when it comes to sight fishing redfish in these grass-laden ponds.
Conclusion
There are many risks you take when going on a fishing trip in Louisiana's marsh, and having a situation where your motor isn't peeing is one of them.
Proper planning and being prepared is a great way to mitigate these risks and make your fishing trips more enjoyable.
As long as you maintain your outboard and have these items on hand you will always be able to clear clogs when your motor isn’t peeing.
Do you have suggestions on how to clear clogs when your motor isn't peeing? Post them up below!
