Looking for the best kicker motor for trolling? We sell kickers from Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, Honda and Tohatsu, with more than 40 versions in stock starting at $1,272, and we ship worldwide. Below are the picks we’d actually put on our own boats, the specs that matter for slow trolling, and the price of each one.

We’re an outboard shop in Fresno, California. A lot of our kicker buyers fish for walleye, salmon, trout and lake species, and a lot of them come back for advice once the motor is on the boat. So this isn’t a list copied off a spec sheet. It’s what we’ve learned about the best kicker motor for trolling from the people who use them every weekend.

Our Picks for the Best Kicker Motor for Trolling

Pick	Motor	Our price
Best overall	Suzuki DF9.9BTL5	$3,290
Best high thrust	Yamaha T9.9LPB	$2,040
Best value	Mercury 9.9ELHPT ProKicker	$1,930
Best for big, heavy boats	Mercury 15EXLHPT ProKicker EFI	$1,998
Quietest	Honda BFP10D3LHT	$3,449
Best EFI with power tilt on a budget	Tohatsu MFS9.9EEFTL	$3,275
Cheapest kicker that works	Mercury 9.9MXLH	$1,330

Every motor in that table is a solid choice. Which one is the best kicker motor for trolling for you depends on your boat, your transom and your budget. Let’s get into it.

What Is a Kicker Motor?

Before we get to the best kicker motor for trolling, a quick refresher. A kicker is a small outboard mounted next to your main motor. You use the main motor to run to your spot, then shut it down and troll on the kicker. Most kickers are 8 to 9.9 HP. Bigger boats sometimes run 15 or even 25 HP.

Why not just troll on the main motor? A few reasons:

Speed. A big outboard at idle often trolls too fast for walleye or salmon, especially with the wind behind you.
Engine hours. Hours of idling put hours on an expensive motor and can foul plugs on some older ones.
Fuel. A 9.9 at trolling speed burns a small fraction of what a 150 or 200 burns idling.
Backup. If the main motor quits, a kicker gets you home. On big water, that alone is worth the price.
Noise. A small four stroke is quiet, and many anglers believe it spooks fewer fish.

What Makes the Best Kicker Motor for Trolling?

Not every 9.9 makes a good kicker. Here’s what to look for when you shop for the best kicker motor for trolling.

High thrust gearing

High thrust models use a lower gear ratio and a bigger prop. That means more push at low speed and better control in wind and waves. Yamaha’s T9.9, Honda’s BFP and Mercury’s ProKicker with its Command Thrust gearcase are all built this way. For heavy boats, this is the single biggest thing that makes the best kicker motor for trolling.

Fuel injection

EFI motors idle slower, smoother and more evenly than carbureted ones. That gives you a lower trolling speed. They also start easier after sitting, which kickers often do between trips. If you can afford it, get EFI.

Shaft length

Most kickers need a 20 inch (long) or 25 inch (extra long) shaft. On big boats with high transoms and in rough water, 25 inch keeps the prop in the water. Measure your kicker bracket or transom before you order.

Power tilt

You’ll tilt your kicker up and down every trip, so power tilt is high on our list for the best kicker motor for trolling. On a heavy motor at the back of a big boat, power tilt saves your back and makes it easier to do safely.

Electric start

Pull starting while leaning over a high transom in waves isn’t fun. Most of the best kickers have electric start, and many have a pull cord as a backup.

Tiller or remote

Tiller kickers are simpler and cheaper. Remote kickers can be steered from the helm, usually by linking them to the main motor with a tie bar, and some can be controlled from a remote throttle. If you troll alone, a remote or linked setup lets you stay at the console with your rods.

Best Kicker Motor for Trolling Overall: Suzuki DF9.9BT

If someone asks us for the best kicker motor for trolling and gives us no other details, we point to the Suzuki DF9.9BT. It’s a twin of about 208cc with Suzuki’s battery free fuel injection, which gives it smooth, slow idle and easy starts. The T versions add power tilt. It’s compact and comes in long and extra long shafts, tiller and remote.

Suzuki DF9.9BTL5, long shaft, remote, electric start, power tilt, $3,290
Suzuki DF9.9BTX5, extra long shaft, $3,300
Suzuki DF9.9BTHL5, tiller, long shaft, $3,120
Suzuki DF9.9BTHX5, tiller, extra long shaft, $3,180
Suzuki DF9.9BTL2, earlier version, $2,108

For more on this motor, see our Suzuki DF9.9B price guide and all our Suzuki 9.9 HP models.

Best High Thrust Kicker: Yamaha T9.9

The Yamaha T9.9 is the classic high thrust kicker, and for many walleye anglers it’s simply the best kicker motor for trolling. It uses a twin of about 212cc with fuel injection and a high thrust lower unit with low gearing and a big prop. It holds a slow, steady speed into the wind better than most standard 9.9s.

Yamaha T9.9LPB, long shaft, remote, power tilt, $2,040
Yamaha T9.9XPB, extra long shaft, remote, power tilt, $2,060
Yamaha T9.9LPHB, tiller, long shaft, power tilt, $2,040
Yamaha T9.9XPHB, tiller, extra long shaft, power tilt, $2,065
Yamaha T9.9XWHB, tiller, extra long shaft, manual tilt, $1,980

Yamaha also makes a matching digital kicker setup on some boats, so if your main motor is a Yamaha, ask us about controls. Browse all Yamaha 9.9 HP models.

Best Value Kicker: Mercury 9.9 ProKicker

The Mercury ProKicker is built for one job, and it does it well. It uses Mercury’s Command Thrust gearcase, a bigger lower unit with lower gearing that swings a larger prop. That gives it strong push at low speed on heavy boats. In our store it’s also cheaper than most rivals, which is why it’s our value pick for the best kicker motor for trolling.

Mercury 9.9ELHPT-CT-PK, long shaft, electric start, power trim and tilt, $1,930
Mercury 9.9EXLHPT-CT-PK, extra long shaft, $1,974
Mercury 9.9ELH-CT, Command Thrust, tiller, $1,721
Mercury 9.9MXLH-CT, Command Thrust, pull start, extra long, $1,628

See every Mercury 9.9 HP model we have in stock.

Best for Big Boats: Mercury 15 ProKicker EFI

If your boat is 22 feet or more, or very heavy, a 9.9 can struggle to hold speed into a stiff wind. A 15 HP kicker fixes that. The Mercury 15 ProKicker EFI uses the same big gearcase idea with fuel injection and more power. In our view it’s the best kicker motor for trolling on big Great Lakes style boats. Check your local rules though, because some waters limit kickers.

Mercury 15ELHPT-CT-PK EFI, $1,938
Mercury 15EXLHPT-CT-PK EFI, extra long shaft, $1,998

For the biggest boats, a 25 HP high thrust motor like the Yamaha T25XWTC at $5,763 can also work as a kicker or a main motor on a smaller workboat.

Quietest Kicker: Honda BFP10

Honda’s BFP is its high thrust 9.9, with a twin of about 222cc. Honda motors are known for being smooth and quiet, and that’s a big deal when you’re sitting on a kicker for six hours. It’s a little pricier, but owners love it.

Honda BFP10D3LHT, long shaft, $3,449
Honda BFP10D3XHT, extra long shaft, $3,589
Honda BFP10D3XHS, $3,179
Honda BF8DK3LHSA, 8 HP, $2,799

Best EFI Kicker on a Budget: Tohatsu MFS9.9EF

Tohatsu’s EFI 9.9 is built on a bigger 351cc block shared with its 15 and 20, so it’s relaxed and has plenty of low end grunt at trolling speed. The T versions have power tilt, and the UL versions have a 25 inch shaft. It’s heavier than some rivals, but it’s tough.

Tohatsu MFS9.9EEFTL, long shaft, power tilt, $3,275
Tohatsu MFS9.9EEFTUL, extra long shaft, power tilt, $3,385
Tohatsu MFS9.9EEFL, long shaft, $3,050

Read our Tohatsu 9.9 HP buying guide for the full range.

Cheapest Kicker That Works: Mercury 9.9 Carb

If money is tight, a basic Mercury 9.9 with a long or extra long shaft does the job. It’s carbureted, so it won’t idle quite as slow as an EFI motor, and you’ll need to keep the fuel fresh. But it’s light, cheap and simple.

Mercury 9.9MXLH, extra long, pull start, $1,330
Mercury 9.9MLH, long, pull start, $1,281

Kicker Specs Side by Side

Motor	Displacement	Fuel	High thrust	Shafts	From
Suzuki DF9.9BT	About 208cc	EFI	No	20, 25 inch	$2,108
Yamaha T9.9	About 212cc	EFI	Yes	20, 25 inch	$1,980
Mercury 9.9 ProKicker	About 209cc	Carb	Yes, Command Thrust	20, 25 inch	$1,930
Mercury 15 ProKicker	About 333cc	EFI	Yes, Command Thrust	20, 25 inch	$1,938
Honda BFP10	About 222cc	Carb	Yes	20, 25 inch	$3,179
Tohatsu MFS9.9EF	About 351cc	EFI	No	20, 25 inch	$3,050

Specs are approximate and vary by year and version. The exact details are on each listing.

What Size Kicker Do You Need?

Boat length	Kicker size
Up to 18 ft	6 to 9.9 HP
18 to 21 ft	9.9 HP, high thrust helps
21 to 24 ft	9.9 high thrust or 15 HP
24 ft and up	15 to 25 HP

Heavy fiberglass boats need more than light aluminum ones of the same length. If you troll in big water or strong wind, size up. If you’re unsure what fits, our what size outboard for my boat guide covers sizing in detail.

Kicker Setups Our Customers Actually Run

The walleye boat on a big lake

One of our regulars runs a 20 foot aluminum deep V with a 150 on the back. He trolls crankbaits at about 1.5 mph, often into a chop. He tried a standard carbureted 9.9 first and found it surged in waves and wouldn’t hold a steady speed. He moved to a Yamaha T9.9 with power tilt, linked to the main motor with a tie bar. For him, that’s the best kicker motor for trolling, full stop. He steers from the console and barely touches the kicker all day.

The salmon boat on open water

A customer with a 24 foot fiberglass boat trolls for salmon on big water with downriggers. A 9.9 couldn’t hold speed into a headwind with that much hull and gear. We put a Mercury 15 ProKicker EFI with an extra long shaft on it. The bigger motor and big gearcase kept the speed steady, and the extra long shaft kept the prop biting in the swells.

The small boat on a budget

Another buyer had a 17 foot boat and a tight budget. He went with a basic Mercury 9.9 extra long shaft at $1,330 and a drift sock. It’s not the slowest idling motor on the market, but with the sock out it trolls at the speed he wants, and it gets him home if the main motor gives trouble. Sometimes the best kicker motor for trolling is the one you can afford today.

EFI or Carburetor at Trolling Speed?

This is where kickers differ most from regular outboards. A carbureted motor idles fine when it’s tuned and the fuel is fresh. But kickers often sit for weeks, then idle for hours. That’s tough on carbs. Old fuel gums up the small idle jets first, and the first thing you notice is rough, uneven idle, exactly when you need it smooth.

Fuel injection fixes most of that. EFI motors adjust the fuel to the conditions, idle lower and more evenly, and start easily after sitting. That’s why most of our picks for the best kicker motor for trolling are fuel injected. If you buy a carbureted kicker, run it dry or use stabilizer between trips, and keep a spare set of plugs on the boat.

Mistakes People Make Buying a Kicker

Shaft too short. On a big boat in waves, a 15 or 20 inch shaft can pop the prop out of the water. Measure the bracket at its lowest position.
Standard prop on a heavy boat. A standard 9.9 prop is made for planing small boats. On a heavy boat at low speed, a high thrust prop does much better.
No tie bar. Steering a kicker from the back of the boat all day gets old. Link it to the main motor.
Forgetting the battery. An electric start kicker needs a charged battery. Plan the wiring before it arrives.
Buying the cheapest 9.9 for a 24 footer. On big boats, the best kicker motor for trolling is often a 15, not a 9.9.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Answer these and you’ll know which motor on this page is the best kicker motor for trolling on your boat:

How long and heavy is the boat with gear and people?
How fast do you troll, and for what fish?
Do you troll in calm water or into wind and waves?
How tall is your bracket or transom?
Do you want to steer from the helm?
How often does the boat sit between trips?
Are there horsepower limits on your water?

How Slow Will It Troll?

Trolling speed is the real test of the best kicker motor for trolling. Walleye anglers often want 1 to 2 mph. Salmon and trout trollers often run 1.5 to 3 mph. A good EFI kicker at idle on a mid size boat usually gets into the low end of that range in calm water. If you need slower, a trolling plate or drift sock helps a lot, and some owners use both. High thrust props also give you finer control at the bottom end, which is part of why they feel like the best kicker motor for trolling to so many walleye guys.

Mounting a Kicker

Kicker bracket. Most people mount the kicker on an adjustable bracket next to the main motor. A good bracket lets you raise the motor clear of the water when you’re running.
Tie bar. Linking the kicker to the main motor lets you steer from the helm. It’s one of the best upgrades you can make.
Fuel. Some owners give the kicker its own small tank. Others run it from the main tank with a separate line. Ask your installer what’s right for your boat.
Battery. An electric start kicker needs a battery. Many share the main cranking battery or a separate one.

Four Stroke or Two Stroke Kicker?

Years ago almost every kicker was a two stroke. They were light and simple, but they smoked, smelled and fouled plugs when idled for hours. Modern four strokes idle cleanly, use far less fuel at trolling speed and are much quieter. Every motor we’d call the best kicker motor for trolling today is a four stroke. The only real downside is weight, and power tilt takes care of most of that.

New or Used Kicker?

A used kicker can be a good deal, but kickers live a hard life. They idle for hours, sit for weeks and often get less care than the main motor. If you go used, check compression, the gear oil and the cooling stream, and look at the idle quality closely. Our guide on how to check a used outboard before buying walks through every step. In many cases, a new Mercury ProKicker or Yamaha T9.9 at our prices costs little more than a used one, and that’s why we usually point people to new when they ask us for the best kicker motor for trolling.

If you’re still comparing brands, our Tohatsu vs Mercury outboard comparison covers the 9.9 class in detail, and our electric start outboard page lists kickers with push button starting. Picking the best kicker motor for trolling gets a lot easier once you’ve narrowed it to two or three models.

Gas Kicker or Electric Trolling Motor?

A bow mount electric trolling motor is great for precise boat control and quiet fishing in shallow water, but it can’t push a big boat into wind all day without a lot of batteries. A gas kicker can run all day on a few litres of fuel and gets you home if the main motor quits. Many serious anglers run both. For long trolling passes on big water, though, a gas outboard is still the best kicker motor for trolling in our book. If you want electric power for a small boat instead, see our Torqeedo Cruise guide.

Looking After Your Kicker

Even the best kicker motor for trolling needs care. Kickers sit a lot and run at low speed, which is hard on carbureted motors. Use fresh fuel with stabilizer, run the motor at higher RPM for a minute now and then to clear it out, change the gear oil every season, and change the impeller every two to three years. Flush it after salt water. You can find good general maintenance tips at BoatUS, and Yamaha’s own kicker info is on Yamaha Outboards.

How to Order

Pick your kicker from the links above.
Measure your bracket or transom for shaft length.
Order on the product page, or call or WhatsApp +1 209 690 5983.
We confirm stock and shipping for your country.
Your motor ships crated, with tracking.

New to buying a motor online? Read how to buy outboard motor online, see our long shaft outboard guide, and check our roundup of the best 9.9 HP outboard picks.

Best Kicker Motor for Trolling: FAQ

What is the best kicker motor for trolling walleye?

A high thrust EFI 9.9 like the Yamaha T9.9 or a Mercury ProKicker is hard to beat for walleye.

Is 9.9 HP enough for a kicker?

For most boats up to about 21 feet, yes. Bigger, heavier boats do better with 15 HP.

Should I get a long or extra long shaft kicker?

Measure your bracket or transom. On big boats and rough water, extra long (25 inch) is common.

Do I need power tilt on a kicker?

It’s not essential, but on big boats it’s a real back saver, and we’d recommend it.

What is the best kicker motor for trolling on a budget?

The Mercury 9.9 ProKicker gives you a big gearcase for a low price. A basic Mercury 9.9 extra long is the cheapest option that works.

Do you ship kickers worldwide?

Yes. We confirm cost and timing for your country before you pay.

Final Word

Our pick for the best kicker motor for trolling overall is the Suzuki DF9.9BT. For heavy boats and windy days, the Yamaha T9.9 or a Mercury ProKicker. For big boats, the Mercury 15 ProKicker EFI. For the quietest ride, the Honda BFP10. Every motor here links to its listing with our current price. Call or WhatsApp +1 209 690 5983, use our contact page, browse the shop, read our reviews, or learn more about us.