I have a jon boat with a 30 pound thrust minn kota trolling motor. The trolling battery I have is big, heavy, and cumbersome. Can I switch that out for a smaller battery that would so much easier to carry and transport? If so, any suggestions on battery brands and models?

Going to a smaller, lighter battery means less power and running time. You have to decide on how much of a trade off you are willing to deal with.

What size is the one you have now? Would help to know before offering any advice.

When I use my Coleman Crawdad, I have two big, heavy, and cumbersome batteries I use.

 

SE Kansas grass grower

If you have a few dollars, you can get the Lithium deep cycle batteries that weigh much less than the lead/acid batteries.

https://www.lithiumpros.com/product/lithium-pros-m3110-12v110ah-starting-lithium-ion-battery/