Do motors that feature spot lock have gps built in, or do you need a gps sonar connected in order for it to work? I have to plead ignorance here, thanks.

The Minn Kota Terrova, Ulterra and Ultrex have their own built in gps. I can't speak about any other brand. 

Spot lock holds you in a specific desired position but if you don't have the ability to see where that is on a map with GPS, how do you know where that is?

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Spot lock holds you in a specific desired position but if you don't have the ability to see where that is on a map with GPS, how do you know where that is?

I dont know that would be critical as you may know where you are and the direction you need to cast to keep hooking up.  If its working and you want to keep doing it, the function would be invaluable.  Now the other side of the coin is i cannot imagine anyone going for one of the higher end TM and not having a high end sonar with map as well..

Yes, the GPS in your Minn Kota 'Spot-Lock' is independent of your GPS unit (like the GPS in your smartphone).

Even in a stiff wind, Spot Lock is working constantly to keep your boat on the coordinates.

The "spot lock" with a Minnkota or Motor Guide is a GPS waypoint created with the motor's built-in GPS.

 

It can also remember a track that you can retrace and can maintain a particular direction you want to go.

 

Don't need any electronic equipment to use it.

 

Not familiar with the Motor Guide version, but Minnkota has two versions.

iPilot is not linkable to a sonar unit--it does its own thing.

iPilot LINK is linkable to a Humminbird unit and allows more "spot locks", more iTracks, and can be used with Lakemaster or Auto Chart contour mapping to "Follow the Contour".

 

while in texas I was watching one of the pros fishing behind us in the channel. and apparently he must have had one .he was dropping straight down and jigging for some he had spotted on his electronics. no anchors out and he was moving around in the boat tieing on different baits. very windy conditions. pretty cool.  

I haven't been on a boat that has one of these TM's for bass, but I've been on a boat with the Minn Kota vertical jigging for lake trout and one with an Xi5 jigging for walleye and they are incredible.

 

The Minn Kota setup was so cool. He had a Humminbird linked to it and it was one of the TM models with the auto-deploy feature. He would be behind the steering wheel running the big motor until we got over a fish. He would put the cursor on the fish, mark the waypoint, drop the TM, send the point to the TM, and it would hover us over the fish. He never even had to move or get up. You could put a day one fisherman in that boat and they would be able to put up pro numbers.

 

It's the next major purchase I will make for my boat. There is no question it's an absolute game changer.

I'll admit, the tech is pretty nifty but c'mon guys...it's down right cheating!  And I thought side imaging was bad.  Boat control used to be a major skill separating mediocre angler from good ones.  Not anymore.  Thanks technology.    

18 minutes ago, RichF said:

I'll admit, the tech is pretty nifty but c'mon guys...it's down right cheating!  And I thought side imaging was bad.  Boat control used to be a major skill separating mediocre angler from good ones.  Not anymore.  Thanks technology.    

 

And yet, Hacks like me & Pro's alike will probably continue to have that nasty skunk dude climb in the boat occasionally.

I hate that little varmint.

A-Jay

 

11 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

And yet, Hacks like me & Pro's alike will probably continue to have that nasty skunk dude climb in the boat occasionally.

I hate that little varmint.

A-Jay

 

 

Haha.  Very true.  The fancy gear isn't always fool proof.  But rest assured, the next innovation will come in the form of a special infrared camera attached to the new 16 inch HDS sonar that spots him and sends a signal to the new "Hydro-Grave" unit, which then emits an ultra high frequency, varmint-vaporizing, sonic boom!  

 

 

Thanks for the replies.  There's no gps-mapping or otherwise sonar anywhere in my near future. But I'd like to be able to fish a spot without standing on the trolling motor the whole time trying to keep from drifting across the lake.

Just got an ultrex and used it for the first time last weekend. Incredible piece of equipment. Spot lock is my favorite feature. Or is it the power steering? 

I was hoping to hear someone chime in about the Ultrex.  If it had come out a year before, it would be on my boat instead of a Maxxum and Talon.

When you like a spot, whether on spot lock or not, enter a waypoint into your independent GPS unit.  

On 3/30/2017 at 8:14 PM, Angry John said:

I dont know that would be critical as you may know where you are and the direction you need to cast to keep hooking up.  If its working and you want to keep doing it, the function would be invaluable.  Now the other side of the coin is i cannot imagine anyone going for one of the higher end TM and not having a high end sonar with map as well..

I sir am that guy I have a ulterra and a lowrance with no GPS hopefully I can remedy this situation soon, I would have got new electronics with GPS first but my wife thought I was mad at her and when I came home from work I had a new Ulterra so I'll just have to live with it. An answer to the original posters question when there's a spot you want to stay on you just hit the button on the foot pedal or the remote and it will keep you there it's important to make sure that you're as still as possible before you spot lock if you're still moving in hid spotlight your boat will try to turn around and go to the original spot you hit the button at.

On 3/31/2017 at 9:02 AM, Mosster47 said:

I haven't been on a boat that has one of these TM's for bass, but I've been on a boat with the Minn Kota vertical jigging for lake trout and one with an Xi5 jigging for walleye and they are incredible.

 

The Minn Kota setup was so cool. He had a Humminbird linked to it and it was one of the TM models with the auto-deploy feature. He would be behind the steering wheel running the big motor until we got over a fish. He would put the cursor on the fish, mark the waypoint, drop the TM, send the point to the TM, and it would hover us over the fish. He never even had to move or get up. You could put a day one fisherman in that boat and they would be able to put up pro numbers.

 

It's the next major purchase I will make for my boat. There is no question it's an absolute game changer.

The Ulterra is also great for bass fishing, and there's nothing better than pulling up to the launching your boat into the lake driving away and spot locking at all at the same time while  everybody looks at you like you're crazy, make sure you always carry extra batteries for your remote less you look like a fool and need a ride to your boat.