Trolling Motor Decisions

[Jig Man]

The local trolling motor shop has several good used ones that the have taken in on trade.  You might give them a call and see if they have any that interest you.  These guys are good and are in the second generation of ownership.  If you call them you can tell them that Dayne recommended them.  417-833-9191 ask for Scott or Brad.

 

You could sell yours to defray your expenses.

[TnRiver46]

This is going to sound wacky but best thing I’ve ever done (and I’ve done it twice now) is to go back to hand control TM. This time I even went 12v and I like it better, less money less charging plenty of power. I was going to replace my 24v maxxum but didn’t have $600

[Captain Phil]

Choosing a trolling motor has much to do with how you fish and local conditions.  Here in Florida, most of my bass fishing is done tight to cover.  This requires different boat control than someone fishing offshore.  Spot lock is a great feature, but it wouldn't do me much good in the middle of a  pad field.  I don't need power poles for the same reason. Controlling the boat with a handset hanging from your belt sounds good until you try flipping with it.   There is a reason most bass pros use cable operated foot controlled trolling motors and it's not because of their sponsor's money.  It's because they are simple, reliable and offer precise boat control.

[Stratocat_Joe]

1 hour ago, immortl said:

@Stratocat_Joe - If you want a new trolling motor, disregard this post. 

 

That said, have you looked at fixing it yourself?  It looks to be very straightforward.  The Xi motors without Pinpoint GPS are easily user upgradeable to Pinpoint GPS.

 

Kit for $420 - https://trollingmotorparts.com/motor-guide-pinpoint-gps-upgrade-kit-xi3-xi5/

 

More importantly, check out the install video, it's literally remove a few screws, place the 2 modules in their spots and screw the covers back on.  $250 for that seems excessive.  Even with low mechanical inclination and lots of trepidation, self repair seems highly viable.  Probably end up with spare parts, sell off the remote for a few bucks to defray the cost. 

 

Install Video

 

Thanks, @immortl!  I've had to replace the shaft on my TM, which involved opening up the head to take it off. So, I could probably handle this install...it's just the question of do I spend the $400+ on fixing the GPS or invest that in a foot-controlled TM.  At this point, I think I'm leaning more towards the foot-controlled TM...but I'm still undecided. 

[Stratocat_Joe]

25 minutes ago, Captain Phil said:

Choosing a trolling motor has much to do with how you fish and local conditions.  Here in Florida, most of my bass fishing is done tight to cover.  This requires different boat control than someone fishing offshore.  Spot lock is a great feature, but it wouldn't do me much good in the middle of a  pad field.  I don't need power poles for the same reason. Controlling the boat with a handset hanging from your belt sounds good until you try flipping with it.   There is a reason most bass pros use cable operated foot controlled trolling motors and it's not because of their sponsor's money.  It's because they are simple, reliable and offer precise boat control.

This is exactly why I feel like a foot-controlled TM is the better route.  When I bought my boat, I didn't really know what I needed.  I just read everyone saying that the first upgrade needed to be the TM and to get one with spot lock.  So, that's what I did.  After fishing out of it for 3+ years, and having both spot lock and a foot-controlled pedal stop working in that time-frame, I feel like I miss the foot-control more than the spot lock due to how I fish.  I tend to just put the trolling motor down and fish an area, so I'm constantly moving.  The remote is nice at times but frustrating more often-than-not.

[gimruis]

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

There is a reason most bass pros use cable operated foot controlled trolling motors and it's not because of their sponsor's money.  It's because they are simple, reliable and offer precise boat control.

If you look at the rigs that the pros use, they all have either an Ultrex or a Lowrance Ghost.  None of them are using an electric steer version like a Terrova, Ulterra, or Powerdrive.  Those are on walleye boats.

 

The previous bow mounts they all used before the Ultrex came out was the Fortrex.  I think a Fortrex is probably over kill for your smaller Basstracker.  I would go with a Maxxum or an Edge.  Or fix the current Motorguide version.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

This is exactly why I feel like a foot-controlled TM is the better route.  When I bought my boat, I didn't really know what I needed.  I just read everyone saying that the first upgrade needed to be the TM and to get one with spot lock.  So, that's what I did.  After fishing out of it for 3+ years, and having both spot lock and a foot-controlled pedal stop working in that time-frame, I feel like I miss the foot-control more than the spot lock due to how I fish.  I tend to just put the trolling motor down and fish an area, so I'm constantly moving.  The remote is nice at times but frustrating more often-than-not.

my kayak has a link enabled power drive minn kota and I only have a remote for it. Every time I try to fish a cable motor I struggle.  It sure if yours has the feature, but my motor has heading and cruise control. If you’re fishing down the bank you set the direction (straight line) and speed (in 0.1 mph increments) and let it go. It manages all that while you fish. Every now and then I’ll bump the direction so I’m closer or further away but it’s a great feature if your fishing trolling motor on and covering water. I wouldn’t put a trolling motor on a boat without spotlock and all of these features. 
 

 

[gimruis]

12 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

my kayak has a link enabled power drive minn kota

The pedal for the power drive is crap.  My Father has it and its worn out at least 5 times since he's owned it.  If the OP wants a pedal, the minn kota power drive is the worst option out there.

[Alex from GA]

I bought a boat with an electric drive MinnKota trolling motor 20 years ago and got used to the lag.  About 10 years ago I found a Motorguide cable motor and still am fishing with it on a different boat.  Yes spot lock would come in handy when the wind is blowing or on rivers.  I fish lots of docks and can get anywhere I want easily.  Offshore I'll throw a buoy to mark a brushpile or something I don't want to drift off of.

[Stratocat_Joe]

20 hours ago, gimruis said:

I have a Minn Kota Maxxum 24 volt bow mount that has a 70 pound thrust. It’s a cable drive foot pedal control only. I do not have spot lock. I have no use for a remote, as I use both hands to fish almost 100% of the time.

 

The primary reason I bought this was because it was the best option at the time when I bought my boat in 2015. Modern spot lock had not been introduced yet. The Ultrex came out a year later.

 

I have a 12 foot talon that I use in conjunction with the bow mount, and I do not fish rivers. So it works pretty well. Eventually I would like to upgrade to an Ultrex but I can’t justify getting rid of a perfectly good operating Maxxum to do it. A new one is in your price range.

https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/freshwater-trolling-motors/maxxum

 

How do you like the "Breakaway Mount" on the Maxxum?  Some of the reviews I've read say it's a pain in the grass.

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

my kayak has a link enabled power drive minn kota and I only have a remote for it. Every time I try to fish a cable motor I struggle.  It sure if yours has the feature, but my motor has heading and cruise control. If you’re fishing down the bank you set the direction (straight line) and speed (in 0.1 mph increments) and let it go. It manages all that while you fish. Every now and then I’ll bump the direction so I’m closer or further away but it’s a great feature if your fishing trolling motor on and covering water. I wouldn’t put a trolling motor on a boat without spotlock and all of these features. 
 

 

Yeah, my MG has a similar feature.  But those features are only as good as the GPS system driving the features.  Unfortunately, for me, MG's system (including the wireless foot pedal) hasn't worked out too well and I'm not sure I want to continue throwing money at it.  

[gimruis]

11 minutes ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

How do you like the "Breakaway Mount" on the Maxxum?  Some of the reviews I've read say it's a pain in the grass.

I don't run into things hard enough to say how well it works.  I know its designed as a "shock absorber" but I avoid running into docks, stumps, and logs when I'm out there.

 

Mine has a weedless wedge prop so it slices and dices through pretty thick weeds.  It does get wrapped up with these spaghetti-type weeds that I am unfamiliar with though.  They are thick on one lake I fish in June/July and I can't get through it.  I was out there a week ago and they are all dead now.

[WRB]

23 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

Thanks, Woody!  I've been perusing Marketplace for awhile.  I am a little skeptical at buying a used TM...but, if the right deal comes along, I may jump on it.

Thanks, Tom!

I was mentioning your sonar unit GPS puck confusing the TM GPS if the puck is within 3’ or so.

Spot Lock TM’s was a game changer and can’t imagine fishing today with it. Spot Lock allows you to be hands/foot free to re tie, find tackle etc, etc, without drifting over the horizon.

I wouldn’t give up on the TM until talking to techs that know your TM.

Tom

[Born 2 fish]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:50 PM, Stratocat_Joe said:

@Darnold335 and @Born 2 fishBoth of you seem to be saying that having the spot lock feature is more important than having a foot-controlled TM.  Can you expand on that preference?  I enjoyed the spot lock feature while it worked on my mine but I always found myself wanting foot control.  The MG wireless foot pedals were nice to have while they lasted... unfortunately, they didn't last long.  And they were an extra $200!  Luckily, one was replaced under warranty (1-year) but the replacement only lasted about six months, conveniently after the warranty expired.  Another thing I should add is that I have a Livescope set-up; but, it's on a separate pole mount mainly due to the fact that they don't seem to function well on spot lock TM's, particularly the "stow and deploy" models like my Xi-3, where the whole TM shaft runs through the mounting bracket for stowing/deployment.  So, if I fix the spot lock feature on my TM, I'll need to have a free hand to control the TM (when I'm not spot-locked) and/or the Livescope.   This is another reason why I've been thinking about going with a foot-controlled TM that I can attach the LS transducer to. I agree that spot lock is a nice feature for fishing a particular spot...I'm just trying to figure out if it's more important, and efficient for fishing, than foot-control.  So, in your opinion, why is spot lock more important than foot-control?

I have a 36 volt minn kotta ultrex it has a foot pedal and spot lock. Most new trolling motors do. I spot lock in over 25 feet of water dropshoting  for summer smallies all summer long. It also holds me on offshore points and other structures. I wouldn’t be without spot lock on my boat.

3 hours ago, gimruis said:

I don't run into things hard enough to say how well it works.  I know its designed as a "shock absorber" but I avoid running into docks, stumps, and logs when I'm out there.

 

Mine has a weedless wedge prop so it slices and dices through pretty thick weeds.  It does get wrapped up with these spaghetti-type weeds that I am unfamiliar with though.  They are thick on one lake I fish in June/July and I can't get through it.  I was out there a week ago and they are all dead now.

Put a ninja grass blade on it you’ll go through everything.

[gimruis]

3 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

Put a ninja grass blade on it you’ll go through everything.

Someone else suggested this in another thread too.  I may have to look into it.

 

 

[Junk Fisherman]

This is a tough decision and I've actually gone back and forth.  I wouldn't want to spend $700 on a motor that has given you problems.  I love my Xi5 but I am on my 3rd foot pedal so I'm familiar with your motor and issues that Motorguide give people.  And I don't think you're going to get much for a used Motorguide motor that doesn't have a foot pedal and doesn't have working spot-lock.  I think you're best off putting the $700 into a new trolling motor.

 

But to answer your question, I think I'd go spot-lock over the pedal.  There are times when spot-lock is invaluable and significantly increases your chance of catching fish while everything you can do with a pedal, you can do with the remote.  And as time goes on, you'll adjust to using the remote and become more efficient with it.   Just think about how often you put the motor on spot-lock to retie?  I fish a lot of big open water.  If didn't put my boat on spot-lock when I sit down to retie, I'd blow 50 yards off my spot by the time I got back to fishing.  Tough decision.  Good luck.  

[casts_by_fly]

18 hours ago, gimruis said:

The pedal for the power drive is crap.  My Father has it and its worn out at least 5 times since he's owned it.  If the OP wants a pedal, the minn kota power drive is the worst option out there.

 

Yeah, I wasn't trying to say that the powerdrive was the right motor.  Just that the features on mine (which happens to be a powerdrive based kayak motor) seem to be what he's looking for and use.  I've heard the powerdrives are so-so in the regular trolling motors.  I like mine just plenty.  I would like the steering motor to be faster and quieter, but so be it.

 

16 hours ago, Stratocat_Joe said:

Yeah, my MG has a similar feature.  But those features are only as good as the GPS system driving the features.  Unfortunately, for me, MG's system (including the wireless foot pedal) hasn't worked out too well and I'm not sure I want to continue throwing money at it.  

 

Maybe its a motorguide thing then on the GPS.  On my minn kota, the spot lock holds the 5' radius really well in spot lock.  While on navigation/cruise it holds the straight line really well.  The only exception is if the wind is blowing harder than the speed I want to go and is crosswise to me.  Then I have to play the wind a bit more to keep the line.  Sometimes that means turning around and fishing into it (which is usually the better choice anyway).

 

Does motorguide offer a heading puck that improves the GPS?  The puck for minn kota doesn't help with GPS accuracy but does add which direction the boat is pointing so it helps with straight line tracking and also allow for jogging in spot lock (which is great for pitching structure).

 

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

Someone else suggested this in another thread too.  I may have to look into it.

 

?‍♂️  For $35, just do it.