Input on trolling motors

[mike12]

Looking into buying new trolling motor.i have 2 humminbird units and thought about getting minn Kota trolling motor to link with them .does anybody got any input on I believe it is the terova .and is worth al the hype to link them.i think it would be nice to have the spot lock feature just wondering if it is worth the money.any input would be appreciated.(pros and cons)

[6 lb Smallmouth]

A lot of guys rave about their Terrovas.  Spot-Lock won't be perfect but it will help immensely when fishing open water, offshore structure.  If a fella had a Talon and a Terrova that would help boat positioning greatly.  You can also use the motor to follow contour lines if it's linked to your HBird unit.  Not cheap though. 

[Manxfishing]

I had a Terrova on the last boat
There the cats ass
Never linked it up to any thing. But I used the spot lock allot
you can save up to 3 spots and It works even better with allot of wind

Running the shore line I used the Auto
Point it were you what top go, set the speed and you good

Came with the FOB and the foot control has a 20' cord
So you can steer from any place in the boat

Worst thing would be
It's harder to harder to deploy and pull up.
But there's one that does have a Auto deploy and store these days

[mike12]

It seems like the spot lock feature would be really helpful on windy day when ur tryin to re-tie or get something out of ur locker.i don't know how many times I do that and look up and I am 100 yards away from my point..lol.i usually save up for one fun purchase over the winter.was torn between trolling motor and high caliber hand gun(think I would enjoy trolling motor more)my trolling motor I have now is bout ready for replacement anyway...thanks guys

[Manxfishing]

Yep,
That was nice thing about spot lock

It look allot of thinking about boat control away
Where you can just fish

You'll love it
I know there will be one on the new rig some day

[thedude]

They are nice for open water, they are terrible for fishing around docks or anywhere you need to manuever quickly.  Had one for a while

[Waterfoul]

They are nice for open water, they are terrible for fishing around docks or anywhere you need to maneuver quickly.  Had one for a while

Exactly.  If you are a tournament angler the cable steer motors are the way to go.  Unless you never venture off St. Clair or Erie where you pretty much fish open water all the time.

[Hollada]

dude / waterfoul - why are they bad for dock fishing?  Too slow to respond to commands?  I fished a tourney this year with a guy that had one and the spot lock was pretty cool for locking on docks on the Detroit river.

[Waterfoul]

dude / waterfoul - why are they bad for dock fishing?  Too slow to respond to commands?  I fished a tourney this year with a guy that had one and the spot lock was pretty cool for locking on docks on the Detroit river.

Locking onto a dock in the current of the Dt. River is a lot different than trying to manuever around a dock on a windy day on an inland lake.  They do not respond as quick as a cable steer, and with a cable steer I know exactly which direction my boat is going to go before I step on the "go" button just by the angle of my foot on the pedal.  You don't get that with an electric steer.  Both types of motors have their place.  I know guys with electric steer motors who love them... but they aren't tournament anglers.  Next time the Bassmasters of FLW is on T.V. look at what motors they have.  Cable steer 100%.  Many years ago when I was just getting into tournaments and looking for a boat, I asked KVD which type he prefered and he said cable steer because of what I mentioned... he knew what direction the motor was going to make the boat go when he hit the pedal and he felt he had better control in tight spaces.

Ask yourself what type of fishing you're going to be doing the majority of the time.  Then purchase accordingly.

So there you go! 

[Slipkey]

They do not respond as quick as a cable steer, and with a cable steer I know exactly which direction my boat is going to go before I step on the "go" button just by the angle of my foot on the pedal.  You don't get that with an electric steer.

^ This X2 ^  My first TM was a Motorguide electric steer and it was godawful for shoreline fishing if you got hung up - especially in wind.  You constantly have to be checking at the directional indicator when you're trying to maneuver in a tight space.  

I'm going to have to replace my Maxxum sometime in the next few years and I've been checking the Terrova and the new Ulterra as options.  I still may end up going with the adapter plate, and keep the Maxxum around as a backup and for when I'm fishing inland lakes and rivers.  I can see all sorts of benefits with the Terrova/Ulterra for fishing open water or underwater weedlines.

I really wish they would come up with an electric steer pedal that gives you the directional feedback of a cable steer.  One would think they could figure that out by now.