Trolling Motors

[Mamoo]

Anyone know of any pros that use the xi5 or the ipilot? Seems like they all still use the cable driven motors. Anyone here willing to endorse either or provide an opinion of each? Thanks!

[Bird Watcher]

I just put the Xi5 on about a month ago. I've been pretty happy with it. I know it's a different world for me compared to my cable driven motor.(for the better) I can't believe how much more enjoyment I get out of fishing without having to ride the foot pedal non-stop. The anchor function works great for me and i love being able to "bump" around the anchor point in 5' increments. I've never used the foot pedal. I thought I needed one in case a situation came up and I didn't use the lanyard remote. It's so simple to use the remote in my hand, very intuitive. I've fished with it all day twice and have never used more than about 20% of the battery as shown on the indicator light. I did get to the lake the other day and the remote battery was dead. Kind of weird since it worked the last time I fished with it.. After a run back to town for more batteries, it worked fine. Overall, I'm very pleased with it. Supposedly, If you have a Lowrance HDS Gen2 model, they can now interface with your troling motor the same way Humminbird does with the ipilot. Mines Gen1, so I'd have to upgrade, but I'm not sure I need it at this point.

[Mamoo]

Great feedback! How is it around docks?

[Mamoo]

Also, what species do u fish for primarily, I know a lot of walleye fisherman are using these but I don't see many bass anglers using either, thanks

[Bird Watcher]

_{Great feedback! How is it around docks?}

_{I guess I don't really know what you mean. If you mean steering responsiveness, it's great. I run a spider rig of 12 and 14' rods off the front of the boat and I poke it all around between docks and stumps with no problem. I think the 20 different speed levels really helps. You can find one just right for what you need to do instead of only having 5 different levels to choose from.}

_{I mostly fish for Crappie, walleye, and hybrids, with maybe some blue cats and white bass thrown in from time to time. I've often wondered why you don't see any bass fisherman running them. You could put in on anchor to fish a brushpile or dock, or if you wanted to run a bank with a crankbait or spinnerbait or similar, you could set it on auto heading and go right down the bank. I've used it for throwing jerkbaits this year for walleye and it was great. with a 15 mph South wind blowing into the bank I was fishing I just put it on Anchor and fished off the back of the boat.}

[Feathers and Fins]

I have the standard motorguide wireless and love it. I don't know the last time I had the foot control out as most of the time the hand held is all I need. Its fun sitting on the back of the boat (actually on the big motor) and cruising around.

When im trolling I use it with the big motor for supertight turns without ever having to move from the cockpit.

I have been running a spider rig on the bow and two flat lines from the back of the boat and it makes it very simple. If I hook a striper off the back I can fight the fish from there and still have 100% control of the boat without having to run up to the front, several times I have put the striper in the boat and then had to run up front to land a couple crappie on the spider rig, NO WAY could you do it with anything but a remote control trolling motor.

[Mamoo]

Both of you guys answered my questions and confirmed my excitement for the wireless function. The anchor feature alone is worth it for beaver. As a bass angler out there we are always fishing pretty deep. The criticism from others I've heard is the wireless doesn't respond as fast as the cable driven tm, but from what you all have said and the vids I've watched on you tube I disagree. It seems like it's better really. Thanks again. I was gonna buy a new graph this year but I think I'll get the tm instead.

[innova]

I run a Minnkota Terrova 80# thrust with I-Pilot and the Universal Sonar on a Basscat Pantera II. Mine is the 1st generation model, so I do not have the I-Pilot Link but I believe everything else is the same. I mainly fish for the following species in the following order Bass, Striper, Whites & Crappie.

I Love it!!! Can't say enough good things about it. Would not go back to a pedal only motor for any reason....

I very seldom use the pedal. If I had to put a percent on it, I would say less than 1 percent of the time I use the foot pedal.

The remote is the only way to fish. Makes fishing easier and more enjoyable. I can now fish all day without my back hurting from playing Captain Morgan all day.

Features that are priceless.

Spot Lock / GPS anchor. Wonderful for brush, docks, submerged structure. It is also great for keeping you from drifting while you re-tie or change lures. Priceless for staying over suspended fish allowing you to work a grub or a spoon above and through them.

Speed lock with auto pilot with .1 mph speed increments is great for setting the speed and slowly cruising down the bank you want to fish. No more fighting the pedal. Just pure fishing pleasure. It is also great if you want to troll gizzard shad for stripers, something I was never successful at until I got the Terrova.

Before the Terrova I had fished with hand controlled and foot controlled trolling motor from Mercury, Motorguide, and Minnkota. All served the purpose well and were great products for the day. But fishing with the remote controlled Terrova is an upgrade in fishing technology, Just like the current sonar/gps units of today are an upgrade to the round flashers used 20 years ago.

The only thing I can't do as easy with the Terrova is keep the boat from drifting off after I have beached it at weigh in. But since I am not sure that is an actual approved use of a trolling motors I am not worried.

[Feathers and Fins]

Mamoo, there is a little delay but only from a distance, if you are in the boat you wont notice it much but it does happen.

[jerry241]

I've got a terrova and really like it a lot the only time I even get the foot control out is to work a bank using slip bobbers for crappie the rest of the time it always with the remote... That being said there is abut of a learning curve to the remote ( I had to learn not to over correct) but once you get used to it it is the only way to go.... Ps the little button with the rabbit on it will kick your butt if you hit it by accident