By John Merwin

The most impressive--and useful--new fishing product I’ve seen for the coming year is a GPS-based trolling-motor control system from the folks at Minn Kota. A small navigation unit in the bow-mount motor head combined with a hand-held remote will automatically operate the motor so you can “hover” in place, for example, or precisely follow a pre-recorded track as you fish.

I’ll be writing about this at greater length in a forthcoming print edition, but the news is getting out there already, so here’s a quick look. A feature called “spot lock” uses GPS to record your position. The motor will then self-adjust its own speed and direction to hold your boat in that position, even as wind or current tend to push you away. That means you’ll no longer have to fight to stay in one spot while jigging a deep hump for walleyes, for example.

‘Record A Track,” meanwhile, uses the internal GPS to record your path as you use the motor to fish along the outside of a weedline, for example. The recorded track can be as long as two miles. If you want to fish the same path again, command the motor to play back the track and it will automatically move and steer the boat along the exact same path, no matter how curving. By selecting the desired motor speed, you can either troll a spinner rig for walleyes or cast to the shoreline for bass as you move along.

There’s a lot more to this, but I think you’ve gotten the idea. A GPS-equipped motor head and remote control can be retro-fitted to a variety of current Minn Kota bow mounts and cost about $400. Based on the sample I’ve tested (disclosure: provided by Minn Kota), the whole thing is just astounding and incredibly useful.

Comments (6)

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I can't say I'm surprised. The technology has been out there and it was only a matter of time. It's a great idea but currently I can't afford a new trolling motor let alone one with a GPS. I guess I'm gonna have to keep throwing my marker bouys.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from seadog wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I admit that the technology is pretty cool, but I don't think it's for me. Where does it stop? Pretty soon, you'll be able to send the gps integrated truck down to the boat ramp to put the boat in the water. The gps integrated outboard will run to your fishing spot, where the gps integrated trolling motor will take the helm. Then your fishing android will fish for you, while you watch via satellite from your living room. Your personal preference television will automatically lower the volume on the NFL game when the fishing action heats up..... Let me think about this..... No thanks.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Koldkut wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

Ah yes! I've recently seen where this very thing would have been priceless, when you're vertical jigging some lakers up and can't seem to hold still to get on fish, this would save the day.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from gman3186 wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

what will they think of next

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from johnmerwin wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

buckhunter: Nothing wrong with marker buoys. I use them often.

seadog: A good question. Just how far to let technology take one's outdoor sport is an endless debate and very much a personal preference. In this particular case, and when I'm fishing solo, the gadget holds the boat so I can fish. As my wife noted noted during an on-the-water demo, "I'm being replaced!"

Koldkut: Exactly!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dr. Ralph wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I only paid $79.99 for the Tom Tom GPS in my truck and I'm never lost. It is invaluable in a boat...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I can't say I'm surprised. The technology has been out there and it was only a matter of time. It's a great idea but currently I can't afford a new trolling motor let alone one with a GPS. I guess I'm gonna have to keep throwing my marker bouys.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from seadog wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I admit that the technology is pretty cool, but I don't think it's for me. Where does it stop? Pretty soon, you'll be able to send the gps integrated truck down to the boat ramp to put the boat in the water. The gps integrated outboard will run to your fishing spot, where the gps integrated trolling motor will take the helm. Then your fishing android will fish for you, while you watch via satellite from your living room. Your personal preference television will automatically lower the volume on the NFL game when the fishing action heats up..... Let me think about this..... No thanks.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Koldkut wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

Ah yes! I've recently seen where this very thing would have been priceless, when you're vertical jigging some lakers up and can't seem to hold still to get on fish, this would save the day.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from gman3186 wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

what will they think of next

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from johnmerwin wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

buckhunter: Nothing wrong with marker buoys. I use them often.

seadog: A good question. Just how far to let technology take one's outdoor sport is an endless debate and very much a personal preference. In this particular case, and when I'm fishing solo, the gadget holds the boat so I can fish. As my wife noted noted during an on-the-water demo, "I'm being replaced!"

Koldkut: Exactly!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dr. Ralph wrote 2 years 16 weeks ago

I only paid $79.99 for the Tom Tom GPS in my truck and I'm never lost. It is invaluable in a boat...

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.