For you who spend a lot of time in your bass/bay boat.

surfman · 03-03-08, 10:33 AM

The time has come for me to buy a trolling motor. I know what brand and size I want, but I want to buy the one that gives me the easiest, hassle free handling.
So please give me your experience with :
1) handle guided
2) foot petal
3) remote digital.

This is an 18ft Kenner, semi v hull for bay fishing, but I mostly freshwater bass fish. (probably bought the wrong boat...but the price was right). So figureing the weight around 1,200 lbs, which is the best "control" system.

Hoping to hear from those of you who spend enought time in your boat to be aware of what pleases and chaps you about your trolling setup.
Surfman

bcklash · 03-03-08, 10:43 AM

foot pedal with a doubt for me.

Jackl · 03-03-08, 10:52 AM

SURFMAN,
Your profile does not list anything about what part of the country you live in. If you live in an area that has quite a bit of wind, (like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) I would absolutely advise against a hand control. I tried a couple hand controls and spent almost all my time controling the boat instead of fishing. I had a friend that bought one of the digital remote units when they first came out and he had nothing but trouble with it.
I would advise a 24 volt foot control of at least 74 lb thrust, install a couple of marine grade, 1200 amp, 27 series, Absorbed Glass Mat batteries, and you should be good to go. This is how I have my 19 ft Ranger equipped and I can fish all day in windy conditions without running out of power.
If you do not already have one installed, I would also suggest a 10 amp, three bank, on board charger.

JackL

carolina-rig-01 · 03-03-08, 05:13 PM

my old boat had a hand controlled trolling motor and my new boat has a foot controlled so i can give you my opinions on both. hand controlled for me is a pain in the butt except for one benefit. the only good thing is that you aren't fishing all day with your foot up on a pedal which is better for your back and also better for keeping your balance when fighting waves (a recessed trolling motor pedal will do the same thing). like jackl said when you are fishing in the wind you will spend more time with a hand on the trolling motor than on your rod ( and will miss some bites as a result). a foot controlled trolling motor takes a little getting used to but after a few hours you will have it figured out and it is easy to steer. a lot of people like the recessed pedal and i think i would too. however my ranger doesn't have one and i don't have much problem with mine the way it is so i don't think i will be cutting my boat to add one. i deffinatly think that the foot controlled is the way to go but keep in mind that you will be the one using it, so make the right decision for you and running the trolling motor will be smooth and easy.

surfman · 03-03-08, 06:45 PM

Thanks for the feedback!
I live in South Texas and we do have wind!

Rebbasser · 03-03-08, 08:54 PM

Defnitely a foot control, surfman. More than once I've been on Choke pointing into the wind with the TM on high just holding position. A foot control is the only way I was able to manage it.

bamabassman · 03-05-08, 10:36 PM

foot controled!! want a recessed in my boat though, always tripping on the pedal.

flfireman · 03-08-08, 12:53 AM

Had both, love my foot control. I can fish, cast, fight fish and never take my hands off the rod/reel. I have a 18ft alumacraft w/ a MK 55# TM, it puts up a wake on #5.

zooker · 03-08-08, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabassman

foot controled!! want a recessed in my boat though, always tripping on the pedal.

i would love to put one in my boat. "but" my live well is right under were i would put it..

zooker

senko · 03-09-08, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zooker

i would love to put one in my boat. "but" my live well is right under were i would put it..

zooker

Well now you have a reason to get a new boat zook!

03-03-08, 10:33 AM	#1
surfman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	For you who spend a lot of time in your bass/bay boat. The time has come for me to buy a trolling motor. I know what brand and size I want, but I want to buy the one that gives me the easiest, hassle free handling. So please give me your experience with : 1) handle guided 2) foot petal 3) remote digital. This is an 18ft Kenner, semi v hull for bay fishing, but I mostly freshwater bass fish. (probably bought the wrong boat...but the price was right). So figureing the weight around 1,200 lbs, which is the best "control" system. Hoping to hear from those of you who spend enought time in your boat to be aware of what pleases and chaps you about your trolling setup. Surfman

03-03-08, 10:43 AM	#2
bcklash BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Elliston, Va. Posts: 4,372	foot pedal with a doubt for me. __________________ The soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box. keep us free:

03-03-08, 10:52 AM	#3
Jackl BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Great Bend, KS Posts: 2,960	SURFMAN, Your profile does not list anything about what part of the country you live in. If you live in an area that has quite a bit of wind, (like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas) I would absolutely advise against a hand control. I tried a couple hand controls and spent almost all my time controling the boat instead of fishing. I had a friend that bought one of the digital remote units when they first came out and he had nothing but trouble with it. I would advise a 24 volt foot control of at least 74 lb thrust, install a couple of marine grade, 1200 amp, 27 series, Absorbed Glass Mat batteries, and you should be good to go. This is how I have my 19 ft Ranger equipped and I can fish all day in windy conditions without running out of power. If you do not already have one installed, I would also suggest a 10 amp, three bank, on board charger. JackL __________________ There are two theories about argueing with women...........Neither one works!

03-03-08, 05:13 PM	#4
carolina-rig-01 BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Webb City, MO Posts: 6,387	my old boat had a hand controlled trolling motor and my new boat has a foot controlled so i can give you my opinions on both. hand controlled for me is a pain in the butt except for one benefit. the only good thing is that you aren't fishing all day with your foot up on a pedal which is better for your back and also better for keeping your balance when fighting waves (a recessed trolling motor pedal will do the same thing). like jackl said when you are fishing in the wind you will spend more time with a hand on the trolling motor than on your rod ( and will miss some bites as a result). a foot controlled trolling motor takes a little getting used to but after a few hours you will have it figured out and it is easy to steer. a lot of people like the recessed pedal and i think i would too. however my ranger doesn't have one and i don't have much problem with mine the way it is so i don't think i will be cutting my boat to add one. i deffinatly think that the foot controlled is the way to go but keep in mind that you will be the one using it, so make the right decision for you and running the trolling motor will be smooth and easy. __________________ You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough.

03-03-08, 08:54 PM	#6
Rebbasser BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 10,142	Defnitely a foot control, surfman. More than once I've been on Choke pointing into the wind with the TM on high just holding position. A foot control is the only way I was able to manage it. __________________ It's happened to the best of them: John 21:3

03-03-08, 06:45 PM	#5
surfman BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 16	Thanks for the feedback! I live in South Texas and we do have wind!

03-05-08, 10:36 PM	#7
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	foot controled!! want a recessed in my boat though, always tripping on the pedal.

03-08-08, 12:53 AM	#8
flfireman BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 2,751	Had both, love my foot control. I can fish, cast, fight fish and never take my hands off the rod/reel. I have a 18ft alumacraft w/ a MK 55# TM, it puts up a wake on #5. __________________ In the Lord all things are possible.

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