If there’s one thing I learned over the years it’s that the more “stuff” you put on a boat the more you have to deal with. Having said that, there are a few things I have found worth the effort. Chief among those is a trolling motor. Recent advances in technology have made the problems I encountered in the past less of a problem.
I’m an inshore angler most of the time, only venturing into the Gulf seasonally in pursuit of tarpon, little tunny, cobia, tripletail and Spanish mackerel. While l prefer to use my push pole most of the time, there are times the trolling motor is “indispensable.” Chief among them are the times I fish alone and use the trolling motor to set myself up for drifts or to work a shoreline. Then there are the times when the trolling motor gives me a distinct advantage over anchoring or drifting when targeting tripletail on crab buoys or fishing lights in the pre-dawn hours.
My first trolling motors were analog and operated with air switches. I remember them as being more trouble than they were worth. Fortunately, advances in technology brought us digital motors that were far more reliable and coatings that make them far more saltwater resistant.
Today, technology continues to advance at a dizzying pace and trolling motors and anglers are reaping the rewards. The advances are particularly notable for big boat owners. While there are two major brands available to anglers, this article centers on Minn Kota, the motor I use and I think has made the biggest strides for saltwater anglers.
All Minn Kota saltwater models have coated lower units. The lower unit is grit-blasted, aluminum coated, then powder coated for protection against oxidization and rust. The other parts of the motor that are most susceptible to the corrosive effects of saltwater are the motor’s control board and electronics, which are completely encapsulated to keep saltwater out. All motors are also equipped with a technology they call a “digital maximizer” that extends the life of the batteries that power the motors.
The technology really benefits offshore anglers and guides who depend on a trolling motor every day. The new Riptide Terrova has an 87″ shaft and a GPS system with a feature called Spot-Lock that automatically holds a boat over a chosen location like a favorite reef, eliminating the need to anchor in deep water. The GPS also allows an angler to follow a particular track or heading automatically keeping hands free for fishing.
Other features include a bow-mount stabilizer to lock the motor in place when you hit heavy chop and wake, and a quick-release bracket for easy motor removal. The innovations get even more hands-free with the introduction of an i-Pilot Link which connects Riptide trolling motors to a Humminbird fish finder unit, enabling the angler to control their motor from a Humminbird fishfinder.
The Riptide Ulterra® increases the ease of use with a button that automatically deploys and stows the motor and adjusts it up and down. All this can be controlled with a hand-held controller, from a smartphone app or on the fishfinder unit.
With these advances in technology, the only work you’ll be doing on your trolling motor is maintenance. In truth, finding someone to work on my trolling motors has always been a problem. That issue was resolved when I met the Trolling Motor Guy. Robert Schroeder operates a factory-authorized Minn Kota service center right here in Bradenton. Local Island anglers can even drop their motors off to be serviced in Cortez!
Trolling motors have come a long way since I hung the first one on my boat and have become an integral part of a lot of the fishing I do. This article just touches on many of the possibilities. The Trolling Motor Guy can be reached by calling 941-518-9940.
