Foot control - Cable or Elec?

[Basschaser]

Last year I replaced my one year old Maxxum with a Terrova with I-Pilot and have no regrets. The functionality of the Terrova foot pedal is exactly the same as on the Maxxum except it has a much lower profile. Yes, you do have to look at the head to see what direction you are going but everything else is the same. It's completely different than the foot control pads on the old Powerdrives that, I too, did not like at all. I do not have a foot pedal well in my boat so I found myself standing unbalanced on one leg with the Maxxum. It's much easier for me to stand up while fishing with the Terrova foot pedal.

If you fish with people that need help with unhooking fish, tying on hooks, untangling lines (kids and wives), the Spot Lock on the I-Pilot is priceless. I also love to use the Spot Lock function while fishing deep away from the shoreline.

I would not buy a cable foot control just because that is what all of the tournament anglers use. You need to look at your situation and choose what's best for you. For me the Terrova works better.

[Superduty]

Have to admit the spotlock feature of the new Terrova is pretty neat. My neighbor has a walleye boat with one and it's nice. I just found myself running out of battery back when I had electric steer. Too much wasted juice steering the boat. Havn't had the problem since going to cable drive on my last 3 boats. Resale is a factor for me as well, hard to sell a bassboat with electric steer trolling motor.

[Larson15]

I actually know a few guys with Terrova's on bass boats and they really like them for fishing open water and weedlines. The only bad thing about them is if you are fishing in tight areas like docks since they will be harder to control and maneuver. I think it all depends on what type of fisherman you are.

[cruiseforever]

I gave up on foot control myself. I use a Minnkota Rip Tide bow mount with hand control. I find that I can get into and out of tight spots easier.

[Duffman]

Do the electric steer models have the power to turn when you're thick in the milfoil? I had to put a lot of my weight on my Maxxum last night to turn and get out of the thick stuff, and thought about this thread while doing so.

Cable works just fine for me for the type of fishing that I do.

[Nick Kuhn]

If you are in thick weeds your propeller will be stopped long before you have difficulty making turns. Those motors are strong, just on the slow side. If I have to make a quick turn (because say my brother decided to try fishing for birds in a tree) I lift the motor up an inch a steer by hand. Obviously you can't fish that way but if you really need to avoid a hazard it's the best method I've found.