If you had the $1500 choice...

[guyonacouch]

So, I've got about $1500 burning a hole in my pocket and I'm planning on making an upgrade to the boat. I am deciding between i-Pilot or a new graph. I've currently got a co-pilot trolling motor which works fine, but my Lund Fisherman catches a lot of wind and so a lot of my focus while fishing is on boat control and I think the I Pilot would help with that. (maybe even consider the iLink...) For my current graph and GPS, I've got a couple year old 500 series Humminbird and a hand held Garmin GPS mounted on the dash. Again these work fine, but I like what I've seen with side/down imaging, and I'd like to move my current graph to the bow. I've also considered buying the open water transducer for my Vex, but that's a whole different thought all together. Any help/opinions on this decision would be greatly appreciated.

[TravP]

Terrova with the Ipilot. It will change the way you fish.

[Esox_Magnum]

I agree Terrova with I Pilot....

[Bobby Bass]

Trolling motor and batteries..

[jigginjerk]

Hands down Terrova I-pilot and batteries.

[PerchJerker]

I would want to know more about how you like to fish before giving an opinion ... for example, which features of the i-Pilot are you likely to use if you get one .... and how would you use side imaging and how much would you use side imaging.

I think you can make an argument that you already have a trolling motor, but you don't have side imaging.

But it should really come down to how you like to fish and which would give the most benefit to you.

[guyonacouch]

Perchjerker,

I do a good amount of rigging and jigging walleyes as well as some crank bait trolling. I think I'd like the spot lock quite a bit and like the idea of saving paths. I really like the contour follow on the i-link, but that would mean me buying a new graph anyways...

I think the main reason I want side imaging is because I still struggle with interpreting/understanding what I see on my graph and am trying to learn what types of structure on the GPS are likely to hold fish. I hear many people say they drive around until they find fish, but when I try that, I never seem to find fish on my graph...Just thinking that since side imaging gives you a wider view of the lake bottom, it would make that easier.

Maybe I'm wrong, but my thoughts are the I Pilot would make fishing more relaxing and enjoyable because I wouldn't be constantly working the trolling motor and it would keep me from blowing off the areas I want to fish. The side-imaging would help me learn how to put more fish in the boat and would help me take the guess work out of what areas are holding fish. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts so far. I'm hoping to eventually have both, but my wife thinks my hobbies are too expensive already so I need to spread out the damage.

[herefish101]

One key thing in fishing is boat control, you can figure out the fish holding structure with any graph, although it is a lot easier with a good graph. If you can keep your bait in the strike zone you will catch more fish, and with a higher sided boat like a Lund Fisherman I would go trolling motor all the way, there is nothing worse than working the troller so hard that you loose fishing time.

My choice would be trolling motor all the way......

[Esox_Magnum]

When trolling eyes I rarely see anything on the graphs, confidence in choosing the right depth,speed and bait and knowing the waters are critical. Here we can troll 2 lines per person so narrowing down the depth and bait choice goes quicker, but we always start with past producers. I use the GPS most when trolling, hit a fish drop an icon, after a few fish a pattern will emerge.... For me spring means shallow trolling over emerging weeds at night, sometimes as shallow as 5' rare to fish over 9' running short lines and crankbaits at slow to medium speeds. Running this shallow your graphs wont show you fish but we use them to stay over or on the edge of the weeds...My Terrova in this situation is a must have...

[Cliff Wagenbach]

The i-pilot spot lock is a great tool and works very well! I use it a lot as I also like to use jigs while walleye fishing reefs.

But, If there is a strong wind the spot lock and the i-pilot GPS control do not work as well as I would like. The wind overpowers the motor and then it gets "lost" and goes into search mode and wander all over the area.

I have a Lund 1850 Explorer and the 85# thrust i-pilot. Maybe should have gotten the 101# i-pilot. ????

Just my experience. Both features work great though when there is not a heavy wind!

I have been in boats that have the side imaging and it totally confuses me!

Guess I am to old school and my brain cannot process what it is supposedly telling me!

Cliff

[Walleyehunter38]

My 80# I-Pilot has more hours on it than any other tool in my boat. 185 Competitot full windshield. HDS 7 With SI. I couldnt imagine heading out without either one to tell you the truth.

[candiru]

Just blow it all on a big screen TV with all the channels, because it is never going to warm up.

[Gordie]

Ice Breaker for the front of my boat. Just the way the season seems to be going

[harvey lee]

AR-15, before Obama changes all the rules.

[CaptainMusky]

What minnkota do you have? If its a v2 and has sufficient power for you, get the ipliot for that motor as an upgrade. Save yourself $1100 or so. Take that savings and put that toward electronics if you really insist on spending it that way.

If you have a v2 there is no major reason to go to terrova if its working for you.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

What minnkota do you have? If its a v2 and has sufficient power for you, get the ipliot for that motor as an upgrade. Save yourself $1100 or so. Take that savings and put that toward electronics if you really insist on spending it that way.

If you have a v2 there is no major reason to go to terrova if its working for you.

+1, I totally agree with CaptainMusky. If you already have a V2 trolling motor, you will be able to get the iPilot for that, and then also be able to invest in a nice Side Imaging unit.