Cable drive trolling motor vs I pilot style

[ssaamm]

Reading about the new C & R early bass season has me fired up to fish. I know it'll be a while. I used to have an old MinnKota autopilot 42 or so pounds of thrust. I upgraded to a used 74 or 78 pounds of thrust cable drive MinnKota. I think its a Maxxum. I really like it. Strong and very responsive. If I've had a couple it can almost throw me out of the boat if I'm not careful. The newer MinnKota's with the anchor feature that have universal sonar look interesting. I know they are not cheap. I have a Lowance on the bow. It works fine. I spend most of my time bass fishing lakes and the river in the fall. I do walleye fish a bit, too. Should I appreciate what I have or are the new bells and whistles worth it? Thanks for any input. Sam

[B-man715]

IMHO when casting for bass (or anything else for that matter) along a shoreline a cable TM shines. You never need to look at the motor to see how far it is turned, because your foot already knows. Your eyes are focused on the next cast, not the motor.

For many other types of fishing, all of the new technology is amazing

[Deitz Dittrich]

I really think the newer technology t-moters have come a long way. Really the only down fall is the fact that you have to look to see what direction its facing, you cant go off of angle of your foot. Though I would be willing to bet after using it for some time, it would be second hand. Spot lock features is like having powerpoles in whatever depth you want.

[bassfshin24]

Love the idea of spot lock. Maybe you can have both trolling motors. In the spring in fall when you are shallow fishing have the cable drive and in the summer when fishing deeper water have the Ipilot :-) Who cares about costs...it's only money haha

[Lals]

Cable drive for me. Faster turning/response time and no need to look at the trolling motor to tell direction. Started years ago with cable, then spent 10 years with electronic foot pedals and went back to cable and I was reminded how easy it was to control your boat with one for Musky and Bass fishing.. I get reminded of the ease of use every year when I use my friends boats. Of course, the electronic trolling motors have great features. If I was more of a walleye fishermen, I would get one.

[ssaamm]

Thanks for the info. I'll probably stick with what I've got. I'm sure I'll find some other gadgets to pick up

[rascal23]

Funny you should mention that bf24. I was thinking about a plate that would fit both so you could just switch em back and forth - one of my dreamy moments. I don't know how they could do it, but if they came out with a cable control w/ gps features, that would be game over. I'm on the verge of finally replacing my old Minn-kota AT. It will be either Maxxum or Fortrex for all the above reasons ... but then again, that spot-lock sure would be nice in windy conditions or in current.

rascal

[new_kid]

I love my terova with ipilot link I can fish a spot and watch the motor if I have to and record the track and then come back and fish it later and not have to worry about anything but fishing and let the motor drive the shoreline for me at whatever speed I chose. I also like the spot lock feature and I can also just use the follow the contour feature too the only place I would prefer a cable drive is fishing docks but I don't fish docks very often so it doesn't bother me too much