We might earn income from the merchandise accessible on this web page and take part in affiliate applications. Learn More ›
The perfect spot lock trolling motors appear to show the thought of “finest” on its ear. In any case, producers competed for years to see which trolling motor would maintain going, whether or not by means of waves, by means of submerged aquatic vegetation, or on the finish of an extended day when battery energy is carrying down. Now we’re asking those self same instruments to take a seat put, and to do it exactly, till we ask it to maneuver.
Spot-Lock revolutionized the sport for offshore anglers who wish to make the identical solid repeatedly, notably when there are not any landmarks or visible cues to tell your positioning. That’s not the one state of affairs the place they’ll excel, nonetheless. Spot-Lock trolling motors can be utilized to carry a ship towards a raging present or to forestall you from blowing into rocks or different obstacles as you land a fish or retie your line. To actually be the very best, nonetheless, they want to do that flawlessly and nonetheless ship on the guarantees of yesteryear—most energy, most sturdiness, and relative silence. Listed here are 4 of the very best spot-lock trolling motors.
How I Examined the Finest Spot-Lock Trolling Motors
I’ve run all 4 of those manufacturers on every part from shallow, grassy tidal rivers to the ledges of the massive TVA impoundments to the Nice Lakes, and I’ve realized that a lot of what makes a trolling motor good is a matter of private choice. Do you want a free pedal or one with extra pressure? Do you worth relative silence over energy? How vital is the model of sonar that you just use?
I do know that whereas I take advantage of Spot-Lock steadily, my Energy Poles additionally usurp a few of their function. I hardly ever use the autopilot or the distant, however I demand the clearest image potential. I’m additionally tough on gear—as they get extra feature-packed, that’s simply extra issues that might break or fall sufferer to the weather. I need my trolling motor to carry in place each time I inform it, however a very powerful factor is that it runs effectively each time I step on the button.
Finest Spot-Lock Trolling Motors: Critiques & Suggestions
Finest in Heavy Grass: Minn Kota Ultrex
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 45, 52, 60 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: MEGA Down Imaging, Common Sonar 2, MEGA Down/Facet Imaging
- Voltage/Thrust: 36v/112 kilos or 24v/80 kilos
Professionals
- Nice in aquatic vegetation
- Elevate help makes it simple to deploy and retrieve
- Very responsive foot pedal
Cons
- Typically powerful to supply resulting from provide chain points
The primary entrant within the Spot-Lock sport—certainly, the corporate that coined the phrase—continues to steer the cost in its integration with Humminbird Electronics. Minn Kota modified the trolling motor panorama once they launched the Ultrex, for the primary time harnessing the facility of GPS into exact positioning mechanisms for anglers in all places. Now not was it essential to guess the placement of a ledge, brush pile, or rock pile. As an alternative, anglers might command the troller to take them there and maintain them there for solid after productive solid.
They’ve improved their sport considerably since then, in lockstep with enhancements to their paired Humminbird electronics. Now you should buy an Ultrex with a built-in MEGA Imaging transducer to get crystal clear footage.
You too can pair it to your Apple or Android system and function it remotely or from one other a part of the boat. What I like most about mine is that I’ve plowed it by means of acres of grass thick sufficient to plow, and it comes out the opposite aspect clear and virtually instantly prepared to have interaction in its spot-holding job. Whereas expertise is nice, if it doesn’t work within the rigors that anglers usually expose it to, the advances aren’t value a lot. Minn Kota has this one down pat, even if you happen to determine to make use of a distinct model of electronics.
Learn Subsequent: The Best Trolling Motors
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 47, 52, 60 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: Hdi Sonar Nosecone
- Voltage/Thrust: 36v/120 kilos or 24v/97 kilos
Professionals
- Interference-free sonar image
- Configurable foot pedal
- Quiet, brushless motor
Cons
This super-quiet brushless motor has a customizable foot pedal and handy options. When Lowrance entered the spot lock sport, they constructed upon their pioneering function within the sonar world to offer an angler-friendly but technologically-advanced product. It was instantly embraced as among the best spot-lock trolling motors, resulting from its brushless design.
This brushless motor is super-quiet and offers essentially the most kilos of thrust per volt in its class. What I like in regards to the Ghost is that the foot pedal is customizable. Years in the past, once I first switched from MotorGuide—which had the button on the fitting aspect of the pedal—to Minn Kota—which had it on the left—a number of occasions a day, I’d mash down on the pedal and get no response for causes that have been virtually immediately apparent. This easy characteristic permits anglers to place the button the place they prefer it. It additionally features a battery stage indicator and programmable easy-access keys that permit the consumer to shortly drop a waypoint quite than bending over and fascinating the paired sonar unit by hand. That’s a time-saver and an enormous technique of including effectivity.
Most Indestructible: Power Pole Move
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 45, 52, and 60 inches
- C-Monster 2.0 wi-fi communication
- Lifetime guarantee on shaft (3 12 months on different elements)
- 20 velocity settings
- Thrust: 100lbs with 36V/78lbs with 24V
- Shaft Materials: Aerospace Grade Titanium
- Scissor mount
- Weight: 53 to 55 kilos relying on shaft size
- Anchor mode and observe route mode
- Made for contemporary and saltwater
Professionals
- Sturdy shaft materials
- Can run on 36 or 24 volts
- Wi-fi management
Cons
- Nonetheless untested on a big scale
Rumors of an imminent Energy Pole trolling motor began circulating a number of years in the past. Nonetheless, the corporate delayed the general public launch till early 2023 as a result of they wished to emphasize check the heck out of it. They put it by means of each potential rigor and impediment earlier than releasing it to the general public. That’s typical of the corporate, which constructed its identify by means of modern shallow water anchoring programs, however cemented its legacy by means of customer support and by over-engineering its merchandise. This new trolling motor lives as much as that latter legacy insofar as you may crash by means of waves, bang into stumps, run all of it day at excessive velocity, and nonetheless maintain ticking.
There are two totally different fashions, the ZR and the PV, with a scissor elevate and pivot mount, respectively, however that’s a significant distinction. They’re each made to be corrosion-resistant in contemporary and saltwater and with numerous backup programs to protect towards dropping your skill to make use of the motor while you want it most. That begins with a titanium shaft (45, 52, or 60 inches) with an unconditional lifetime guarantee and extends to the ultra-quiet brushless motor. Even the propeller is custom-made to be extra environment friendly and weedless, and you may run the motor on 24 or 36 volts of battery energy.
The Transfer has new tech like a wi-fi pedal, wi-fi distant management, and wi-fi foot switches. Nonetheless, the actual benefit is the power to pair them with the best fish finders, notably with Lowrance and Simrad models. The ZR even has an non-compulsory built-in transducer for Lowrance models. The motor has anchor mode, a vector mode, and a compass heading, however essentially the most spectacular is the “Observe a Route,” which permits anglers to set a posh and winding route forward of time, and the motor will hint it flawlessly.
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 50 and 57 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: Transducer for CHIRP conventional and Extremely Excessive-Definition ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonars.
- Voltage/Thrust: 36v/100 kilos or 24v/80 kilos
Professionals
- Extraordinarily quiet
- Waterproof, floating distant management
- Twin fuel springs make retraction and deployment quiet and straightforward in your again
Cons
- Costliest of the motors surveyed
Regardless of profitable the ICAST New Product Showcase Better of Present award three years in the past, Garmin continues to innovate. They have been the primary firm to broadly popularize and innovate within the forward-facing sonar house—making among the best fish finders— which gave them a leg up when it got here to integrating their Drive trolling motors with their paired electronics. Refined transducers present a clearer or extra interference-free image than ever, however this trolling motor is a beast even with out the good thing about their main GPS expertise. The foot deal is wi-fi and extremely responsive, requiring AA batteries, though it may be hard-wired. You possibly can level the floating, waterproof distant within the course you wish to go, and the Drive will take you there. If tech is your factor, and also you worth it in your fishing, think about this superior mannequin.
Finest for Ahead Dealing with Sonar: Minn Kota Ultrex Quest
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 45, 52, and 60 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: MEGA Down/Facet Imaging, Twin Spectrum Chirp
- Voltage/Thrust: 36v/112 kilos, 24v/80 kilos, or 24/36v with 90 or 115 kilos
Professionals
- Connects simply with Humminbird electronics
- Extremely-responsive pedal design
- One boat community controls all appropriate equipment
Cons
- Could also be overkill on value and options for some anglers
MinnKota took its pathfinding product, the one which set the course for all Spot Lock motors, and made it quieter, extra responsive, and extra feature-rich. You’ll particularly need this improve if you happen to’re an ardent consumer of ahead dealing with sonar, as a result of it has essentially the most exact pedal in the marketplace. It’s in a position to make minute and precise adjustments in course after which maintain them in place simply, for a clearer image of what’s in entrance of you. I discovered the unique Ultrex to be nice in grass, however this one has much more torque, and appears to preserve battery energy beneath the harshest use. It’ll go, go, go, however when it’s time to cease in place, the unique spot locker will maintain you precisely the place you wish to be.
Finest for A number of Sonar Manufacturers: MotorGuide Tour Pro
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 45 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: Pinpoint GPS and non-compulsory HD+ Common Sonar
- Voltage/Thrust: 36v/109 lbs. or 24v/82 lbs.
Professionals
- Works equally effectively with all main sonar manufacturers
- Easy true cable steering
- 360 diploma breakaway mount
Cons
- Not constructed for one specific model of sonar
Not like the three trolling motor producers above, MotorGuide just isn’t partnered instantly with an electronics producer. Reasonably than seeing that as a adverse, nonetheless, they view it as a constructive, that means that you could combine and match your programs (even utilizing two or extra totally different manufacturers of sonar) with out dropping effectiveness or precision. They didn’t have to reinvent the wheel with years of heritage within the trolling motor sport in comparison with a few of their opponents. As an alternative, they matched sturdiness with flexibility.
The shaft consists of an outsized steel outer column paired with an unbreakable interior composite piece. I do know anglers who’re past tough on their gear, who grind them into riprap and large stumps, and nonetheless, the MotorGuide retains on ticking. The steel foot pedal can also be bulletproof, which implies it’s at all times the place you anticipate it to be and gained’t get beat to loss of life by both large waves or hard-stomping event companions.
Finest for Saltwater: Minn Kota Riptide Terrova
Key Options
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Pre-installed i-Pilot built-in GPS
- Trade-leading mixture of confirmed but fashionable design
- Wi-fi distant with totally redesigned format, 33% bigger LCD display screen, expandable menus, and intuitive navigation
- Distant additionally controls motor, Spot-Lock, iTrack File/Playback, Backtrack, Cruise Management, and extra
- Unprecedented remote-control operation
- One-Step Stow with Deploy Lever
- Push-to-test battery meter
Professionals
- Straightforward deployment
- Can anchor in place or management a drift
Cons
The important thing to the system is the i-Pilot distant with giant buttons and an easy-to-read display screen monitoring the motor’s capabilities. Not solely can I management the course and program the motor, however the Terrova affords a one-step deploy lever. Simply hit the lever, and the motor deploys, hit it once more, and it stows.
It additionally options i-Pilot, which permits me to manage the course, program velocity, and route and just about anchor the boat. The i-Pilot is ideal for programming a course for trolling or to repeat a drift. The preferred perform, Spot-Lock, permits me to cease the boat and maintain place over a bit of construction or within the excellent place for casting a lure or fishing a bait.
Finest for Huge Water: Garmin Kraken
Key Options
- Shaft Lengths: 64, 75, and 90 inches
- Constructed-in Sonar: Wi-fi integration with Garmin chartplotters
- Voltage/Thrust: 24/36v, 100 kilos
Professionals
- Stays within the water when it will get tough
- Brushless motor is extraordinarily environment friendly
- Contains GT56 transducer
Cons
- Reside sonar expertise prices additional
Simply as MinnKota pioneered Spot Lock expertise, Garmin was the driving drive in making ahead dealing with sonar vital accent for critical anglers. I’ve been working their graphs for a number of years now and I discover them to be the clearest, most dependable, and least buggy choices, so pairing them with a trolling motor that’s totally appropriate and built-in solely is sensible.
The shaft lengths could also be overkill for the common bass angler or aluminum boat man, but when it’s essential to keep on walleye or smallmouths on the Nice Lakes, that is the device you need. It’s even saltwater rated, so you may take it out in actually massive water. By connecting it to your graphs, you may keep in place in nearly any situations, in addition to create routes and tracks simply. The LiveScope cable runs by means of the trolling motor shaft so it gained’t get nicked or pinched, that means you’ll at all times be capable of keep the place you might be or get again to a given spot, as wanted.
Issues to Take into account Earlier than Shopping for the Finest Spot-Lock Trolling Motors
Necessity
Spot lock expertise might be an absolute game-changer for anglers who want to stay in a single place indefinitely, however every new characteristic that you just add will increase value and complexity. All 4 of the very best trolling motor producers have upped the reliability of their merchandise, however at this stage within the sport, most of us ought to admit that if one thing goes improper, we’ll be unable to repair it ourselves.
Battery Energy
Do you want a 36-volt system, or are you able to get away with 24 volts? Does your boat have room for 3 batteries? Are you able to justify the expense of lithium batteries? Fashionable electronics drain batteries faster than ever earlier than, which will not be a difficulty you probably have one of many best trolling motor batteries, however they don’t come inexpensively.
Most popular Sonar Model
Normally, however not at all times, trolling motors that come from the manufacturing facility able to be paired with a companion model of electronics work finest with these electronics. In case you’re going to make use of a number of graphs, that may not be an element, however a constant company nameplate might in some circumstances, ease setup and troubleshooting practices.
Rumors of Different Manufacturers
Whereas the 4 manufacturers listed above are the leaders on this house, there have lengthy been rumors that there shall be different entrants to the market. Do you have to wait if you happen to want a kind of?
FAQs
The added expertise mandatory to construct motors with spot lock functionality has raised most models’ costs effectively above $2,000, and a few are priced nearer to $4,000. This depends upon the variety of options included, together with the size of the shaft and included energy. In fact, electronics and batteries will not be included on this pricing.
It’s pretty simple to take away a trolling motor from an unattended boat, however it’s seemingly not possible to retailer it for safekeeping every time you retailer it. Accordingly, if you’re fearful about your costly trolling motor being stolen, it’d pay to put money into a lock like these from DuraSafe. They’re not 100% foolproof, however they could act as a deterrent.
The MotorGuide Tour fashions appear to be on the low finish of the spot lock trolling motor value spectrum, though they’re on no account u0022cheap.u0022 A number of of the others are effectively over $3,000, in some circumstances approaching $4,000.
Closing Ideas
As our fisheries get extra extremely pressured, and our fish develop into extra educated, precision boat positioning is more and more vital. Having the ability to make that “cash solid” over and time and again requires the very best use of your trolling motor and your GPS, and most often that requires among the best spot-lock trolling motors. Are they strictly mandatory? Not at all times, however the expertise makes life lots simpler and lots fishier. Relying in your electronics wants, a selected model could also be higher than the others for you, however all 4 main gamers produce a high quality product.