Bow mount trolling motors

[metlhead]

Been contemplating an electric bow mount for my wessel. Would like to hear opinions wether it would be worth it and troubles vs benefits. I run an 21' Sea Runner and have an 8hp kicker currently. Lotsa ocean and PS fishing plus BigC and some lakes. Thanks

[ASHQUACK]

Game changer!
Get one that has autopilot (follows contours), spot lock and consider auto deploy. I have the Minnkota Riptide Ulterra 36v, 80# thrust on my sled. Makes controlling drifts easier and pretty much negates the anchor. I do run my kicker and bow mount together to save battery in strong current.

[CP]

I love mine.  It's pretty basic, 12V, Bluetooth remote, no GPS but spot lock would be nice.   I can do a 180 degree turn within the length of the boat with it.  I don't even carry a kicker anymore; with the bow mount it isn't needed.  LiFePO4 batteries are a game changer, and they just keep getting cheaper and cheaper. 

My boat is only 16' but there are options for bigger boats.  Make sure that you get a long enough shaft, so you aren't sucking air with a following sea or a lot of weight in the stern. 

[GWP]

Game changer!
Get one that has autopilot (follows contours), spot lock and consider auto deploy. I have the Minnkota Riptide Ulterra 36v, 80# thrust on my sled. Makes controlling drifts easier and pretty much negates the anchor. I do run my kicker and bow mount together to save battery in strong current.

I have an 80 MinnKota Riptide and have had two Fresh only Terrova’s after using both manual bow mount and transom mounted trolling motors.
As was said, once you go the route of Spot Lock and Contour Following it would be very difficult to go back. I also run my kicker to help hold position or troll in heavy currents.
If You are doing salt get a bigger then recommended and get more battery than recommended for the size of the boat.
My 80 is on a 19’ and during big tide changes, on spot, lock I have had it running just below wide open for hours without the kicker helping. I am using Lithiums on mine.

[metlhead]

Shaft length was a question as it seems my bow rides high. Is the auto deploy worth the $$? Seems I'd only drop once or twice. And wondering if saltwater version is a good option

[GWP]

I went with a longer than needed shaft and have had it come out of the water when it was rough.
I debated on auto deploy, but I have very good access to the front of my bow and the MinnKota's have a spring inside they call "Auto Assist" that makes it easier to pull up, plus the auto deploy is just more stuff to go wrong.
The Riptide will work for fresh or salt, the fresh water Terrova's do not have the same level of protection as the salt ones. There are other differences but I do not remember what all they are.
I am only familiar with the MinnKota's, so I can not give any info on other brands.

[metlhead]

The Riptide Terrova I see has 90-115 lbs thrust. Plenty?

[MeepDog]

It’s definitely worth getting a bow mount in general. The size of correction you need from the stern for a slight adjustment for the wind is obnoxious, but with a bowmount it just steers easier. When I’m trolling fast I’ll use both and only steer with the bow mount.

[GWP]

While I would tentatively say “Yes” on the thrust, I sure have not regretted going bigger than necessary on mine.
Same with batteries. I have two Lithiums that are both at the high end of what they recommend for power. I have had to switch in a couple of high wind King Tide days.
As was said, and I do the same, I will lock my kicker in place at just above idle and steer with the bow mount.
One advantage using the bow mount is slowing a drift with it and having it hold the boat in a bow forward position. If you hit a good spot you can Spot lock to hold it there, then when it peters out release the spot lock and go right back to controlled drifting.
Once you get used to using one it would be hard to go back to not having it.
You can also program it to follow a pattern, and at the end, reverse the pattern back to where you started. It remains in the system if you save it so you can go back the next day and do it again.
My only complaint, if it really is one, is once you give it a command it may go full thrust to do it, which can be a bit abrupt.

[GWP]

I wear the controller around my neck with the lanyard under a button of my shirt or life vest so it is not flopping around and getting in the way. I have used the controller enough I seldom need to look at it to change settings.
That is also a safety factor as in 'If' I went over I could (in theory) spot lock it or have it come chase me down.
With the 80 lb on my 19' it will hit about 6 mph wide open with no help from the kicker. At just above an idle with the kicker I will leave it at a 4 to 6 (out of 10) and that is enough to have it in control for steering in current and maintain 3-6 mph.

[metlhead]

Great info. I also read that these motors also connect to your sounder/plotter. Any practical use for such a feature?

[HntnFsh]

Yes. Following contours. Following preset troll patterns. Retracing previous troll routes. Etc.

[BigGoonTuna]

I have a riptide terrova 80 on my 16’ sled. It’s definitely a game changer in lakes and the salt but I haven’t really messed around with it in the rivers, I like to anchor on seams and I don’t think catching the current on the edge of fast water would be much fun with the spot lock on.

I thought about getting the model that syncs with a fish finder but, but that locks you into buying a humminbird sonar.

[Angry Perch]

I have the same boat an installed a Riptide Instinct Quest last summer. Love it!!

[Angry Perch]

One more.

[GWP]

I will add that being able to control the bow mount from anywhere in the boat is sooooo nice I can not imagine to going back to a manually operated one.

[Stein]

I'll be the dissenting opinion, I'm a huge fan of running a kicker with autopilot vs a bow mount.  I will say that is for my fishing needs which are 90% trolling and 10% lings, hali and lake stuff.

A kicker on autopilot will do everything a bow mount will do except spot lock which admittedly can be dang handy a couple times a year.

It is a much simpler system and uses the kicker a guy needs anyway for trolling salt.  No extra motor, batteries, stuff cluttering up the front and yet another thing for a thief to target.

It is a total gamechanger, I can say I catch more fish with an autopilot hands down.  Even for lings, I am able to set my drift in wind and tide and do exactly what I want automatically and hands-free.

If you are a bass/crapie/whatever non-trolling lake stuff guy it likely would be a different answer.

For what you mentioned, I personally would be more happy with a kicker on autopilot than a bow mount.

[Stein]

I'll be the dissenting opinion, I'm a huge fan of running a kicker with autopilot vs a bow mount.  I will say that is for my fishing needs which are 90% trolling and 10% lings, hali and lake stuff.

A kicker on autopilot will do everything a bow mount will do except spot lock which admittedly can be dang handy a couple times a year.

It is a much simpler system and uses the kicker a guy needs anyway for trolling salt.  No extra motor, batteries, stuff cluttering up the front and yet another thing for a thief to target.

It is a total gamechanger, I can say I catch more fish with an autopilot hands down.  Even for lings, I am able to set my drift in wind and tide and do exactly what I want automatically and hands-free.  The Garmin autopilot is the bees knees, flawless, remote control, fully integrated into my chartplotter and works amazingly well.

If you are a bass/crapie/whatever non-trolling lake stuff guy it likely would be a different answer.

For what you mentioned, I personally would be more happy with a kicker on autopilot than a bow mount.

[Ironhead]

I just threw a Ulterra in the dump and went back to a Terrova.

[metlhead]

Auto pilot is another option I've considered. Primary use is trolling. My concern was response time in breezy conditions. Boat has a cabin making it easier to pull through conditions than to push. Contour following isn't sumpin I do often but is easy enough to do manually. Maybe do both?

[CP]

Brushed vs Brushless  .  Looks like about $700 difference, more or less.

Is brushless worth the extra $$?

[Stein]

Auto pilot is another option I've considered. Primary use is trolling. My concern was response time in breezy conditions. Boat has a cabin making it easier to pull through conditions than to push. Contour following isn't sumpin I do often but is easy enough to do manually. Maybe do both?

Contour following is interesting, in places like Possession it's a bit of a challenge as about 1/3 of the boats fishing Chinook just go straight and mess up the troll for the people trying to hold depth.  Out at Midchannel it's not as much an issue as everyone is going straight more or less.  Coho isn't a problem.

I haven't had an issue in wind.  When you are going 2-3+ mph, the kicker has plenty of power to keep the nose wherever I want it.  Bigger boats may be different, mine is 18' with pretty tall canvas.  The Garmin autopilot is quick, I had to actually tune mine way down to keep it from acting too quickly and often.

The Garmin unit is a bit of a process to install compared with a bow mount that I believe is just plug and play although I've never installed a bow mount, just ridden in boats with them.

[deerlick]

if you go with a bow mount for trolling, it is a must to get a skeg extension like a leelock. otherwise they kinda suck imo.

[Happy Gilmore]

Anyone who uses autopilot and spotlock when fishing popular fisheries and crowded conditions needs to get throat punched. I about ran over some dip*censored* in a windshield tin can about 5 times in one day at possession last season.

[CP]

if you go with a bow mount for trolling, it is a must to get a skeg extension like a leelock. otherwise they kinda suck imo.

I use the main engine as a rudder and the boat tracks great.  But, yeah, with the main raised it gets pretty squirrely.

[GWP]

Anyone who uses autopilot and spotlock when fishing popular fisheries and crowded conditions needs to get throat punched. I about ran over some dip*censored* in a windshield tin can about 5 times in one day at possession last season.

“I don’t like it when people do something I don’t like them doing”
🤣

Sorry Dude, couldn’t resist.

[CP]

Question for Minn Kota users:

Do you need an external heading sensor for spot lock and other features to work? 

[GWP]

I believe the Heading Sensor is only required for the "Jog" feature, which allows you to move 5' any direction from your locked position. Multiples can be pushed in at a time. I use the Jog pretty often.

[Happy Gilmore]

Anyone who uses autopilot and spotlock when fishing popular fisheries and crowded conditions needs to get throat punched. I about ran over some dip*censored* in a windshield tin can about 5 times in one day at possession last season.

“I don’t like it when people do something I don’t like them doing”
🤣

Sorry Dude, couldn’t resist.

Everyone trolls in a pattern, except that one guy. Happens on the bubble too. Usually not paying attention either. One dude multiple times last year in an all black pop can with two nets by himself.

[GWP]

 I do get it. I fished Lake Washington ONE TIME when they had a Sockeye season. Never again.
It was a Zoo and nearly step from boat to boat crowded.
One guy, by himself on a larger boat, hooked a fish and completely left the helm to get it in. He bumped at least 4 boats while he got the fish in. There were some pissed people!
That kind of 'combat' fishing is never fun for me so I avoid it. Same with bank fishing on the rivers and off docks. If it gets that packed I bail out.

[Badhabit]

Stein,
Are you using a pair of drift socks in the front of your boat to prevent wind drift of the bow?

[Happy Gilmore]

I do get it. I fished Lake Washington ONE TIME when they had a Sockeye season. Never again.
It was a Zoo and nearly step from boat to boat crowded.
One guy, by himself on a larger boat, hooked a fish and completely left the helm to get it in. He bumped at least 4 boats while he got the fish in. There were some pissed people!
That kind of 'combat' fishing is never fun for me so I avoid it. Same with bank fishing on the rivers and off docks. If it gets that packed I bail out.

Did Drano once. Never again. It was stupid. Bank fishing in groups can be super fun. Had some great times on the white river area with some great folks who all were intent on having fun no matter how many tangles we had

[Stein]

Stein,
Are you using a pair of drift socks in the front of your boat to prevent wind drift of the bow?

No, kicker keeps it where it needs to be.