Bow mount trolling motors

[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.