Opinion poll on anchoring systems

I have 70 lb minkota maxxum variable speed , I wouldnt trade it for 2 ipilots, when vertical jigging I like to use a rod in each hand therefore the ipilots has to be used with foot control and the noise those things make will drive ya up a wall, if your pullin cranks or spidering the remote could be handy but u can also just get your speed right and set it on continuous run , just don't see spending the money on em , not for me ! This is only my opinion and there again others will say they are the greatest thing ever invented!

I would recommend that you just solely use your foot controlled trolling motor. Don't worry about messing with anchors.

I never anchor, ipilot is all I use.

If I'm fishing a brush pile I throw out a bouy and stay on the trolling motor. If I'm fishing a general area kind of like lake x,y,z or something like that I put my spot lock on the i pilot and let it do the work. If you really watch craigslist you can get a heck of a deal on a terrova from time to time. I drove down to northern LA and picked one up with ipilot and us2 for $750 and it was in excellent condition.

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Originally Posted by crappie greg

i have 70 lb minkota maxxum variable speed , i wouldnt trade it for 2 ipilots, when vertical jigging i like to use a rod in each hand therefore the ipilots has to be used with foot control and the noise those things make will drive ya up a wall, if your pullin cranks or spidering the remote could be handy but u can also just get your speed right and set it on continuous run , just don't see spending the money on em , not for me ! This is only my opinion and there again others will say they are the greatest thing ever invented!

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Spot Lock on the Terrova works pretty good. I have an 8' MK Talon on my boat that I'm going to upgrade to a 12' when it's available. I use chains occasionally.

12' talon in my immediate future. I'm pretty good with boat control with the trolling motor because I've never used anything else but on the pretty windy days it will wear you out. The older I get the less I like to have to work hard. Lol

Got a new boat in 2004, got an ipilot on recommendation. 2 months later, traded it in on a Maxxum 70. Got new boat in 2006, kept the TM. I had no use for the electronic TM's. I keep a 15 lb anchor on a rope, just coiled in the front. I use it only when I chunk a buoy on a brushpile and just want to fish it from a cast away. Windy days will be here from ....... um ......... tomorrow, until about August!!!

If I'm moving all around a brushpile or structure, I do what these guys do and just 'stroll' around it. I need to kick TM on/off/on/off/on/off with foot, and use both hands to fish. I also can raise and lower it without having to walk to the bow of boat.

My two cents.

I use an ipilot. Hand held controls is an adjustment. Spot lok allows me to dual pole when the wind is bearable, but when the winds pick up, spot lok does not always keep my boat in position as well as I would like when vertical fishing.

Overall I like the ipilot technology and glad i invested. but if you are on a budget, you can buy a nice foot controlled trolling motor for a lot less money and stay on the fish.
I would not drop an anchor while vertical fishing. Scares the big ones away.....

I never stop.:biggrin