New Graph or Trolling Motor?

All the discussion lately about side imaging sonar has me thinking.
I had been planning to buy a Minn Kota with power drive for sure and maybe autopilot.
I'm thinking now that a new graph might be money better invested... you know so I can better feed my kids!!
I have a cable operated trolling motor and a color graph with gps. Both work fine. When I get a bonus I plan to upgrade one of them.
I know some of you have the nicer trolling motor and the side imaging graph. If you had to give one up and take a step backwards what would you do?

Side imaging for me........I've only been on the water for 3 hours w/ my 997 and it is amazing.

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Originally Posted by Doodlesock

All the discussion lately about side imaging sonar has me thinking.
I had been planning to buy a Minn Kota with power drive for sure and maybe autopilot.
I'm thinking now that a new graph might be money better invested... you know so I can better feed my kids!!
I have a cable operated trolling motor and a color graph with gps. Both work fine. When I get a bonus I plan to upgrade one of them.
I know some of you have the nicer trolling motor and the side imaging graph. If you had to give one up and take a step backwards what would you do?

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so my opinion might be skewered :p
But, if I were to have to choose between them, I'd consider something first ... like: can I fish and control the boat the way I want to ? If I can, and my trolling motor was performing adequately enough to fish where and how I like to fish, then the graph would be my choice.
If, however, my trolling motor was not adequate to fish where/how I preferred, and my graph was good enough to put me/keep me on the spot I wanted to fish ... then, I'd go for the trolling motor.

Alot would depend on "how" I liked to fish, or what method was the most productive overall. If I did a lot of trolling (spider rig, longline, pulling/pushing, etc) then I think my choice would be much harder to make. Both of these items play an important role, in these methods. But, if you're fishing cover that's visible, or an area that you're very familiar with, the trolling motor is the more important item.

Like I said, my opinion might be skewered, since I've only had a boat (or fished from a boat) that had a foot controlled TM (<40lbs thrust) and a low end DF ;) ... so I have no experience with side imaging sonar, color graphs, autopilot TM's, etc. (so take my opinion for what it's worth)

... cp :cool:

CP is right on the money. Follow those criteria and you will make the right choice.

The Hound