Happy New Year's to you and yours from Lou-zee-ana....Thinking about trying some longlining down here in South La....Not many people do that here.I was just wondering what was the best trolling motor for that method of fishing? thanks...
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Happy New Year's to you and yours from Lou-zee-ana....Thinking about trying some longlining down here in South La....Not many people do that here.I was just wondering what was the best trolling motor for that method of fishing? thanks...
I use a Minn Kota Powerdrive V2 with the co-pilot...I want to upgrade to the I-pilot this year. The most important thing is to make sure your trolling motor variable speed.
Yep....What Dutch said....Gotta have one of those MK with the Auto Pilot...Takes the work out of operating the trolling motor so you can focus more on the fishing...:fishQuote:
Originally Posted by Dutch
Minn Kota with auto pilot for sure. I bet over 90% of long liners use some version of the MK autopilot. Ive seen videos of people trying to long line with hand control or foot control TM and you can tell its hard to keep the boat in control.
+1 MinnKota Powerdrive V2 with autopilot for me......do want to upgrade to a Terrova model with autopilot.....not completely sold on the Ipilot yet......I have had the chance to use them all and just don't see the $400 more to be that much of an advantage over just autopilot and variable speed footcontrol......just my thoughts
Just got the terrova for christmas with i-pilot it is great, now just got to get use to it. So far I love it.
I upgraded to a Terrova w/ IP, and its really nice to have. I longline 99% of the time and had a MG foot controlled TM before the Terrova/IP. I don't use the IP for recording the tracks, but use the AutoPilot, & the cruise control for setting the course and speed, then I can focus on the fishing rather than controlling the boat like I did with the MG. I use the spotlock/anchor lock to hold the boat in a general spot while re-tying, looking for a different color lure, etc. The constant on and variable speed allows me to set a speed and forget it from .5mph on up depending on what the fish want. The Autopilot will hold a course (compass heading) but does wander off with help from wind or current but will get back on course eventually. I've use the record a track several times but you have to remember to set it to record before you make your run and I never know if the fish are gonna be at that waypoint until I get there. I usually run several different waypoints/marked structure in a track, but the fish may be on one side or the other so I usually don't use the record a track that much. A Terrova with AP would still be a good thing for longlining without the IP imo.
MK PD V2 with I-pilot. It's the "cream of the crop" for longliners. You wont have to worry anymore about boat speed or driving the boat and can concentrate on your fishing.Thumbs Up
So with the i-pilot you can set your speed on say .7 mph and it will keep it there? If so will it compensate for wind/current an stay on .7 ?
Yes it will. I have the I-Pilot and love it...After I go thru an area a few times catching fish I record it and let it drive!!! And yes, you can set it for say .9 and it will compensate when the wind picks up...I can really tell this when I have 1 or 2 rods to get hung at the same time. When they slow the boat down the trolling motor speeds up trying to keep the same speed that I set... It was worth the money for me.
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Originally Posted by LY34
Now thats pretty cool. Looks like I need to sale both my Powerdrive AP's an get me a Terrova with that I-pilot $$$ Whats a 24 volt PD AutoPilot used worth. One has newer plug were foot control plugs in. Its almost brand new #70ilb. thrust. The other has older style plug and is #65ilb 24 volt an used. Both have long shaft.
I definitely reccomend the I-pilot as the best for crappie fishing period! I would get the Terrova if possible it is a little easier to deploy and you can also keep the footpedal. The anchor feature is great, the cruise is awesome for controling speed and having the ability to save tracks you trolled helps too. I am no wild about the gps autopilot, but the traditional setting works flawless for longlining. Well worth the $400 if you plan to longline. The autopilots are a great way to start and you can do well with just that, but the I-pilot is so much better. My favorite feature is the cruise control on windy days. Using the auto pilot you have to watch your speed during wind gusts, but the cruise control feature maintains your speed under all conditions.
The trolling motor will compensate for a headwind slowing the boat but it does take a moment for this to happen. An example is lets say you have your boat running .9 mph and hit a real strong headwind. The boat could slow to .7 before the trolling motor kicks it's speed up (and this doesnt take long with a strong gust) and it could stay strong until you reach a speed of 1.0 mph before slowing back down. Alot of trollers I've spoke with dont like the IP and have sold theirs since buying 'em because of this and say theyre not accurate enough on a constant speed with all the variables out there (wind, current, etc). I am more than satisfied with mine as I dont really have it down to a science of exactly where my jigs are running down to the inch and at what speed the crappie want the jig to swim. I guess the bottom line is I'm not a tournament fisherman and am very happy with the numbers and size of the fish I catch without worrying as much about it as others might. I will say there's room for MinnKota to improve on some things with the I-pilot but I still think this is a very good product for trollers.
Sell old motor and use that to buy Copilot for the motor you have way cheaperQuote:
Originally Posted by LY34
Mine stays within a tenth of a mile most of the time. If the wind gets up too bad, turn off cruise control. Still has all traditional features, I haven't heard of anyone unhappy. This product is like any other you have to learn it's application. I have tried all products out there and the I-pilot is by far the best for longlining. I hardly ever touch the remote except to turn. Without it you will definitely have to adjust for wind and current. The only time mine is slow is when I use the GPS autopilot and again I only use the traditional version, without the circle around it.
Used a buddies Co-Pilot years ago. Not for me. I like the cruise control feature of the I-Pilot. Sounds nice. If you can set it at 1mph an stay within a few tenths thats perfect. I've caught alot of good fish when slowing down or speeding up anyway.
Ditto! I've even stopped the tm blade from turning and let the speed slow down a couple tenths and started it back up and caught fish on calm days. Anything to get 'em to bite.Thumbs UpQuote:
Originally Posted by LY34
Any Minn Kota with the I-pilot would be the best for long lining. You can set the cruise control and record a track and keep on whacking the fish and not fight the trolling motor.... Thumbs up all the way!
Terrova with Ipilot hands down. I use it for longlining and tightlining (crappie) an freelining, downlining, and pulling boards (striper). I use the gps AP and the cruise control then just sit back with my hands behind my head waiting on a pole to bow over. Almost fell asleep one day lol. The best part is you can walk all over the boat, turn your back and look away, etc. and not have to worry about the boat doing crazy things. Makes it really efficient to fish by yourself. Only trouble you run into is when you get strong gust or if the wind is blowing from variable directions. When this happens just turn of the cruise control and turn off the gps AP. Still light years beyond the old motors. :fish
I havent owned a Terrova but I have owned 2 Powerdrive V2's. I see alot of guys posting to buy the T's but unless you use the foot petal I wouldnt pay the difference between the two. IMO, you'll NEVER use the foot petal when slow trollling or longlining and I cannot see why you'd pay the difference. Most guys say they've removed the foot petal and have it stored somewhere in their boats. Besides, trying to control the boat with an electric foot petal seems like a real pain compared to a cable steer foot petal. I've fished in the timber tightlining minnows with multiple poles with the remote control and never had anymore problems than I did with my hand control trolling motor. Does the T have enough upgrades over the PD's to warrant paying the difference if you dont use the foot petal? If so, what are they?
I have the Terrova with I-pilot and love it. One difference the T has over the PD is the way it deploy's. Not sure if this alone is worth the extra $, but its SO much easier.IMO I'm not sure, but can u get the PD in 80 and 100 lbs.?
I am looking to buy one.and the thing I found out for the new 2012 models is the pd v2 if you put the I pilot on it you can't have a foot pedal at all.the terrova you can have it all.i still want the foot controll for shooting docks and thing like that.so for me I will wait a few more months to save the money for the terrova it just seems to be the best of both worlds
How much would a terrova with I pilot cost? I need to upgrade bad im still running the foot controll and no variable speed ....alls good till I catch a fish and have to leave the t.m. for a minute,then what a mess!
A friend of mine just bought a 45 lb thrust PD V2 with I-Pilot...and it has the foot control with it...I didn't know the PD V2 came in anything less than 55 lb thrust...Just wonder why this 45 lb PD V2 has the foot pedal but the larger thrust PD V2's motors dont...I still haven't jumped on the I-Pilot train as of yet. I guess I am just set in my ways with my Auto Pilot and hand control.
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Originally Posted by gabowman
GA from what I have read or heard the T is a beefier motor all around and it had better steering. That is why I went with it. I had a 1st generation PD on my boat but sold it as I did not like the response time and it was under powered. I am one of the few that actually still use my petal.
I got a I-Pilot PD on my new Triton boat and I love the I-Pilot. I don't miss the foot pedal at all. I bought a spare remote and hopefully I am ready for anything. To me it makes trolling so much easier and I can go to the back of the boat to help my wife and net her fish and steer from back there without running to the front of the boat if I am in alot of traffic. Wes
Wow,thanks for the info....good stuff!