Best TM With Anchor Option

Im considering a change in trolling motors. Just started doing some trolling and will continue to single or 2 pole brush and stake beds. Even spider rig some structure as well.
But the key component that I would need is the anchor or lock option. I would like to stay in a particular spot or position and not fight the boat.
The rig is a 1860 G3 tiller set up. I currently have dedicated 24volt for my 75# thrust trolling motor now. I fish big, open waters like KY Lake and Lake Barkley. Also travel to Mississippi a couple times every year.
Any advise or comments are welcome. Im not brand specific.

Thanks,
Brian

If your thinking about going big or go home.... Then go with the Ulterra.

If ya dont wanna spend that much, used terrova's are about to be priced "RIGHT" because of the introduction of the Ulterra. If u were planning on buying a new Terrova, Go ahead and spend the extra money and get the Ulterra.


I have an ulterra ordered and cant wait til that sucker comes in!

I recently changed to a MotorGuide Xi5 PinPoint. My primary interest was in the anchor function. I took a chance because nobody around here had one I could check out. I had it out last week for 4 days in mostly windy conditions and I'm sold on it. Here's a excerpt of a post from my state forum about the Xi5. I'll get it out again early next week for about 10 days or so.

"BTW, I was just as pleased with the Xi5 trolling motor. The Pinpoint system makes it sing! I used the anchor function repeatedly during the trip in strong swirling winds and mild winds and it never failed me. Sat by one bush for almost 30 minutes in strong swirling winds. Another great feature for me is when I need to change terminal tackle I just park it and take my time. Easily done. Before I would have to move way out to open water or tie up somewhere to change. It was like having another person in the boat to take over the TM while I modified my equipment. I'm learning to use the foot control but a dislike (for me) is the fact I can't hear the on-off sound on the foot control. I have to check to see if it is actually working. I'm sure I'll leave it on someday and run the batteries down."

I have a minnkota with ipilot. It's a great motor and very reliable. The spot lock feature works well but not perfectly. It's better in wind or current but works ok in all conditions. Will it keep you directly over a brush pile like your double anchored? No it won't, but neither will a single anchor. Im actually learning to like some of the pulsing and have successfully fished deep brush many times and am able to use jigging mode on my fishfinder without issue. When it doesn't seem to be working well enough I just anchor or tie off but that's pretty rare. I went with this motor over the motor guide because of the issues I heard and read about motorguide. Also figured there was always the possibility of a minnkota improvement that would allow me to upgrade to a more accurate control head.

I'm for the Xi5. I agree with IkenI, a little wind and she holds even better. I really like the remote, thought I would prefer the foot control, but the remote is really easy to use. No more catching a fish and having the wind blow you 50' away as you unhook. The Xi5 is truly like having a fishing partner on board.

I'll also paste a quote from a previous post; "Last week I was on the lake and twice I monitored it intently. I parked by trees for reference and the Xi5 kept me within 2-3' for 10+ minutes both times. In playing with it, I marked a waypoint by another stump then fished away from it. When I told it to go back to that waypoint (probably 30 yds away), it got within 5 feet".

You can get the 24v Xi5 from Universal Mania for $1260 shipped.

I honestly can't see spending $2000 on an anchor when $10 of rope and a $20 anchor does the job. I do however, have a Minnkota ST with Ipilot and wouldn't own a boat without one. Minnkotas are best built, quieter, and best motors for multi poling direction and speed. Best customer Service and have been proven autopilots for over 25 years. The addition of the cruise control and anchor features just add to the icing on the cake. Plus, you can see your speed on their remote.

I personally, have no problem with the anchor feature on Minnkota doing as it was intended. Though, many will tell you the two GPS hold you better with Motorguide. I can be trolling on the flats casting bars and points for redfish and hit the anchor button in heavy tidal waters and be ready to cast back to spot after a 10 minute fight with a fish. Same in tail race below dam when striper fishing. Now on calmer conditions on lake I time cruise control against wind and use autopilot to keep the boat straight. If I am going to anchor on an open water spot I go up wind drop a real anchor and let out line until over the spot. I just don't believe in anchoring much. My uncle who taught me a lot about fishing always said " better to go to fish than wait on them to come to you". So I guess it has stuck with me. I usually spider rig brush and move on to next pile.

I would buy the Minnkota if spending my money every time. It is better built, proven and more versatile.

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Originally Posted by crappielimits

I would buy the Minnkota if spending my money every time. It is better built, proven and more versatile.

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Reason I went with MG, read where three MK users who had ridden in MG boats, say the Xi5 was quite a bit better than their MK's when anchoring. More versatile, better built, and proven? That's subjective.

You are right in that $30 worth of rope and anchor will do the job, but the anchor feature let's you stop at the drop of the hat. No figuring out how much line to hold me in 20' of water, etc.
The anchor feature has totally changed the way and ease of fishing for me.

I don't have a real anchor in my Lund. And I went from a Minnkota to my Xi5. Choices.....guess that's the reason there's more than one made.

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Originally Posted by okhawg

Reason I went with MG, read where three MK users who had ridden in MG boats, say the Xi5 was quite a bit better than their MK's when anchoring. More versatile, better built, and proven? That's subjective.

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Proven: Minnkota developed the Autopilot and electric steer trolling motors over 25 years ago and crappie anglers have trusted it that long. Motorguide tried the pinpoint before and it was a disaster. Minnkota has had GPS trolling motors since 2006. Motorguide less than two.

Versatile: Minnkota offers many more features. Cruise control controls speed and speed is displayed on the remote. I link is offered with Minnkota which works with Lakemaster maps which includes Autocharts where you can map any body of water with your own data including side images. The I link is also rechargeable. The Minnkota autopilot offers the classic or advanced mode which is better for spider rigging and longlining. Maximized saves battery for all day trolling. Just to name a few.

Better built: Minnkota has a much better mounting base. Which is easier to deploy. The shaft is much stronger and durable. All control boards are protected and sealed better. You also have more options of motors at different price points, but the Terrova is a hoss compared to the MG. compare the same pound thrust MG next to a Terrova and the shaft , foot, mount, and even wiring harness are bigger/better made on Minnkota. Ultegra is new technology and will have hiccups as X5 but nothing is or will be in its class when all the bugs are worked.

You will always have some who like other certain products that others don't . To each their own. I have been blessed to have fished many products hard over the last 20 years. Spending a lot of money. Much of it early on was wasted on the next big thing or products meant to sell fishermen and not so much fish. Through that I have learned to be patient and wait on things to prove they are worth my dollar and will hold up. I try to give honest feedback and save someone the headache of a $2000 mistake. I hope everyone who buys the XI5 gets what they expect out of their motor and enjoy it. As far as an anchor goes MG maybe better at this time.

oh......kay. I've used MinnKotas for years. They are a good motor. But, I like my Xi5 better for my type fishing. Are you on commission?
:Rofl

No sir I am not on commission. I am a firefighter for my career and also lay ceramic tile on my days off duty. I am glad you enjoy your motor and definitely hope it lasts for you. I also understand that other parts of the country have different patterns and tactics for catching crappie. Some may feel the need more for a motor to anchor them above brush. I fished tournaments for many years and saw many different ways to catch crappie. Sorry if I offended anyone I gave my honest review and questions were asked so I clarified in an attempt to help someone make a safe decision. Unfortunately, for my family $2000 is a lot to spend on anything and I have to be wise when buying a product of that expense. I just want to try to give the most factual review to help someone have review from someone without a financial interest. That's what this and other sites should be about.

I'm not offended. I just find it humorous that someone is so stuck on the product that he likes that he thinks that's the product everyone should have and is the only good choice. There are many ways to crappie fish and not everyone does it the same. I've used both brands of trolling motors for many, many years. i have had good and bad experiences with each brand. I agree that $2000 is a lot to spend on anything but that's almost $750 more than my Xi5 cost me after shopping around. And, btw....this thread is called "Best TM with Anchor Option."

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Originally Posted by IkenI

I'm not offended. I just find it humorous that someone is so stuck on the product that he likes that he thinks that's the product everyone should have and is the only good choice. There are many ways to crappie fish and not everyone does it the same. I've used both brands of trolling motors for many, many years. i have had good and bad experiences with each brand. I agree that $2000 is a lot to spend on anything but that's almost $750 more than my Xi5 cost me after shopping around. And, btw....this thread is called "Best TM with Anchor Option."

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I dont get that opinion from any other post here. Everyone else stated why they thought which trolling motor was the best for anchoring and then highlighted on other aspects of the TM and your the only one that seems unhappy with the replies. Ive read the MG best feature is the anchoring and I think most everyone here agreed with that, but thinks it lacks alot in other areas compared to MK

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Originally Posted by clfarms1

I dont get that opinion from any other post here. Everyone else stated why they thought which trolling motor was the best for anchoring and then highlighted on other aspects of the TM and your the only one that seems unhappy with the replies. Ive read the MG best feature is the anchoring and I think most everyone here agreed with that, but thinks it lacks alot in other areas compared to MK

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I get that opinion, and concur with Iken1. Crappielimits really likes MK's, his reasoning is subjective. I have owned multiple MK's and now 2 MG's in a row. The anchor lock works very well on the Xi5, the battery life seems very good, the heading lock works well, and it goes to the waypoints with the Pinpoint function; all that it is supposed to do. Does it lack a lot compared to a MK, it is all subjective, but I doubt it.

it's like, I have a Chevy Equinox, but I drive Fords all the time both good products, but I'll keep my Equinox thank you.

I fish Pickwick a lot...which is just down the river from Kentucky Lake and pretty similar in terms of offering big expanses of wind-swept water. I've had an 80 lb thrust terrova with iPilot on my bow for the past three years and I absolutely love it.

I upgraded to that model because on those big, open, windy waters like you're talking about, my old 45 lb thrust motor wasn't cutting it. Too many times it was overpowered by the wind and my fishing trips turned into exercises in boat control rather than fishing.

The iPilot fixed that problem immediately. It has plenty of power for a boat my size and it has a very good set of features to that augment my fishing style. Sometimes I'm bass fishing and want to stay on one spot to cast at a particular rock. I hit the spot lock and it keeps me there. If I catch a fish I no longer get blown off the spot while I'm fighting him, then find myself wondering which rock I was casting to when he hit me...the spot lock keeps me right there.

Other times I'm spider rigging and want to go one particular direction at a particular speed. I can dial in my speed and hit the auto-pilot and it does the rest. If it's a heavy wind the speed and course can be tough to hold but that's no different from any other trolling motor. When the wind is 5 to 10 MPH and gusting to 15 or 20 you're not going to keep a steady speed with any trolling motor on the planet...nor will any of them be able to keep you exactly on a spot in those conditions.

I haven't priced any models recently, but I can tell you that as a hard core user of the features on the terrova, it's a very robust and versatile machine. I can't imagine you won't be able to use it's features to augment whatever you're doing on the water.

Another really nice benefit of the spot lock is that when I'm out in the middle of the lake fishing structure and the wind is blowing and rollers and pushing down the lake, and the current is whipping through from the dam...I can use the spot lock to hold me in place while I walk to the back of the boat and re-tie. I don't have to fool with a foot pedal, or drop an anchor...I just hit the button and it holds me in the area (it won't hold you right on a small spot under those conditions...it has a 'range' of maybe five yards it tries to keep you in). I just sit in the back of the boat, take my sweet time to make sure it's all done right...then get back to fishing.

Still other times, based on the way the wind is blowing the boat, it may be better to fish from the back of the boat. Here again all I have to do is hit spot lock, then walk to the back. If i decide to change position a little I can just use the remote and do it from the rear...I don't have to walk up front and mess with the pedal.

when I'm fishing with the kids I'll have them on the front deck and use the remote from somewhere else to give them room. I'll just sit at the console and run the trolling motor from there.

Another option you have is to "double anchor" by using a regular anchor on one end and your iPilot spot-lock on the other. i always have a regular anchor on board anyway, and this allows me to get even more precision...but only having to fool with pulling up one anchor. You can simply drop one, then use the iPilot to pull you into place and hold you there.

It's an incredibly powerful and versatile piece of gear. I won't ever own another fishing boat without these types of features in a trolling motor.

Again, I'm not up to date on brands and prices, all I can tell you is that for the past three years I've run my Terrova hard on lakes like you're talking about and it's performed perfectly.

Thought I should upgrade my previous post about the spot lock feature on the ipilot. I just upgraded my battery and have seen a vast improvement in performance when using spot lock. Actually can't imagine it being better. Not sure if all issues with a wandering anchor function will be improved by a new and better battery but for me it is night and day. Spent 45 minutes in a stiff current and hardly moved the whole time, awesome.