Spot Lock plus manual anchor combination

Has anyone tried using the electronic spot lock of a trolling motor along with an old style anchor off of the back of the boat to prevent boat swing when wind changes direction?

I have a first generation Terrova trolling motor. The spotlock/anchor accuracy is not that great. I might be able to manage the movement up front better if I could keep the back of the boat from swinging to compound the problem.

Any thoughts or wisdom shared would be greatly appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

Use a drift sock

I do it all the time. It helps a bunch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barnettcrew

Has anyone tried using the electronic spot lock of a trolling motor along with an old style anchor off of the back of the boat to prevent boat swing when wind changes direction?

I have a first generation Terrova trolling motor. The spotlock/anchor accuracy is not that great. I might be able to manage the movement up front better if I could keep the back of the boat from swinging to compound the problem.

Any thoughts or wisdom shared would be greatly appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

---

I tried it. My spotlock sucks. I got rid of it. Main problem with conventional anchor and spot lock it still won't hold you near close enough to vertical fish which is why bought it. Mine was the older model as well. Pissed me off that Minkota improved it but you have to buy a motor with it installed. Guess that's one way to make money. Screw your loyal customers that trusted your word.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sawdustsavage

I tried it. My spotlock sucks. I got rid of it. Main problem with conventional anchor and spot lock it still won't hold you near close enough to vertical fish which is why bought it. Mine was the older model as well. Pissed me off that Minkota improved it but you have to buy a motor with it installed. Guess that's one way to make money. Screw your loyal customers that trusted your word.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

---

What did you buy to replace your minnkota with the junky spotlock

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Yikes. I was vertical fishing big columns under an I-75 bridge in windy conditions Saturday, and my Terrova spot lock worked well, but I had to "help" it when the boat would swing toward the column to avoid banging my tin boat by giving it a shove. Sorry to hear the older ones can't be upgraded, 'cause the new one works great IMO. This was 24V 80lb thrust on a light 17' Alweld with Yamaha 50 - not a heavy boat.

Yeah the GPS loses it's signal under bridges. It is not recommended to use spotlock under bridges.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

After three back surgeries and a broken back, I fish from the back of my Lund tiller. I was getting ready to buy a Minnkota with Spot Lock, in hopes of my having to lift anchor days would be over. This is making me rethink the investment and just become a troller!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by USMA65

After three back surgeries and a broken back, I fish from the back of my Lund tiller. I was getting ready to buy a Minnkota with Spot Lock, in hopes of my having to lift anchor days would be over. This is making me rethink the investment and just become a troller!!!

---

As we say in walleye fishing: If you want great spotlock, purchase a Motorguide XI5. If you want a unit that works great for trolling, purchase a Minn Kota with I pilot.

The motorguide is much better than the Minnkota at spotlock or anchor lock. On the other hand, the Minnkota is above and beyond when it comes to trolling. If however Motorguide would actually produce a handheld remote with a screen on it so you could tell how fast you were going, what setting your TM was in, and so on, I think they might start to edge out MinnKota.

That said, Lowrance has a trolling motor coming out in 2019 and I beleive Garmin has one in the works as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Yeah the GPS loses it's signal under bridges. It is not recommended to use spotlock under bridges.

Sent from my E6810 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

---

Didn't lose the signal because the bridge is so high, its way up there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by USMA65

After three back surgeries and a broken back, I fish from the back of my Lund tiller. I was getting ready to buy a Minnkota with Spot Lock, in hopes of my having to lift anchor days would be over. This is making me rethink the investment and just become a troller!!!

---

Don’t let my experience with the first generation Terrova scare you off. I’ve heard really good things about the latest offerings from Minn Kota as far as spot lock goes. I had thought about saving for the new Ultrex, but may try to save for the Ulterra instead. The idea of being able to deploy and stow the trolling motor while in the back of the boat sounds very appealing to me. Especially at my age.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I had the 1st gen Ulterra and the spot lock was horrible unless you were facing a current or a stiff wind. Doing that and it would hold you dead on.....but on flat water you would be all over the place. I now own the 2nd gen Ulterra and it keeps you where you put it. I fish under bridges...in tail races. I pull up to a mooring cell where the current is subject to switch back and forth....or be flat calm. It keeps me dead on where I lock it. With the 1st gen it would have put me in the mooring cell. I have no clue how good the Xi5 is or isn’t....I can tell you the 2nd gen Spot lock I own is dead balls on. The difference between 1st and 2nd generation Minn Kota spot lock is night and day.

Regards


Sent from my iPad using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

I appreciate the input. Since I’m not going to be buying a new trolling motor soon and I have an anchor lying around, I’ll give it a shot next time I go out.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

My Xi5 is terrific on spot lock. Even on a 16' s-16 lund that blows in the wind like a leaf.

I've considered the anchoring from the rear also, haven't tried it so I can't report on how it would work. I do get some drift in wind gusts that can be annoying but it holds up well regardless.

I love my trolling motor, it cost more than 50% of what the boat did and I would buy it two more times if I had to.

I will agree on the 1st gen Minn kotas. I bought a 2018 ranger and had it rigged with an Ultrex. It would hold in spotlock very well. I sold it back early spring. I have since bought an older boat and a used Ulterra. The older ulterras spot lock is nowhere near what the newer generations are. It over compensates in low wind and doesnt hold as tight as the newer one did. The newer ones are the business!!