You have the money for 1 not both what do you buy? And why?
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You have the money for 1 not both what do you buy? And why?
Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
First, I know nothing about either, but have considered the same question. Seems to me that power poles are mostly for shallow’ish water, but spot lock could be used in all depths. So, I was thinking spot lock.
I’ll be interested to hear from folks who actually know :)
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Il just bought a mk ulterra but haven't had it out but twice. But I think that having spot lock on previous tm I like it better, if I am fishing bridges you can't use a power pole there.
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What they said
Power pole would just be good in shallow water. I would rather have the spock lock use it any depth.
LittleJohn
Spot lock, hands down no questions about it.
Yep power pole only good 8 feet or so and will be in your way at back of boat. Just one power pole and you turn in circles or rear will always face the current. Love my spot lock. Any depth and no extra obstruction when fishing. Front of boat faces fishing spot. Power pole kinda a bass and coast fishing thing.
Spot lock
Spot lock! :twocents
Power Pole is pretty much only useful if you bass fish or salt water fish in the bays and sounds. Last Saturday we caught some 2 lb. crappie in 18"-22" of water. You need long poles (18') and able to move around the spawning grounds, not anchored in one spot.
I've had Spot Lock for several years and it is useless. It is constantly jerking the boat back and forth trying to get it back to the GPS position. The idea behind Spot Lock is great, but even with the latest upgrade, I still cannot use it to fish. I only use Spot Lock in the mornings when I am getting my rods prepped to start fishing.
BUT, the other features on the Minn Kota I-Pilot is something I use every time out fishing. The True North (straight line) and Cruise Control are features I consistently use, especially when long-lining. The latest software upgrade really dialed in the Cruise Control. I like to long-line from .8 to 1.1. Going into the wind or with the wind, the CC works great. When fishing the spawning grounds last weekend, I used the True North to keep the boat slowly easing around in the shallow water. I can still turn left or right, but with TN on, you move at a much slower speed and spook fewer fish.
I've seen spot lock used in some riverine places where you wouldn't want to drop an anchor. Yes it moved you around some but it worked well.
I have both an Ulterra and 2 Talons. I'll give you my opinion.
Don't go with power pole. Look for a good deal on Talons. Much easier to install and they go straight down.
As far is spot lock goes....
Don't expect for spot lock to stop your boat from swinging around or to hold you on a tree vertical fishing. GPS is not accurate enough to do this. Spotlock works good for holding you still for cast and retrieve type fishing but not for situations where you need a very tight line. Spot lock works best when there is current or wind. You can setup into wind and the current or wind will help the trolling motor to stay "revved up". If it is dead calm. The trolling motor will not rev up fast enough to keep you from drifting. When you drift, it will spin up late and over compensate because it has drifted too far.
Shallow water anchors work GREAT and are perfect for staying dead still on a spot. If you have two, they will stop your boat from spinning and you NEVER know when the wind is going to shift on you. You can buy talons in 15 foot now. I have two twelve footers and LOVE them.
I bought the ulterra trying to avoid spending money on the Talons and I've discovered they really are two different things. Spotlock is just not good enough to work for me in all the situations I want to fish. It just isn't. When vertical fishing. One foot can make a difference between catching a 100 fish and not catching anything. Also, it is almost impossible to hold on a dock with just spotlock.
If I had to choose between the two, I would buy the Ulterra. Just don't expect it to do everything you want it to do. There are plenty of situation where Spotlock will not hold you where you want to be. You just can't set it and forget it. Even with the heading sensor it will not keep your boat from swinging or swapping ends under many circumstances.
Just my penny.
Spot lock is great on brush pile fishing. Yes it moves around a little until it gets the boat down wind but on a windy day I find it a must for brush piles. Absolutely hands free fishing with the brush always on the screen. If you position the boat first and then hit spot lock there is very little “jerking”. I find the movement or adjusting of position helpful while on brush. It helps you fish all around the structure with no buoy marker to tangle with. Fish are sometimes to the left or right and not dead center of the structure so the movement can help.
How often do you find crappie in shallow water Depth to be able to use Talons. I see the bass guys shallow all the time. But other than the spawn they are deeper. I have debated this heavily. I went with the Ultera, and for more than just spot lock. With stiff joints it is so nice to push a button and u it comes.
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I have this opinion. I'm sure some people will disagree. I believe you can find a crappie shallow somewhere.... about 90 percent of the time. Structure. Structure. Structure. High Rock is full of it less than 15 feet.Quote:
Originally Posted by tahoe 50
I agree with you on the Ulterra benefits. I love all the other features. I was just honestly disappointed in the spot lock feature. I really was. Still am. There are just scenarios where it doesn't really work like I want it to work.
You just can't control the wind. There have been plenty of times I've been setup into the wind to only have the wind change directions and whip my boat around before the Ulterra could compensate. Trolling motors are just too slow to spin up from running slow or cutting off.
Regardless of the hype. Civilian GPS is large only accurate within 3 meters or close to 10 feet. In fact, GPS works better when you're moving. Due to the fact you have a consistent trajectory. Not when you're dead still. I'm just sharing my experience. I have the latest Ulterra model. I have the latest firmware. I have the heading sensor and there are far too many times the wind has overcome the Spotlocks ability to compensate. Heck, I've had it almost throw people out of the boat trying to compensate. Or worse yet, Reverse direction and throw water into the tree I'm trying to fish and scare all the fish away.
When I fish docks, brush or etc now. I find a spot where I can put down my talons and still work the area good.
Have you tried to adjust your boat scale so that it doesn’t throw you around too bad when it “corrects”Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance
I'm not certain how to do that. I assumed the heading sensor setup process that involves making complete circles would learn details such as this.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHC
I'll check it out. Thanks!
You would think that and I agree with you, but I had to do a lot of input when I set mine up. It's not your average T/M any more. But dang is it sweet. And all of the set up to use it with a Helix was so much fun. I downloaded the manuals about a month before I bought mine and put the on my phone so I could look at them on the water if I had a problem. And I am still learning about it.
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That is (and I assumed since you said you had the latest Ulterra) if you have iPilot Link. I don’t think it’s available on the regular iPilot, or at least it’s not on mine.Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance
It's on mine and I have link w/Mega DI
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I don't have the Link version. I didn't want to spend the extra money but I kinda regret doing it. Those cables are ungodly expensive too. I just downloaded the iPilot manual and it has it in there for the non link version. I'll check. I appreciate the info. I really appreciate it!
I didn't even think to download the iPilot manual. I assumed I could figure it out . :)Quote:
Originally Posted by tahoe 50
Thanks for the info. I agree the Ulterra is sweet. My back thanks me every time I hit the deploy and stow button!
I have the Helix with Mega but didn't get the Link. If you have the Helix, they just released an update that makes the 2D depth track better. The update works good. I hated how mine would jump around.Quote:
Originally Posted by tahoe 50
I have my talons attached to the Helix via BT I just hold the check button to deploy and stow the talons. You can even tell what depth each on is at and set them separately. I've even adjusted the Helix depth offset to match what the Talons read. I love these talons so far.
I have given them some serious thought for my next boat. My present boat is just to small, and getting smaller. All of the new toys I have installed take up a lot of space. I installed the Ethernet system in my boat and networked three sonars and the T/M. It's great. But a huge learning curve.
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