hand controlled

anybody use a bow mounted hand controlled tm thinking of going with the hand controlled with limited room and bad knees its sounding better all the time be interested in hearing any pros or cons thanks

Cons...you have to quit fishing to position the boat. Pros...it's easier to run sitting down. Bad knees= hand controlled. Fishing is supposed to be enjoyable not painful.

Hand control takes up your hands and works on lower back. I reccomend a minnkota with copilot and autopilot.

For single pole fishing, ie. tightlining or fishing the banks during the spawn, I'd have no other.

Hand controlled all the way!!! My Tracker came with a foot controlled Motor Guide. I fished out of a 14-36 MonArk jon boat for many years, which had a hand controlled TM. After the 2nd trip in the Tracker with the FC motor, it was not a hard decision to make replacing the FC with a HC. When jiggin, left hand on TM for complete control without any attention.........jig pole in right hand with full attention. Wouldn't have a FC if you bought it and payed me to use it!!! That's just me!!!

Luvjign::::My sentiments perzactly!!!!!:D

I use a powerdrive TM I bought the wireless control...didn't like it beeped everytime you pushed a button. I then bought the hand held controller, I lay it across my leg and it works great. It will reach anywhere in the boat.
doesn't get in the way. Never go without it.

I have to second luvjign all the way.I have mine set up to where when I pole fish my h/c t/m with the bow mount falls off the very front of the boat where I fish off of the front and a partner fishes just behind me.When I troll (spider rig) I move my bow mount to where the t/m falls off the side of the boat to where I can fish by myself or with someone.To move the bow mount around takes all of 5 minutes.

hey wayne... i used hand controlled for long time! I enjoyed it especially when I put extension handle on it. you can adjust longer handle up/down or wherever and I used to used my knee to turn if my hands were tied up! I even thought about going to one when the one I have on now goes out! You just have to get used to it, but I think you would like it! saves alot of space on floor and less things to go wrong!!

I would agree with luvjign and the others. I have a HC on a scissor bracket, so mine takes up as much space(minus foot control pedal). I don't troll, just mostly tightline/vertical jig. I've never used a foot control, so I don't know what that's all about. I can see how it would be handy, especially two pole trolling. Mine has an extendable, variable angle handle-works good.

Tried the foot controlled way, way back some 30 odd years ago. Didnt like it at all. The foot control ran with cables back then. I was constantly working the foot control instead of fishing to keep the boat straight. Went to hand controlled and have never looked back. The copilot and autopilot might be nice but are really pricey just to see if you like it. No more than I use a trolling motor at this point that's WAY MORE MONEY than I want to spend.

yea im with ya on that gabowman i got one coming looking foward to trying it out

I have had a Minn Kota variable speed hand control since Oct. 2000 and i love it.

I use only hand controlled. I sit down a lot now and it's so much easier to hit the button to position the boat and I often steer with my knees. the motor is usually aimed where I want anyway and I only have to step on the button for a sec or two.