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Do you guys prefer hand controlled or foot controlled trolling motors? I need to replace my old one and I can't decide. Wireless is out of the question. I had one and I hated it. If it had been a human I would have whipped its ass on several occasions.
I hardly ever troll for anything and my boat isn't set up for spider rigging, so I think I can prolly get by with a hand controlled.
What do yall think? What do you prefer and why?
Personally, I like the hand control for simplicity and the foot control for "multi-tasking."
better watch out the minn kota might know tae kwan doe or karate:D
Boat control is very critical in most types of fishing. It may take a little time getting use to using one but once you gain control you'll never concider a hand operated tm again.
I agree with Fish hawk I just started trolling the last few years and only casted and fished docks and the foot control is the only way to go mainly in a breeze of any amount if your fooling with the hand control thats time your out of position to set the hook.
No Question About It Foot Control, Both Hands Free And Keep It On Low For A While When Learning And You Can Handle It With Ease, Tried One Of Them Hand Control On My Nephew's 2 Man Bass Boat In The Pond, Like Sticking A Wet Noodle Up A Wild Cat's Azz........:)
I agree that a foot control is the way to go. I have always used a hand control and never a foot control. The next one I buy will be a foot control. When I fish by myself the hand control is fine. But when I fish with my wife and dad i wish I had the foot control. It is hard to run the trolling motor, fish, and do whatever it is they are asking me to do all at the same time with the hand control. Try some of your friends trolling motors out before you decide. Everyone is different. The plus about my hand control is that it is easy to take off for duck season. Good Luck and good fishing
Bought my boat in the summer of 02 and it had a foot control. Most of the boats I've had in the past 25 or so years has had foot control. Got into spider rigging a couple of years ago and really like it. This fall I changed out my trolling motor for an electronic controlled with auto pilot. Man, it is the greatest. I've used it trolling, spider rigging and in the brush. It is much better than the old cable. I'd go with foot for sure and electronic control if possible. MOAO.
Thanks guys for all the advice and suggestions.
I just got home from the store with my new motor. After reviewing your replies I think I should have given it more time before I went and spent my money cause.....I got the hand control :o. Academy had 40 pound hand control Minn Kotas for $239 (don't worry Mudbug, they don't know karate. They don't even talk ;)). Anyway, I got over there and called my dad and he also told me to get the foot control. But I decided to get the hand control cause this thing is going on a 14-foot jon boat. I like the idea of having my hands free with the foot control, but I don't like the idea of trying to stand up in the front of the boat trying control the motor with my foot and going tail over teakettle into the lake if I'm ever trollin in choppy water :D. So that's why I got the hand control.
I'm gonna keep it in the box over night and think about it though. Yall made some great points. Like I said, I wish I had checked this post again before I went to the store. Thanks again for the advice.
hey black crow ive got a 15ft flat bottom and built a deck on front and mounted a foot control. it works great
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Crow
Take it back, use the $240 bucks to buy beer, and make your fishing buddy "doggy paddle" the boat whereever you need it to go. :D:D
Based on the type of fishing you do, I don't think you could have gone wrong either trolling motor.
That's how the Chinese people over at the bridge do it.Quote:
Originally Posted by ThrillSeeker
I have seen it with my own eyes. One guy holds the girl by the feet while she hangs over the side and doggy paddles the boat. When they saw my jaw drop at what I was seeing, they laughed, "Ha ha, she iss owa trorring mota." I laughed my a** off.
Yeah I'm still thinking about if I should keep what I got or get a foot control. Mudbug had a great idea and that was for me to get the foot control and to mount a seat up front on my platform. I have thought about doing that, but I prefer to stand when I'm fishing. I never sit down unless I'm really settin the water on fire at 20 mph with my big motor. So I might just keep it. We'll see.
foot control is the way to go
I had a Minnkota power drive a few years ago. Only had it on the boat about a month before I got rid of it. Reason why was because the turning response time was so slow compared to a cable drive. When making a turn with a cabel drive the response time is almost immeadiate but with the power drive the turn is very slow. Maybe the new ones are quicker, if anyone knows please let me know because I do like the auto pilot?