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