woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

I took the new Minn Kota Terrova 80lb trolling motor out for a shakedown run Monday, trying the autopilot alone, even my wife was admitting that the extra money was well worth it. It was quite windy to where it was really hard to keep the electric trolling motor holding a straight line. I suggested we try the autopilot features. We pulled our lines in so we could concentrate on figuring out how to work this. It was apparent right off the bat that the GPS function did a far better job of holding the direction, and it will hold the speed too if you want it to do that. We were seeing big fish on the bottom at about 120 feet, Jeanne was asking if I'd gotten an anchor yet, we could try jigging for them (Lol). I told her we could try the spot lock over a heavy concentration of fish. This thing easily held the boat heading into the wind in the same spot. At times it was working really hard, it would crank over, hard sideways and center itself back out, the speed would ramp up to 8 or 9. We tried jigging on the bottom, and there was a solid bunch of fish at about 50 feet so we targeted them too with scented jigs. I was able to completely forget about steering the boat in wind that would have had us on the shore in a few minutes.

To me this opens up a whole new range of fishing techniques, I've been watching videos lately of guides taking people out Kokanee fishing and jigging for them. It looks like a blast, and from what they are saying if you can find the schools of Kokes it's very basic getting them to respond to jigs, easier than using downriggers. There are videos that show hot and heavy hookups to where five people on a boat are constantly dealing with three and four hookups at a time.

Anyway, these motors are worth the extra money, they nailed it with how good these functions work, the kind of wind we were in is an acid test. My wife after saying she thought is was worth it asked me how much of a loss I was going to take on the Riptide, I told her 100 or 150 and she seemed okay with that.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Glad you like it.
Best investment I made

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

In the wind without it took 100% concentration steering, no way to rig up, change lures, get both lines out, it made fishing a two person operation. Set the autopilot in a direction and we can both rig up and get lines out, it's so much of a game changer it's hard to believe.

Now that we have figured it out we can get out and try to catch some fish

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

We use one on my son's boat in 100 ft. of water 30 miles off shore. Works great.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Another cool feature, if you interface with a Hummingbird sonar, is using the auto pilot to follow a depth. You can run around a lake,or along a shoreline, keeping the boat over say a 20ft contour line. Great when they're holding on an edge or drop off.

tumhoefer Loc: MPLS/St. PAul Minnesota

I have the Terrova too. Others have suggested they don't hold that well but their complaints were kinda miniscule to me. I don't fish deep water like you - 25-30' max in Canada but on windy days with up to 2 foot waves it does a pretty darn good job keeping me on my spot ( if I move 10' not really losing that much sleep over it). I remember anchors - this is sooooo much better. I have traditional anchor on my boats that's been used once.
Love that it keeps you into the wind and when it is calmer it really is just like an anchor. Also love the autopilot feature - set it on this path, set speed and just go and really love the Follow the contour feature.
Considering it's GPS and takes it commands "from above" is pretty cool. As long as it is sized correctly for your boat and power needs you really can't go wrong. It even works when we are on the river ( although it really eats the batteries quicker).
I was out 63 times last summer, went through 2 2/3 tanks of gas is all as I troll ALOT. This unit is pretty much the most used thing on my new boat with the exception of fishing rods and reels.

liv4hunting Loc: Oxford Mississippi

Only issue I have with the spot lock is the noise of the prop in shallow water when targeting Crappie on stake beds with 12 ft jig poles. It does tend to spoke them, so when jigging I use my ankor bow in the wind a ease back to my spot

tumhoefer Loc: MPLS/St. PAul Minnesota

I could see that. When I'm shallow - 3' behind the docks i don't ever hear it but it's usually out of the wind there so does not need to work real hard and I just float and tease the pedal occasionally w/o spot lock on to miss hitting the docks as it's relatively easy to control

Notl Loc: Central Missouri

Hi Terrova users. I have a new one too and am wondering if a special lake map loaded into the system is required to use the follow the contour feature? Just have not had enough time on the water to get an understanding of my Hummin birds and the Terrova.

As to the Hummin birds, I am beginning to think I bought electronics to complicated for me to be able to figure out how to use. Hoping their tech line will be able help me when it gets warm enough to actually spend more time on the water!
Thanks.

tumhoefer Loc: MPLS/St. PAul Minnesota

Read the manual, then watch the online tutorials - they are really good - then go out and "play" with them - practice makes proficient.
I make it a point to watch a tutorial and then the next time out ( that day or the next so I don't forget) I practice using it - counting on NOT just fishing but learning how to use my electronics.
In order to use the Follow the contour feature your Lakemaster needs to have the I-Link version and your Terrova needs to be compatible - your Humminbird has a button ( I believe it is the "GoTo button) you push it and the "follow the contour" pops up - you tell it "left" or "right" and punch in the speed on your remote or foot pedal. Be careful if you have a foot pedal, if you touch any of the controls accidentally it will turn off any commands you have entered.
THe "follow the contour" gets a little wonky sometimes cause lake contours are not like railroad tracks. I practiced on areas where the contours were pretty straight generally to make sure I was understanding it. Also, Enlarge your screen as far as it will go before you move your cursor over and click on a line to follow - it helps the system "latch onto" that particular contour.
As I said, LOTS of practice ( and failure) but once you get it - pretty straightforward. Also assuming you have it correctly wired and the Terrova is I-link compatible and your Lakemaster chip is -Link

randy56 Loc: Port Charlotte FL

I have a Power drive 2, recently changed it over to spot lock, What and awesome change, benefit. Love it.

lamb 1 Loc: MT.

you can't go wrong on that one, i had one and just loved it. don't fish anymore, but if i did that would the one for me again, a little spendy but well worth it. limb 1.