BeaverTooth Loc: Branson, MO

Today a fellow boater gave me his opinion of a stern mount trolling motor on an aluminum boat and I thought I would pose the question to everyone on the forum to get their thoughts on this issue as well.

I have a 2021 model, Lowe 1248 Jonboat that I have modified, powered by a 2021 Mercury 9.9 hp motor. After three years of kayak fishing, I am really enjoying being able to sit back and relax while trolling with some nice Stealth rod holders.

Up until now, I have always been a bass fisherman and had planned to install a bow mount trolling motor on my 12 foot johnboat. You can see from the attached photo that I have built a front deck that does not extend all the way to the first bench seat. I had planned to mount a MinnKota Terrova, spot lock with remote control that you can hold in your hand so that I could operate it from the backseat. This motor in a 45 inch model, 55 lbs thrust, will cost me about $1600 from Bass Pro shops.

As an alternative, I am wondering if it is possible to mount a nice Minnkota stern drive trolling motor next to my gasoline motor? My intent would be to bass fish and I’m wondering if it would be possible for me to do so while still having to control the trolling motor with one hand? What are your feelings and or experience with stern drive trolling motors for bass fishing and casting Lures. Thanks for the input! Beavertooth

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

A 55# stern drive would easily push that jonboat around.

Jeremy Loc: America

Both types are nice. The automated type leave another hand free for fishing. The modern remote controls etc are great. The higher voltages ( amp hours) will be best but need several batteries and lots of money.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Nice set up BT. I’d suggest the bow mount with a foot control. A spot lok is great, I have one, but it’s pretty useless for trolling. I can troll a straight line with it but it requires me to have the remote in my hand or somewhere close for maneuvering the boat. It will follow a GPS track but that’s not, generally, the case with bass fishing. If you want hands free the foot control with a bow mount would be my choice for what you’re looking for. Plus quite a bit cheaper. My system is a 70 pounder with all the bells and whistles and with a full charge it will run 7 hours and it cost $4000.00. Not including the batteries and charger. Without shore power I had to buy a generator to charge the system when I’m gone. The 9.9 you have on there now would be cheaper and just as easy and a cheaper route to fish with for a stern mounted motor. Just my two cents worth.

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

Beavertooth I have a 16 foot lowe Jon boat and use a 55 pound minn kota stern drive trolling motor along side my 9.8 merc. It does everything I want it to and pushes my boat right along when I want it to. At times it becomes a hassle steering it but it works for me. Feel free to pm me with any questions about it and I will do my best to answer. I’ve had my set up for about 15 years now

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Damn Beavertooth, looks like a very nice rig. In my opinion, if you’ve got spot lock I’d let it as is.

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Good looking boat Beavertooth!
The trolling motor on the stern will work just fine, but you will have to make constant adjustments to it( wind-waves, etc).
So will the Terrova in the bow. One great advantage is the spot lock. It will hold position even in high wind conditions, invaluable to me. But it will also hold a direction, and with a little practice and minor adjustments works great for working a shoreline or trolling. There is a learning curve to using the remote, but is a great tool lo use.
Just the fact if I want to change baits or any other rigging I have to do, spot lock takes all worry off me as far as wondering if I am going to drift off a spot or hit something or beach the boat.

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

I have an old sears 12 foot jon boat with a 7 1/2 horse mercury and the trolling motor of choice for me is an old 35 pound thrust minnkota that I've had for years. Never needed anything else.

Jackruff Loc: South Mississippi

I have fished many years with a stern mounted trolling motor. It works. As with anything else there are pros and cons. The biggest pro is that it is an inexpensive option.

gbcreed45 Loc: Florida, Gulf Coast

I prefer a bow mount mainly for steering. A stern mount takes a little getting use to . The bow mount turns the boat immediately with lots more control.

Roger Lahti

There are reasons why folks Mount their electrics on the bow regardless of what they use to push the boat at speed. Bow mounts pull you in the direction you want when going slow and help when wind and waves are pushing the bow around. I’ve got one on my 18’ big boat and even though I have a 90 horse main mother and an 8 horse trolling motor on the stern, that bow mount electric is my go to for slow trolling. And I recommend a foot control to keep both hands free to fish and one with an auto pilot feature that maintains the course you set it at till you change it.

farmer tom Loc: stockton california

My boat has a Terrova mounted in the front, I think the auto pilot would work much better in the front.
The auto pilot works on a heading and I think the steering would be backwards on the rear of the boat.

BeaverTooth Loc: Branson, MO

Thanks! I do understand that bow mounting is the best alternative. I have decided to purchase the Terrova with auto pilot and stop lock and of course mount in on the bow. I do however have a small boat, small bow, small deck and these trolling motors are huge. My question actually was what is your experience using a stern mount trolling motor...not the Terrova in the rear, but any of the MinnKota Stern drives...are they workable...are they enjoyable, useful? If the answer is NO, then I continue with my plan of purchasing the nice Terrova bow mount. I just wish they were not so expensive! Thanks for your reply!

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Exactly right
I’ve actually taken a Steven mount TM and repositioned the head for bow mount application and fabbed a bracket to mount it to the front of the Jon boat.

What ever you decide, a 55 pounder will push or pull you right along on that boat

I recently replaced my 80 pound foot control motor guide X 5 with a remote motor guide XI 5 with spot lock and built in transducer

Wish I’d have done that years ago.
If budget isn’t a concern, definitely go with the remote.

BeaverTooth Loc: Branson, MO

Since you mentioned Motor Guide, let me ask you a question. When I go to Bass Pro in Springfield, MO and ask them about the Motor Guide brand (eyeball to eyeball in person) the sales people strongly recommend that I do NOT purchase Motor Guide because they are no longer dependable and the company does not stand behind its products. They say...purchase only MinnKota! Now since you have purchased the XI 5, what is your opinion on the subject? Are you happy with your purchase. Motor Guide is considerable cheaper than MinnKota. Thank You!