3 Reasons to Own a GPS Enabled Trolling Motor

Modern trolling motors are loaded with features, including the ability to motor along a route you plug into a computer.

Trolling motors have come a long way since the days of that old tiller-drive unit hanging off the transom of Grandpa’s leaky john boat. In addition to increased power and efficiency, many are now GPS-enabled, integrating state-of-the-art navigation technology into one of angling’s most essential tools. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your trolling motor, now is the time to consider what GPS adds to the equation.

Lock on Fishing Spots

The best feature of a GPS trolling motor is its ability to keep your boat in one spot where the fishing action is hot. (Minn Kota/)

Perhaps the most useful feature of a GPS-enabled trolling motor is its ability to hold you on a productive spot automatically. No more tapping foot pedals or constantly fiddling with the remote. Lock onto your spot, focus on the fishing, and let those eyes in the sky do the rest.

Record Paths

Because a GPS trolling motor can record routes, you can fish the same productive routine you fished yesterday, or the year before. (Motorguide/)

Whether pre-fishing for a tournament or just returning to a productive location, a GPS trolling motor can record a path across the water and then retrace it on a return trip. This allows you to duplicate the exact course taken on your most successful days on the water.

Remote Control

A trolling motor that knows where it needs to go without you telling is means your hands are free to do what you’re out there to do—fish. (Minn Kota/)

Hands-free navigation is critical to focusing on fishing. If a trolling motor has GPS, it’s most likely going to offer remote control technology, either standard with the motor or as a factory accessory. A remote controller worn around the neck gives you the option to control the route from anywhere on the boat, an especially useful feature for guides who regularly fish their anglers from the bow.