Why Do Most Pro Fisherman Use Cable Driven Trolling Motors Over Electric?

[Shane Procell]

I have used the Minn Kota 112 Thrust Terrova with I-Pilot for a couple of months now. As a guide I wanted to give the clients the entire front deck. I now have the ability to sit in the back of the boat and control the boat with the wireless. It is phenominal.

But to address the original question of the cable steer vs. the wireless. I have used the cable steer for years. I never had any problems with the cables and yes it was instantaneous foot control. Since switching to the wireless I find the boat to be roomier since there is no foot pedal to walk around and I have more stamina since I am not on one leg all day. Both are good but only one gives you freedom...the wireless electric steer 

 

PS...Minn Kota sells the retractable adapter plates as an accessory. I strongly believe it should be included with the unit since launching and loading without the adapter plate can cause a lot of damage to your TM as it will hang on your bow roller.

[Wayne P.]

I have used the Minn Kota 112 Thrust Terrova with I-Pilot for a couple of months now. As a guide I wanted to give the clients the entire front deck. I now have the ability to sit in the back of the boat and control the boat with the wireless. It is phenominal.

But to address the original question of the cable steer vs. the wireless. I have used the cable steer for years. I never had any problems with the cables and yes it was instantaneous foot control. Since switching to the wireless I find the boat to be roomier since there is no foot pedal to walk around and I have more stamina since I am not on one leg all day. Both are good but only one gives you freedom...the wireless electric steer 

 

PS...Minn Kota sells the retractable adapter plates as an accessory. I strongly believe it should be included with the unit since launching and loading without the adapter plate can cause a lot of damage to your TM as it will hang on your bow roller.

The recessed foot pedal tray solves the one foot deal for cable steers.

 

There is also that little deal at a recent tournament that the adaptor plate lock failed on a couple of boats and the motors went overboard. The more "tricks" you add the more you can get tricked.

[paangler13]

I would tend to think most pros grew up using cable steer.  Might not mean much, but if cable is what you know....

 

I own a cable steer. (MK edge)

 

I have a friend with a terrova, and it is sweet. The GPS stuff is amazing, and it makes "drifting" flats for perch almost unfair. My only complaint is the noise. I just cringe every time it turns.

 

For how and where I fish the cable is great. Plus I know how to fix it on the water. A trolling motor is just a tool. Just pick the right tool for what YOU need/want!

 

Jim

[skunked_again]

They (pro bass fishermen) like to operate their motor by feel so they can concentrate on fishing instead of looking at the motor to see what directlon it is pointed.

Same here.

 

Open water fishermen (pro walleye) like to use the electric steer types.

 

 

This. Impossible to do with electric.

[Long Mike]

This. Impossible to do with electric.

 

I'm afraid I have to disagree.  I seldom look at my Terrova unless I'm navigating through tight situations.  Normally, I do what the cable steer guys do.  i.e. I fish, and use the remote to correct the heading of the boat as necessary, without looking at which way the motor is pointing.  Further, I no longer have to look at the remote to correct my heading.  Like the cable steer guys, I now make heading corrections without conscious thought.  If I set the motor to run a GPS heading, I can easily run for as long as five minutes without touching the remote.  I'm not talking about offshore fishing here.  I'm talking about fishing along the bank.

[BeckieC]

Another perk of the cable driven motors, is they stow and deploy quicker and easier than most electric steer motors.

 

I have to disagree, we upgraded to an Xi5 this season, I find it MUCH easier to deploy & stow. It seems lighter and the foot release is easier than pulling the cable, at least for me.

I always over corrected any time I ran the cable drive, now with the remote I can control it without thinking and I don't have to watch the motor head to stay on course.

[WIGuide]

I have to disagree, we upgraded to an Xi5 this season, I find it MUCH easier to deploy & stow. It seems lighter and the foot release is easier than pulling the cable, at least for me.

I always over corrected any time I ran the cable drive, now with the remote I can control it without thinking and I don't have to watch the motor head to stay on course.

I can see where it'd be easier to deploy, but unless they changed it, to stow it you have to wrestle it up into the boat by the head. To me it's much easier to lift the rope, pull it up, and it lays right down. How long did you have your cable steer and how long did you run it? Once you get over the very sleight learning curve you never have to look at the head. On Ft. Gibson down there the electric steers will work great with the limited amount of underwater obstructions that are there.

 

In the end though it's just about finding what works for us as individuals. Personally I'd rather toss an electric steer in the scrap heap than have it on my boat, but I'm sure there are some who feel the exact opposite.

[midgastumpjumper]

i had a 500 dollar minn kota electric steer and sold it and went back to the cable.  That thing is so loud when you turn it you spook everything for 3 square miles.  the cable gives me more steal i think plus you use less battery because you arent using the battery every time you want to go from right to left.  Plus it takes forever to go from turning left to turning right.  its useless in the river with current when you need to make quick adjustments.

[BassnChris]

I can see where it'd be easier to deploy, but unless they changed it, to stow it you have to wrestle it up into the boat by the head. To me it's much easier to lift the rope, pull it up, and it lays right down. How long did you have your cable steer and how long did you run it? Once you get over the very sleight learning curve you never have to look at the head. On Ft. Gibson down there the electric steers will work great with the limited amount of underwater obstructions that are there.

 

In the end though it's just about finding what works for us as individuals. Personally I'd rather toss an electric steer in the scrap heap than have it on my boat, but I'm sure there are some who feel the exact opposite.

 

I put an ATV hand grip on the shaft of our Xi5 and a ram mount for travel support. Using either of these did make it a lot easier to stow and deploy.

 

As far as not many obstacles in Ft Gibson......it has ALOT of obstacles.......not as many as Lake Fork maybe but more than enough.

The GPS course lock and the electronic anchor make it more desirable for me.

 

But that is why they make both kinds and we all get to choose the one we want to use.

 

Happy fishing

[BassnChris]

Videos of that new Motorguide xi5 show that thing turning way faster than the Minn Kota electric steer models I've used. Probably still not as fast as a cable steer, but impressive either way.

 

My motorguide Xi5 turns very fast......easily at least as fast as my motorguide TR82L FB.

[wordfactories]

motorguide TR82L FB.

Is that just the old wireless model?

[WIGuide]

I put an ATV hand grip on the shaft of our Xi5 and a ram mount for travel support. Using either of these did make it a lot easier to stow and deploy.

 

As far as not many obstacles in Ft Gibson......it has ALOT of obstacles.......not as many as Lake Fork maybe but more than enough.

The GPS course lock and the electronic anchor make it more desirable for me.

 

But that is why they make both kinds and we all get to choose the one we want to use.

 

Happy fishing

I'm sure it's got it's places, but aside from docks, which you can see well in advance we found very few when we were down there. Fork obviously has a lot more of them. Most of the lakes I fish up here have less than Fork does but a whole lot more than Ft. Gibson does or at least what I saw of it. I see the Xi5 turns pretty fast but given that a cable drive is only limited by how fast you move your foot, I find it hard to believe that it moves just as fast. 

 

 

Is that just the old wireless model?

The TR82L FB is one in the Tour Edition series. Motorguide's top of the line cable steer model. 

[wordfactories]

The TR82L FB is one in the Tour Edition series. Motorguide's top of the line cable steer model. 

 

Impressive speed claim then.. Motorguide would do well to publish a video timing the 360° rotation time (I saw one for the Terrova, it was like 5 something seconds).

With a cable steer isn't just how fast you can muscle the pedal? I'd be curious how fast the weight of an average guy could turn a Tour.  

[WIGuide]

Impressive speed claim then.. Motorguide would do well to publish a video timing the 360° rotation time (I saw one for the Terrova, it was like 5 something seconds).

With a cable steer isn't just how fast you can muscle the pedal? I'd be curious how fast the weight of an average guy could turn a Tour.  

I looked up a few videos of it on youtube and it is pretty fast, but there is also a slight lag from when you press the button to when the motor starts to turn. Cable steer is still faster though because as you say it's just how fast you can move the pedal. There isn't a whole lot of resistance either so you can turn them very quick.