How Do Fisherman Fish With A Recessed Foot Pedal For Their Trolling Motor?

[tcbass]

I see that many bass boats have recessed foot pedal areas for the trolling motors foot pedal because the pedal sits so high it would be hard to use if it wasn't recessed.

 

However, when I fish I move my Terrova's foot pedal around. If I'm fishing to the right side of the boat I put the pedal on the right side deck, if I'm fishing to the center I put it in the center of the deck, and if I'm fishing from the left side of the boat I put the pedal on the left side of the deck. If I didn't do this I'd be twisting my body and it would be uncomfortable. I also sit a lot when I fish and not being able to move the pedal would also be hard.

 

 

I watched a youtube video of pro fisherman Gerald Swindle fishing down a shoreline and he was casting to the left while using his foot to control the boat's trolling motor pedal from it's center recessed area and you could see he was really twisting his body and he looked very uncomfortable. This is what I'm talking about.

 

 

 

 

So, how do you guys fish with a recessed pedal and not twist your body into uncomfortable positions?

 

 

 

I know a lot of people have cable driven trolling motors that have high pedals, I know the Minn Kota Terrova is electronic and uses a lower pedal.

 

[CKFishin]

You tend to be fishing off the front of the boat...... I don't even notice I am twisted when casting to the side.. Are you trying to sit and fish?

[tcbass]

You tend to be fishing off the front of the boat...... I don't even notice I am twisted when casting to the side.. Are you trying to sit and fish?

I sit and stand equally.

[Long Mike]

The Terrova doesn't need the foot pedal if it is equipped with the iPilot.  No twisting required.  I simply steer with the remote hung around my neck.

[Scott F]

The Terrova doesn't need the foot pedal if it is equipped with the iPilot.  No twisting required.  I simply steer with the remote hung around my neck.

 

If you use the remote, don't you have to stop fishing to operate the motor? One hand on the rod, one on the reel handle and one hand on the remote?

[J Francho]

I steer with whatever foot is closer. I'm at the point I don't even think about it. Sort of like driving a manual transmission. At first, you think about what gear you're in, and watch the tach, but after a while it just gets natural. I will say that I fish off the port side most often, so it's pretty natural to have my right foot in the center. Mine isn't recessed, but it's bolted down. My boat is too fast to leave it loose, and where I fish it be flopping around.

[tcbass]

If you use the remote, don't you have to stop fishing to operate the motor? One hand on the rod, one on the reel handle and one hand on the remote?

Yep. That's why I like the foot pedal.

I only use the remote to turn spot lock on and the new Ulterra has that feature on the foot pedal.

[J Francho]

Some guys don't care if they have to stop fishing to maneuver the boat. I don't care for it when fishing tight to cover, or in current. In fact, I use the trolling motor to put additional pressure on the fish, using the TM to stay behind the fish, getting the boat away from cover. It makes handling a fish on a short leash easier. In open water, relying on GPS and graph for reference, iPilot is great.

[tomustang]

If you use the remote, don't you have to stop fishing to operate the motor? One hand on the rod, one on the reel handle and one hand on the remote?

I don't stop fishing with the remote, I use it enough it's like second nature. Still get some hiccups every now and then but who doesn't with even a foot pedal

[J Francho]

Maico uses the fob to control his boat. It's no more effort than scratching your nose while fishing. Each style has it's strengths and weaknesses. My buddy Jim has nearly the same boat as I do, but with an iPilot. In open water, he kicks my butt holding a spot, but working docks, lay downs, or other tight cover, a cable steer allows you to use quick, controlled bursts, and it's fast enough to whip the nose one around one way, then use a burst in the opposite direction to stop it. I know I have a hard time with the electric steer in those situations.

I wish they made a hybrid system, where you could switch between both. It would be a pricey bit of gear, though.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Muscle memory comes into play after a while. You don't even realize it. I've got a foot control on my electric boat and don't even notice it when I change which foot is on the pedal. Hand control on my glass boat, again I don't even notice it when I'm using it.

Some type of hybrid system would be pretty awesome. Couldn't even imagine what that would cost though.

[Jig Man]

The recessed pedal allows one to stand with both feet close to level.  That takes a lot of pressure off the back.  If you fish many hours you would soon learn to appreciate it.  You don't need to twist your body to make casts to the side just set up at an angle.  If you don't have a recessed pedal you should at least had yours screwed down.

[BuckMaxx]

After owning two boats with it. I dont think I could ve without it. I have learned to use both feet and fish more out of the front. The problem I have is my 1197 is always on the wrong side.i may need two of em. Haha

[NathanW]

Maico uses the fob to control his boat. It's no more effort than scratching your nose while fishing. Each style has it's strengths and weaknesses. My buddy Jim has nearly the same boat as I do, but with an iPilot. In open water, he kicks my butt holding a spot, but working docks, lay downs, or other tight cover, a cable steer allows you to use quick, controlled bursts, and it's fast enough to whip the nose one around one way, then use a burst in the opposite direction to stop it. I know I have a hard time with the electric steer in those situations.

I wish they made a hybrid system, where you could switch between both. It would be a pricey bit of gear, though.

Well put. I like my Terrova w/I-Pilot but would never tell people what I was told before I switched from a cable steer. It is great for fishing current, holding spots in open water, parral casting and aimlessly beating the bank. When it comes to boat positioning the way I could with a cable steer it is simply not possible. When it comes to tight navigation around structure, or like you said, while fighting a fish it underperforms. Unfortunatly you cannot have both, my next motor will be a cable steer but I am sure I'll miss the Terrova on nearly every outing the same way I miss the cable steer now.

[boostr]

and where I fish it be flopping around.

You mean to tell me, you fish in the nude.

[EmersonFish]

I move my foot pedal around a lot, but I suppose if I had a recessed one, I'd get use to it. I definitely need more time in the front seat before I'm ready for primetime. Mostly I've fished with my dad, in buddy tourneys and recreationally, and he's the boss. He don't like to let me up there, and boat control is my biggest weakness by a country mile. But that's for another thread.

My catfish/bass combo boat I've been fishing out of lately has the basic Powerdrive V2 with the low profile foot pedal, which eliminates the need to recess it. I needed something I could use to control my drift while fishing out of the back of the boat, so I went with electric steer. In any case, I hate that thing for bass fishing. It is LOUD, and it's hard to turn and propel at the same time. It's fine for steering the boat a little in a drift, but it tight cover, I can't stand it.

[Brian6428]

This took a while to get used to when I got my boat. It felt like feet were facing one way and my body was facing another. Now I don't even think about, it just feels natural with both feet.

[SHaugh]

I've never been much good at controlling a boat with my foot, especially while I'm standing up.  I'm constantly looking down and losing my balance when I put my weight on one foot.  And my back is killing me after about an hour of dancing that little jig on the front of the boat.

 

Has anyone got a clever work around ?     I've often wondered if I wouldn't be happier if I just put the foot control on a little table in front of me... so I could just use my hand...  or converting to a joystick control...  anybody ever tried that ?    I know about the remote controllers... that has never fallen within my budget....