GPS Trolling Motor vs Power Poles

[Steve Crawford]

I'm leaning towards buying a GPS capable trolling motor with "Spot Lock" instead of adding power poles to my boat. Is a trolling motor with GPS good enough to hold you on a spot or do you need power poles?  I'm trying to keep from adding the additional weight of the power poles to my boat. Thoughts?

[Jig Man]

It depends on how you fish.  I had both.  My power poles seldom got any use as the boat was too deep for them.  They are now in a new home in Houston Texas.  Now my spot lock on the other hand gets used many times on most trips.  The spot lock jog is the best thing since Coors Lite.

[GreenPig]

The depth of water you typically fish will answer which way to go. I spend most of my time in 15 FOW plus so I went with the Spot Lock and it holds the bow within 3' circle but the rear of the boat is controlled by the wind/current. If your are flipping/pitching in knee deep water I'd go with the PP to keep the boat exactly where you want it, you are silent, and not muddying up the water.

[Steve Crawford]

I live in central Florida and fish in water typically 2-5 feet. I'm sure the power poles would be fine but I don't like the extra weight. I have a buddy that has 2 power poles and they weigh 60# each! 

[Born 2 fish]

If I was in Florida I would go power poles for sure. I had a spot lock tm and still wanted poles. My next boat will definitely have poles on it.

[Steve Crawford]

1 hour ago, Born 2 fish said:

If I was in Florida I would go power poles for sure. I had a spot lock tm and still wanted poles. My next boat will definitely have poles on it.

Thanks for the advice.

[slonezp]

I have both. Neither one is a replacement for the other. Shallow water anchors are great for shallow water. Spot lock is great for off shore fishing. If you primarily fish shallow, go with the anchors, you won't be happy with spot lock. Spot lock is going to battle current and wind and adjust as needed. The bow will always be head into the wind or current. If you have wind/current at your side or back, the boat will right itself and may leave the boat positioned not how you want it.

[Logan S]

Shallow water anchors will be spot lock 100% of the time in water shallow enough for them to hold....But they are useless in water that is deeper than than their effective holding depth.  If you're picking one or the other, the amount of time you spend in shallow enough water should be an easy guide on which to get.  

 

Note that the effective range is about 1.5' less than the SWA's rating...IE with 8' poles the deepest I expect to get a solid anchor is about 6.5'.  If it's dead slick calm they will hold closer to their max rating, but those conditions are rare. 

 

The bonus to shallow water anchors is the convenience they provide when docking, launching, loading, etc... 

[Dirtyeggroll]

Depends on how you fish.

 

For me, when I am fishing water shallow enough for my power poles to hold I am typically moving fast making 1-2 casts per target. This, I don’t find the powerpoles all that useful for fishing (I have 8’ Blades). I do however find them very useful for retrieving expensive lures that are snagged and for docking the boat at the courtesy ramp. I also find it useful to deploy them when I hook into a fish in shallow water when it’s very windy. I can count on one hand the number of fish I’ve caught with the powerpoles deployed.
 

The anchor function on the other hand I use for fishing offshore targets. Now that I have it I will never go back. I have caught countless fish that I attributed to being able to hit the anchor button and work a brush pile, rock pile or steep bank.

 

If I had to choose one or the other it would be hands down the anchor function on the trolling motor.

[TOXIC]

You have been given the pros and cons but also remember that in order to use the GPS to its fullest function, you have to have very current electronics that integrate with the trolling motor you choose.   That is for following contours and mapping in addition to just the spot lock feature.  You don’t say what year or size boat you have but power pole blades are the lightest of the shallow water anchors.  

[GaryH]

On 9/6/2020 at 12:51 PM, Steve Crawford said:

I live in central Florida and fish in water typically 2-5 feet. I'm sure the power poles would be fine but I don't like the extra weight. I have a buddy that has 2 power poles and they weigh 60# each! 

I have both now but when I lived in central Florida definately poles. Love the spot lock for deeper water but when in shallow water it can stir up a lot of debris.

[Steve Crawford]

On 9/7/2020 at 1:09 PM, TOXIC said:

You have been given the pros and cons but also remember that in order to use the GPS to its fullest function, you have to have very current electronics that integrate with the trolling motor you choose.   That is for following contours and mapping in addition to just the spot lock feature.  You don’t say what year or size boat you have but power pole blades are the lightest of the shallow water anchors.  

Thanks for the reply. I have a 2002 Stratos 20XL.

[TOXIC]

On 9/8/2020 at 4:25 PM, Steve Crawford said:

Thanks for the reply. I have a 2002 Stratos 20XL.

You shouldn’t see any more than a 2 to 3 mph drop in speed with blades.