Trolling Motor Preferences

[Dalton Tam]

Ok.... My dad's been fishing for some 40 years now and he has always used a hand controlled trolling motor with slap handle and a bigfoot.  Well... recently he bought a 18 foot skeeter from another guy that was in great condition and he loved it but couldn't use the foot control.  I've been fishing with many other people and I've used foot control and hand control.  I guess I'm like my dad when it comes to preference but I don't mind a foot control.  He said it's impossible to fish with 1 foot flat and one up, on the control. Needless to say... we got a new hand control Minnkota and I think he's gonna be alot happier.  We take it out in the morning for a test run.  So my question is.... What do you guys prefer foot control or hand control? and also Minnkota or Motorguide?

[Hammer 4]

Always owned Minnkota's...I'll take the foot control anyday..

[Crestliner2008]

This may be of some help to you. I fished with this guy and the device works great! He seems to be very pleased with how it works for him:

http://www.maanglers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13920

[5bass]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

[DINK WHISPERER]

I flip/pitch a lot of cover in harsh winds and there is no way a hand controlled tm would cut it for me!

[bigtimfish]

Minnkota Riptide hand control

[done]

    I have had 2 TMs my entire life. The first I fished for a year was a MK Endura 50# stick steer. I fished it a lot but in heavy wind it sucked having to continually reach back for the stick.

   about 3 weeks ago I got a new boat with came with a MG 45# foot control. It is taking some getting used to it, but so far I would take the foot control any day. Being able to work a cove and move around logs, position against the wind, etc without taking a single finger off my rod is awesome.

My first 8 hours on it, I looked like a drunken fool as I tried to get used to the foot control but the better I get, the more I love it. As for brand name, will  have to let you know, my MK served me well and never kicked up a fuss even when I ran it into some rocks, and stumps.

The MG has a tough act to follow after how well my MK treated me.

[M-Gunner]

I have a Minn Kota Power Drive Co-Pilot. I can use the foot control or the remote control. The remote control is great. Can move all around the boat.

[bassfisherjk]

Motorguide foot control.

[Shawn OConnor]

Minn Kota Traxxis Hand control.

[fishfordollars]

Minnkota Riptide hand control

X2, exactly what I'm running on my skeeter. A straight 24V model.

[CWB]

MinnKota foot controlled. I fish very heavy weeds and a Motorguide is not worth the packaging it comes in for this. I bought a Motorguide from BPS to replace my 15 year old dead Minnkota as it was on sale and mounted it in the boat and trolled into the weeds I normally plow through with the MinnKota and didn't get 2 feet. I instantly removed it and before throwing it into the lake, returned it to BPS and exchanged it for a MinnKota. Fell or it again as I bought a BPS Prowler which is a Motorguide with BPS logo on the cover and same problem. Called BPS and they recommended the "NEW" Hydrilla Hacker prop which I bought for $45.00 and it was actually worse than the 3 blade prop the motor came with. Needless to say, returned both for MinnKota Endura and got lucky-they were on sale with a rebate.

MinnKota foot control all the way and not the electric steering ones.

Too slow response and hard to steer in rough conditions. Plus steering has to draw power from the battery(s) I suppose if you fish open water Motorguide is O.K. but I just feel they are not as sturdy and well made. I think MinnKota outsells Motorguide by 2:1.

Check other forums and you will learn which is preferred by those of us that have to buy our own.

JMHO

[mikey16]

this is like asking, pepsi or coke?, can or bottle? its all about opinions but i would say foot controlled fresh water- motorguide, saltwater minnkota

[Rio Maverick]

I had a MG foot, now a MK hand, my next will be a foot control.  I hate to have to grab the stick when landing a fish.

[cart7t]

I used a hand controlled in the early days because the pro's used to preach them.

Sorry, a foot control has way over hand control.  If you're worried about having a foot up on the pedal,  look into one of the foot control trays that flush mount with the front deck and keep the foot pedal even with the deck.  Much easier to fish with those.  

[Wayne P.]

If you like boat driving better than fishing, get a hand control.

If you like fishing better than boat driving, get a foot control.

I like fishing better.

[urp]

For most of my fishing life I used foot controled. About 10 years ago switched to hand and like it much better--although it can be pesky in the wind.