Fishing is about being stealthy and if you have ever fished before, you know how easy it can be to scare a bass away from a loud motor to a line hitting the water. Trolling motors can help you seamlessly and flawlessly move from spot to spot while providing you an edge. These motors can help prevent scaring bass away and allow you to get right up in the perfect spot to catch as many bass as you can.
If you have already started looking for a trolling motor, you have likely found yourself overwhelmed. While they all look pretty similar, they are far from all the same. There are a multitude of different variations, sizes, and factors that will determine a good trolling motor from a mediocre one.
As a good rule of thumb, you need to make sure your trolling motor is matched to your boat so that both the boat and motor can perform at their best.
Below, we will talk about how you can select the best trolling motor for your bass boat and these tips will help you shop wisely and confidently.
Types of Trolling Motors
First we will discuss the different types of trolling motors available which include the bow mounted trolling motor and the transom mounted trolling motor.
Most boats made from aluminum or fiberglass are designed to have trolling motors mounted at the bow. In this setup, the motor is bolted to the front deck and then the power cables are run throughout the deck or hull brackets into the battery compartment. In general, most bow mounted trolling motors are operated via your foot, which is beneficial for those who want to always keep their hands on their rod and reel.
Steering a bow mounted trolling motor is easy and done through the foot pedal. When pressing the pedal up or down, you can steer the boat in any direction you need to go.
The other type of trolling motor is the transom mounted trolling motor which is bolted or clamped to the transom of your bass boat. The cables quickly and seamlessly connect right to the battery, so you do not typically have to worry about running wires. These motors are steered by using your hand.
Many transom mounted motors are portable meaning you can move them from boat to boat. Also, transom mounted trolling motors are usually best for smaller bass boats.
Don’t Underestimate The Trust You Need
Trolling motors rely on battery power to move the boat through the water. The amount of power you need to move your boat is described as pound of thrust. You can think of this similar to horsepower in a traditional outboard.
Thrust is one of the most important aspects to consider when you are choosing a trolling motor. If you do not choose a motor with enough thrust, you will lack power, and you will find that moving your boat in any type of challenging situation is nearly impossible.
When thinking about how much thrust you need, you will want to consider the length of your boat, how heavy your boat is, how much you store on the boat, will you go out in adverse weather, and how many people will be on the boat. All of these factors play a role.
To give you an idea of how much thrust is needed, here are some minimum recommendations based on the length of your boat:
- 12 to 13 feet in length: 30 pounds of thrust
- 14 feet in length: 32 pounds of thrust
- 15 feet in length: 36 pounds of thrust
- 16 feet in length: 40 pounds of thrust
- 17 feet in length: 50 pounds of thrust
- 18 feet in length: 55 pounds of thrust
- 19 feet in length: 65 pounds of thrust
- 20 to 21 feet in length: 74 pounds of thrust
- 22 feet in length: 101 pounds of thrust
Remember, these are just minimum recommendations and based on ideal weather conditions. These minimum recommendations do not take other factors into consideration and if you plan to have additional factors or specific conditions you fish under, it is recommended that you boost the amount of thrust you choose.
Batteries and Voltage for Your Trolling Motor
When it comes to batteries, you want to choose batteries that are rated for your boat and motor, but more specifically, you want to choose a high quality deep cycle marine battery. You can find some that are designed specifically to be used with electric motors, which is recommended.
Trolling motors come in three different power systems including 12 volts, 24 volts, and 36 volts. To help you understand the difference between them, a 12-volt power system runs on one battery, a 24-volt runs on two, and a 36-volt runs on three.
The power system you choose will greatly depend on your needs including how long you plan to be out on the water, the size of your boat, and the conditions you plan to fish in.
A 12-volt marine battery is the most basic and simple and often used for new anglers or those who are only going out sporadically or for short bursts at a time. Anglers who plan to be out longer or fish in varying conditions will better benefit from the other two options.
Trolling Motor Shaft Length
The shaft of the motor is going to be crucial for controlling your boat and an improper shaft length will cause you to not feel like you have control. Additionally, a shaft that is too short means the prop will not sit in the water fully submerged. On the other hand, a shaft that is too long will pose problems in shallow water.
To determine the size shaft you need, you will need to know the height of the bow or the stern of the boat.
Hand Control or Foot Control Trolling Motors
If a bow mounted trolling motor is the choice you have made, the next decision you will need to make is whether you want the motor to be foot or handle controlled. It can make a difference and there are advantages and disadvantages to each option, which we will cover now.
Foot Controlled Motor Advantages
- Easy to use
- Hands free
Foot Controlled Motor Disadvantages
- Foot pedal must be on deck and may get in the way
- Slower response time when activated
Hand Controlled Motor Advantages
- Less clutter on the deck
- Responds instantly
Hand Controlled Motor Disadvantages
- Hand must always be on the motor and takes away from hand being on the rod
- Only option is to be used from the bow
Trolling Motor Additional Options
Many trolling motors come with additional options that enable you to have a better bass fishing experience. That said, you do not have to opt for any of them, especially if you are on a limited budget or you are not sure how vested you are in bass fishing.
Here are some helpful features that can be added to your trolling motor and some you may want to consider:
- Digital display
- Built-in battery gauge
- iPilot features
- GPS
- Fish finder
Get the Right Trolling Motor for Your Bass Boat
Trolling motors help to enhance your bass fishing experience by allowing you to be in complete control of your boat and sneak up into prime bass fishing spots.
Before you settle on the first trolling motor that catches your eye, take into account the tips we have provided above and take some time to shop around to find the best one for your situation and budget.
