Technology: Enabling Anglers to Fish and Eat at the Same Time

Who knew you could take a break from the trolling motor on even the windiest of days to retie, land a fish, have a sandwich, or do whatever else you want without having to worry about where your boat will end up in the process?

It's all thanks to some of the latest electronic GPS technology available today. Minn Kota calls theirs Spot-Lock. MotorGuide calls theirs Pinpoint.

As explained by Minn Kota brand manager, Brad Henry, "We consistently have maintained a culture of innovation and continuous improvements to our products--always with the angler in mind. After the launch of i-Pilot, which brought the revolutionary benefits of Spot-Lock to anglers, we did not stop. Through this commitment, we've reinvented Spot-Lock to make it the most accurate electronic GPS anchor ever."

The Spot-Lock feature enables use of the trolling motor as an electric anchor. It comes standard in both i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link systems that are factory-installed on a wide variety of Bluetooth-enabled bow-mount trolling motors. These include Ultrex, Ulterra, Terrova, and PowerDrive, as well as Riptide Ulterra, Riptide Terrova, and Riptide PowerDrive.

With only the push of a button, anglers remain actively locked onto their spot.

Meanwhile, "Pinpoint GPS uses an ultra-precise GPS receiver and control algorithms to keep the boat positioned tightly on the target," says Ben Curtis, category director for MotorGuide.

Through a compact, easy-to-use hand-held remote, Pinpoint GPS enables anglers to move a boat in five-foot increments in any direction and store up to eight locations in "anchor" mode.

"Being able to position and jog your boat to make the best possible bait presentation is essential to bringing home a bigger catch," said Curtis.

Pinpoint GPS also features "heading lock" and "cruise control" options to navigate the boat to specific compass headings, while holding a constant speed against wind and current. In its "route memory" mode, Pinpoint GPS can store and recall up to eight routes of four miles each.

Before you rush out to buy one of these electronic marvels, it's necessary to understand this kind of technology doesn't come cheap. Based on a minimum amount of research, I learned that these trolling motors routinely retail for anywhere from $1,300 to $2,300--all of which are well out of my league.