today I was using the trolling motor as I ran up on the shallows and hit bottom. on my way up the trolling motor stopped working I pulled it out of the water and began messing with the connection plug. got it to turn on for a split second and then stopped again. I have power running through the batteries and wires all the way leading up to the foot pedal but still no power when I try to start the trolling motor. what could this be?

Probable Causes and Solutions
There might be a problem with the fuse or the circuit breaker. Make sure it is working right, and replace any fuses or switches that may have blown.
The connections must be checked for any corrosion or loose wiring. The corrosion should be cleaned and the connections fixed.
Check plug for a loose or bad connection, and fix the plug if necessary.
The propeller should be checked. If turned by hand, the propeller should turn freely with a little magnetic drag.
The main rotary switch of the trolling motor should be checked. Fix or replace it if necessary.
There might be total battery failure. To check, you should recharge and check the voltage. The battery may need to be replaced.[b][/b]

Strange that it happened when the foot hit bottom and you wiggled the plug and it tried to run. But, as suggested above check that plug for a loose connection. Take the plug apart and you will see a small metal strip that is a jumper between two terminals. Make sure those two screws that hold that jumper are tight. This was the cause of my trolling motor acting up once when it would stop working for no reason and I could twist the plug back and forth to get it to work momentarily again.

Today I had it turn back on and then click the circuit breaker must of turned off the power I found out I have a 40amp breaker going from the batteries to the trolling motor is this the problem or is it something else?

I understand the circuit breaker but is there a way of knowing which one went bad before replacing?