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#7115845 - 01/31/12 07:06 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Jeff Schiller]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 01/15/07
Posts: 9942
Loc: Sanger,Texas
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I've hand control, remote control and foot control. Foot control all the way. I sit a lot while fishing but I know for a fact Guy Skinner stands all day and uses a foot control. My knees just won't tolerate standing all day especially with all the excess tonage I have. As others have mentioned the cable drive on foot control has a fast response time. The remote control is a mechanical head and reacts too slow for my taste around trees and bridge columns. Hand control requires on hand to steer and a foot to power it on. Again Foot Control all the way.
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Bobby Barnett Big Country Detail Service.Call/Text Matt Barnett@972-999-7088 Best in DFW!!  Spankys Boat Repair Call David@817-475-4539  Call Matthew@972-754-1698
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#7115880 - 01/31/12 07:13 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Texas Guide Fishing - Mark Parker]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 06/04/10
Posts: 1546
Loc: Lewisville, Tx
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Go with Minn Kota Terrova – with I-Pilot ,
I’ve always been a foot control guy – going back to the 1960’s – it’s 2nd nature to me.
But the I-Pilot offers more – the ability to walk away from the trolling motor and set it on Spot-Lock, which works like an electronic anchor.
+1
Also it has abilities to follow trials (via GPS) or set a direction via GPS and it follows the course regardless of the wind direction changes (via a remote - from any where with in the boat).
This is were Trolling Motors are going, (It’s kind of like Side Image depth finders – that’s where it’s all going and that’s where its at)
If you are not keeping up with the technology curve, then you are probably still using a flasher or maybe simply a rock tied to a rope as your depth finder. If so then what are you doing reading this via your computer?
Stay up with Technology,
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#7115927 - 01/31/12 07:23 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 10/21/03
Posts: 1723
Loc: Texouisiana
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I use a foot controlled mainly because I stand up mostly all the time fishing for hours at a time and usuallay a pole in each hand one foot on the trollong motor and the other foot on the net really,a balancing act it get to be second nature.
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Pat-T
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#7117010 - 02/01/12 12:45 AM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 10/10/09
Posts: 1517
Loc: Mesquite TX
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I tried foot control units but once I used a hand control I was hooked. I have a big foot switch on mines and simply bump it when I want to stay on a brushpile. My boat is a 17 footer and I found the foot control took up to much space. I do most of my fishing standing up so it was a no brainer for me.
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#7117052 - 02/01/12 02:36 AM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Angler
Registered: 08/01/09
Posts: 373
Loc: west of the metromess
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I have hand control with a bigfoot switch also. I also don't just fish crappie. All i can say is hit a wave where the trolling motor comes out of the water using a foot control........sitting or standing you had better have very good balance and reflexes or you might go for a swim!!!! Also if you have a small front deck and room is and issue a hand control is gonna take up less space. You also mentioned you have a knee problem.....how long could you stand with your foot on and empty shoe box without crushing the box?? That's kinda what driving a foot control was like for me. Just my .02$
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it's the crapy days that make the good days that much better!!!
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#7117393 - 02/01/12 07:42 AM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 01/11/05
Posts: 857
Loc: Cedar Creek Lake
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I have to disagree with the post regarding the iPilot and Spotlock. Fishing brush piles with Spotlock is a joke. It is supposed to keep you within a 10' diameter circle of the 'spot'. I've been using it for two years now and there is no way it will even come close. So, you then have to use the remote control and it hangs around my neck and I'm constantly grabbing it and correcting the location I'm trying to hold on. There is no wireless foot control for the model I have or I would have one. I bought one that plainly stated in big letters that it was especially for my model only to find out from the factory that it doesn't! Got my money back but, now I'm stuck with an overpriced TM that is almost useless for what I need. I can go to a wired foot control but, then why waste the $300 or so it cost to put on. If you want to try this out, I'll be happy to take you out and if you like it, I'll make you a good deal on it.
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I'M SOONER BORN, SOONER BRED AND WHEN I DIE I'LL BE SOONER DEAD! Chickasaw proud. CallMatthew@972-754-1698
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#7117401 - 02/01/12 07:46 AM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 09/25/11
Posts: 630
Loc: 32°42.136′N 97°6.772R...
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I'm perfecting a mind control TM, should be on the market by 2025.
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#7118213 - 02/01/12 11:22 AM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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TFF Team Angler
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 4673
Loc: Albuquerque, NM
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In bad wind I like my tiller and I have used a foot control on other boats and get use to them pretty quick, not much wind works fine. I have a MK Copilot and its foot control is useless, so I use the remote control on my wrist and that works OK too.
So ??? every fish an iPilot?
By the way I have a Minnkota AP/Copilot on the bow and a Minnkota Vector 3x on the transom. I have a tiller big motor, so staying in the back and using the tiller TM works best for me. My electronics are there, etc. But if trolling the AP on the bow is set for a course and away we go.
Edited by karpbuster (02/01/12 11:28 AM)
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C.S. Lewis
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#7119251 - 02/01/12 04:13 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 01/07/12
Posts: 66
Loc: Texas, Lake Conroe
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I've got an i-pilot wireless and just love the spot lock feature. It works great for trolling the pylons too.
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#7120529 - 02/01/12 09:07 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: OkieBob]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 01/15/07
Posts: 9942
Loc: Sanger,Texas
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I have to disagree with the post regarding the iPilot and Spotlock. Fishing brush piles with Spotlock is a joke. It is supposed to keep you within a 10' diameter circle of the 'spot'. I've been using it for two years now and there is no way it will even come close. So, you then have to use the remote control and it hangs around my neck and I'm constantly grabbing it and correcting the location I'm trying to hold on. There is no wireless foot control for the model I have or I would have one. I bought one that plainly stated in big letters that it was especially for my model only to find out from the factory that it doesn't! Got my money back but, now I'm stuck with an overpriced TM that is almost useless for what I need. I can go to a wired foot control but, then why waste the $300 or so it cost to put on. If you want to try this out, I'll be happy to take you out and if you like it, I'll make you a good deal on it. I had one too and can attest to the fact you can't stay on a brushpile. You can stay around it but you are constantly swimming your jig. Sometimes it is great but when the crappie want it dead still it is worthless. Usually there is a sweet spot on a pile and it is impossible to stay on it with spot lock. The trolling motor with I-Pilot would be great for sand bass, hybrids or stripers I guess. The foot control was awful too and the head was slow to react because it is mechnical. I would say foot control then hand control and never a remote control mechanical head trolling motor.
_________________________
Bobby Barnett Big Country Detail Service.Call/Text Matt Barnett@972-999-7088 Best in DFW!! Spankys Boat Repair Call David@817-475-4539 Call Matthew@972-754-1698
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#7120647 - 02/01/12 09:29 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: fishin'aholic2]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 01/31/10
Posts: 2542
Loc: Troup,TX
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I like foot control. It's nice having both hands free to fish. 
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God fearing, Gun toting, Hog trapping Crappie catching  Welding, Brush-hogging Redneck
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#7120740 - 02/01/12 09:48 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Outdoorsman
Registered: 09/13/11
Posts: 87
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Foot control could be tough on your knee just thinking.
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#7120942 - 02/01/12 10:39 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: lipripper1]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 11/27/07
Posts: 1013
Loc: Closest place to heaven. So.Tx...
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I fished hand controls with a bigfoot type switch for over 30yrs. but when I got serious about crappie I switched to foot control. Started out with a motorguide and hated it, then switched over to a MinnKota Maxxim and became an instant convert. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to adjust to using the foot control with the MK. The foot control allows you to be much more precise in boat placement when holding over brush or shooting docks, especially in the wind.
Steve
_________________________
" TEXAS AIN'T NO PLACE FOR AMATEURS" 
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#7123220 - 02/02/12 02:31 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: lakesteak123]
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TFF Celebrity
Registered: 10/08/01
Posts: 8478
Loc: Lake Palestine/Cherokee co
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I think you should go with the way you are leaning.
Most fisherman I know only like one kind of control, they are not going
to change thier minds.
the best system is fishing behind someone who runs the TM. I fish by my self
99% of the time. It was a treat last Sunday to just fish and let someone
else run the motor.
MO
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My backyard 
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#7123269 - 02/02/12 02:45 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: Wylie Crappieman]
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Pro Angler
Registered: 06/09/09
Posts: 756
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love the hand control on my center console. got it set up with a big foot foot switch. basically gives you the great easy maneuverability of a hand controlled trolling motor but with the great part of having the foot switch for the power; essentially it gives you a hybrid of foot and hand control
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Double K Jigs
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#7125331 - 02/02/12 10:53 PM
Re: Foot controlled or hand controlled trolling motor
[Re: ultralite09]
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Extreme Angler
Registered: 11/27/07
Posts: 1013
Loc: Closest place to heaven. So.Tx...
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Try fishing a hand control in the wind with a rod in each hand. Then you will understand the value of a good foot control.
Steve
_________________________
" TEXAS AIN'T NO PLACE FOR AMATEURS"
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