i had a motorguide wireless when they first came out. it had a foot pedal and i enjoyed it.....when it worked which was rarely. the motor burned up in the first one, they replaced it and the motor burned up on that one too. they replaced it a third time and the wireless capabilities were almost nill. most of the time the signal didnt reach the motor. i'm sure the technology has gotten better, but it may still suck.

Or, like everything else, the technology improves and they become the standard. There are tons of people already using them, myself included, who wouldn't go back.

Seems like they could combine a cable steer with an electric steer for the times when you want auto pilot and spot lock. This would pretty much be the ultimate setup if someone could figure out how to make it work.

I read that the response time is not that great. If they are fishing around stumps it would not be a good thing.

...and the electrical inference on a power plant lake makes them go in circles. Haha.

I just don't think it is a great idea. Like the video of the latest one... Where the guy brake checks his boat off his trailer. I bet the guys standing watching would laugh their asses off if the boat turned and drove right into the dock. Crunch. Lol.

I think they will evolve, I imagine in 5 years they will be strong and easy to use on bank as Fortrex, but then use the GPS or course feature when you want. I can't wait!

I also think in 5 years shallow water anchors will fit in little 2 foot box on back of boat and go 20 feet down quietly.

I could write a page about how awful they are. I've had the misery of using them a few times on other peoples boats.

It literally takes all the fun out of fishing and ends up being an entire day of cursing at the motor.

It's the perfect motor for the tired old lazy amateur fisherman that typically says " its just nice to be out on the water"

If they were good pro's would be using them and so would I. Especially for their proclaimed "holding capabilities".

I work with a guy that spent quite a bit on the Hummingbird MinnKota setup. He fishes stripper and walleye. He does a lot of drift/trolling and he has reported issues. If I paid that much for it I would want it to work out of the box 90%, not 50% or less.

Can't imagine it being useful for Bass fishing, even in deeper water.

the pros dont have time to be messing around i think, they dont fish like the normal weekend guy.

The normal weekend guy gets to his spot fishes slowling releasing all the stress from the working week.

The pros, already have a list of points planned that either they prefish them or the sponsor scout told him. they go there and if in 5 min there is no fish you move on.

they dont have time to be messing around with the features, setting up to put the graph and hit follow the contour, etc...

i enjoy using my terrova, setting waypoints, anchoring the boat with the gps feature, record i-tracks and follow the contour, dont let any of those reviews get you away from buying one, you will be suprised on how solid they are.

if you have questions shoot me a pm.

I would bet that they haven't been proven to withstand the punishment. The pros don't even trust the trolling motor that they do use. They keep a spare in a locker for when it fails.

Plus the price tag. They are expensive.what the pros use is advertising for that company. Maybe the companies have calculated that they make more in letting them use another model. I have been seeing them show up on some pros boats on the fishing shows.

I bought one because I am an amateur and not real skilled with a trolling motor in a small boat that gets blown around a lot.It takes the fun out fighting waves while trying to dig through tackle boxes and tying lures. I end up looking for places out of the wind. Now I will have more options on where to fish. I am sure that they aren't perfect but I bet they work better than me on a manual one

If they made a cable unit with the digital just for spot lock I'd be all over it.

Trying to decide on what trolling motor to get has been agonizing for me. My boat is set up for a 24V, I have an older MotorGuide 72# thrust, it has been giving me trouble and I had it fixed by the motor guide guy at lake fork last summer. It's time for a new one. I want one that is strong enough to fight the wind, and easy to operate. I am debating over a MG 82# digital but with standard steering cable or a MG Xi5, or Minn Kota 80# Fortrex - Either way I go, its alot of money for a guy like me. I'm like most guys, I do fish shallow and in the weeds/lily pads when the time is right and I love that, I also enjoy fishing off shore and when the wind is up with my current TM its a beating and I can barely hold my position to fish.

I've even looked at my boat Triton 186, and tried to figure out how to put in another battery and upgrade to a 36V, but I fish by myself most of the time, so I think an updated 24V would be good, but I can't decide what to do. I appreciate everyone's input, I'm just trying to look at all angles before making a decision, but I am about ready to get one and be done with it.

I have the terrova with ipilot link connected to both fish finders. I use the remote and foot pedal. It's rediculous how many useful features it has...I get to spend more time fishing and less time navigating. When you're in stump fields or hazardous areas use the foot pedal. I'll never get another cable steering motor again.

I have a fortrex and a terrova w/ ipilot link. The Fortrex lives on my bass boat, and the terrova is on a boat I use for walleye/trout/pike/smallmouth up north. Terrova is excellent for trolling, and spotlock is excellent also. No way would I want it on my bass boat in a bunch of stumps, with wind. With that said.

two different tools, for two different applications. I think the pros are severely limiting themselves with a cable steer on the great lakes, or other events that feature primarily deep, off-shore bites, ledge lakes, etc.

Just what I think.

Agree.

If these were standard in bass fishing I would rather not fish.

Like most things fishing, matter of choice for each individual.
Your question about 'pros', not sure. Think, IMO, they go with what they are sponsoring and what is proven.
My opinion: I bought and tried using Motor Guide wireless, all the goodies, I mean foot switch, etc.
First thing I noticed was slow response ...the most annoying to me, the noise of the motor controlling the unit. It seems loud.....
My thoughts: If as bad as my hearing is, I can hear it, the fish can too.
All these are just my thoughts but, I kept and tried it for about 2 months, decided to sell and go back to more conventional foot control cable unit.
Maybe they are better now, i.e., quieter. The auto launch/stow/ease of adjusting depth and spot locks are great sounding features but, I'm sure the motor noise is still there at least to some degree not to mention the price.
These units are still new to MG and MK.
Just not what I wanted.
But, just again, my opinion. My best suggestion is to get on a rig that has one, and try it for sure before you decide.
Good luck, God Bless