Spotlock
Loved fishing the St. Johns. I miss living in Florida. Hated the manatee zones though. Though it was cool having alligators as big as my bassboat.
Spotlock
Loved fishing the St. Johns. I miss living in Florida. Hated the manatee zones though. Though it was cool having alligators as big as my bassboat.
when you see this on the water stop and say hi.
My order of importance would be Spot Lock trolling motor, Live sonar, Mega 360, Pole Anchors, Lithium's, Hydrualic Jack plate.
2020 Ranger 521L, Merc 250 Pro XS
I would go with the Hydraulic jack plate. It is hard to beat a Fortrex trolling motor for reliability and durability which is needed if you fish shallow most of the time, also I don't like tje electric steer on many of the spot lock trolling motors.
Hydraulic plate would be last by a mile for me. Even when I did have them, once set, I never moved it.
2021 BassCatt Pantera II
200 Pro XS(3B056653)
Motorguide Tour Pro
Lowrance Ghost was a game changer when added to my boat. With Lowrance certain Lowrance electronics hooked up thru NEMA 2000 you can control the trolling motor thru your graphs setting a course along contour lines, running waypoints in route, going directly to a waypoint. Haven't found a need for the remote and very seldom use power pole since adding Ghost!
It's funny how different the opinions are on jackplate. While it's not the first priority for me, I do use it quite a bit when the water gets rough and like using it to dial in top speed.Originally Posted by PMantle
2020 Nitro Z20 Pro Package
Had Ghost for almost 3 years. No issues at all. Have used the remote twice in those three years. Have controlled the motor from the HDS units maybe three times. Spotlock gets used every time I go out. Ghost 360 has found structure for me on several occasions.
NoCAL
2004TR-21X/2015 250 ProXS
2B112175
Yep. Get the Ghost.
Today I used my Talons as I was fishing in 2' of water as the winds and current the spot lock would have not been effective. Top Water Fishing for Reds and Trout.
Tomorrow, Spot Lock will be the key to hold me on location. Fly Fishing for Stripe Bass.
If I had the extra money to put toward the boat, it would be to switch out the AGM trolling motor batteries with Lithium. Huge weight differential!
I guess you have to see what benefits you the best.
2019 RT 198P
2018 Mercury Pro XS 150 HP 4 Stroke #2B610068
Twin 12' BT Talons
4" Atlas Jack Plate
Riptide Instinct Quest
Would be happy to go over all lithium options with you and give you package pricing with BBc discount if looking towards that route. As far as speed some boats see a instant speed increase while others lose MPH due to losing their bow lift. ultimately set up correctly with the proper balance and jackplate setting a lighter boat will always be faster, draft shallower and have a better hole shot. Most just install then complain they lost speed and do not want to take the time to re adjust weight and jackplate settings. iof you decide yopu want 10 foot blades then no issue there as we have them instock and offer the best deals with our free K and K items included
Based on your setup, I’d rank them as
1. Spot lock
2. Upgraded poles
3 hydraulic Jackplate
4. Lithiums.
Even if you don’t use spot lock, the pedal over cable driven is just so much smoother. I have the ultrex and don’t think I could go without one now.
I’m not personally sold on lithiums because I don’t need the reduced weight and even though it’s supposed to be cheaper over time, I can’t justify the upfront cost.
I’ve been thinking of going hydraulic for the Jackplate but I haven’t seen enough of a need to justify the cost over my manual one.
I have been running a Ghost for two years now and love it. Great motor and would integrate with your Lowrance units.
For the Ghost owners, the head noise doesn't bother you. Seems like that would get old fast with head constantly spinning around for Ghost 360. Or moving head around with AT.
Video from Drewtick...
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wr3SuBtH8sE
EDIT
Actually, on this video it's not noisy at all when using 360... so maybe it's only noisy when using the pedal to initiate turn/movement?
Starts around 1:30 mark...
Last edited by 78Staff; 10-24-2022 at 08:01 PM.
The 360 makes some noise when in the water
yeah I meant above the water, ie the noise the Ghost makes when turning the head ie in Drewtick's video (the first one linked). Does the Ultrex make similar noises also?
I don’t even notice it anymore but it is less than an Ultrex
2004TR-21X/2015 250 ProXS
2B112175
I also vote spot lock. You had asked earlier about remote, I know ghost is different but on ultrex yes remote will help with some settings. Also and I didn’t even know this till recently, if your locked you can just hit the direction button and it moves you 5 feet. I like that feature a lot for junk fishing. Now it stays in my pocket or teathered around my neck.
yep i read... err watched a vid that talked about the jog/remote. Apparently you can't do it on the pedal, has to be from remote or from head unit control. So if you use jog a lot, and don't want to bend over every time, the remote seems to be a must have. I like that it's small like the pp remote, not big like the ultrex. Since I fish alone mostly I've started wearing the PP remote around my neck... so might pick one up.
You're fishing shallow water in Florida, right? IMHO ... Hydraulic Jack Plate.
I would take Spot lock over power poles any day
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