Fishing in deep and big water can become a very tedious and hard-working job for the people who are peddling their boats or kayaks in the lakes. It becomes easier if the transportation is faster and more reliable if you can use any mechanical advantages like motors to drive your boats. Trolling is also a very popular and interesting game to find the furious fishes in the lake. You have to gain enough speed to play games with the fishes.
Bass boats are small and compact. They do not need a lot of horsepower to drive fast and easily through the water. You will find several trolling motors to accelerate your craft.
There are a lot of features related to the trolling motor in the water that makes the job easy and convenient. Let us know about some of the best trolling motors for bass boats in this trolling motor for bass boat reviews.
Minn Kota Endura Transom Mount Trolling Motor
Minn Kota is a freshwater trolling motor that provides excellent performance in a small and compact package and operates at a sweet spot level of 12V. This simple and solid motor can give maximum flexibility with different levels of speed and thrust.
The main control of the motor does have a very responsive power transmission and different levels of speed control. Taking this forward and reverse, you can use five and three levels of speed accordingly.
This works great in versatile conditions if you are casually fishing or scanning for fishes underwater; this gives you flexibility. The handle also has a lot of grip on it. Locking these on your deck is super easy and secured. Lever lock provides a lot pf pinching power to grip the motor on the boat. The steering response is also measured in a way that if you turn it at a 45-degree angle, the motor will turn reverse, and the response is precise.
The shaft on this motor set is flexible and as the ability to stand any situations by using the supple property of it.
Pros
- Responsive eight levels of speed
- precise turning and accurate steering
- Tough and sturdy locking bracket
Cons
- Does not provide a lot of power for bigger boats
Newport Vessels NV-Series Saltwater Trolling Motor
If you are looking for the motor that has the ability to deliver a high amount of force and flexibility of eight-speed instead of three or five, Newport Vessels NV-Series can be the best trolling motor for 18 ft bass boat. You will find a battery level indicator on the control unit that will show you details in five led indicators.
The motor operates silently and cuts through the water so quietly that the fishes wouldn’t even notice anything. To master the silence, you will get eight levels of speeds on it. The shaft on this is 36 inches at maximum adjustment, which can be adjusted using height adjustment collar. You can install this on any kind of boats that has decks of different sizes. With the directional lock, you can enjoy a hands-free ride in the vast water.
One of the main reasons you should buy this is because of the fiberglass shaft, which prone to flex instead of bending or breaking. With the fiberglass reinforced propellers, you will get a smooth throttle and trust. The powder coating on the propeller unit is also good for keeping it corrosion-free.
Pros
- High thrusting propeller
- Flexible fiberglass shaft
- Five battery level indicating LED on Control unit
- Adjustable collar and direction lock
Cons
- At a high level of speed, this does get louder
Goplus Electric Trolling Motor 46/55/86 LBS
With the flexibility of setting at any angles and height possible, Goplus Electric Trolling Motor is the most powerful trolling motor for bass boats available in the market. You will find all the controls on the one hand, and you will not have to worry about throttles as it comes in three different throttling power.
The telescopic handle has a nice grip ad also has the versatility to extend its length to match your skill on trolling. ON hand, you will find five forward speed levels and three backward speed levels. The speed and thrust will vary according to the option you will purchase. Almost all of them are quiet, and you will be able to hunt fishes in stealth mode.
Three blades on the propeller ensure that the boat is moving forward smoothly with the balance of straightforward power. The ten levels of battery indicator also come handy if you don’t have a separate indicator on your battery unit.
To set this unit on our boat, you will get a lot of adjusting tools and nuts and bolts that keep you covered if you have multiple boats.
Pros
- A lot of adjustment options
- Ten LED battery indicator
- Easy and convenient user experience
- Various power options to buy
Cons
- The motors drain batteries faster than regular ones
MinnKota Traxxis 45 Transom Mount Trolling Motor
If you are looking for the best Minn Kota trolling motor for bass boat and also looking for the premium one, this might be the one. At a glance, you will see that it has been designed with a minimal look. But the performance of the motor and electronics is boosted than ever.
The clamps on this trolling reel have an adequate amount of materials to keep on driving while fighting with a lot of vibration. You can maneuver the shaft by moving the handle by hand, and that will give it an almost 90-degree swing.
The shaft has been reinforced with carbon fiber, and the company has provided a lifetime guarantee because of the flex it has. Steering on this unit is smooth and fluid. You can change the way it behaves by adjusting the stiffness. A simple rotation of 45 degrees will give it a 180-degree swing, and that is precise.
The electronics have also been designed in a way that you can set it up to maximize your battery life up to five times. All of the tricks are done automatically.
Pros
- Premium built quality
- Electronics have an automatic power-saving mode
- Instant reverse trolling with smooth transmission and rotation
Cons
- Very powerful and pricy for small boats
MinnKota Edge Bowmount Foot Control Trolling Motor
The premium section of the best Minn Kota trolling motor for bass boat is never complete without Edge Bowmount. This motor has been equipped with a controller like a footswitch. It is a convenient tool for the anglers who want to enjoy the hunt without hassles.
If you are looking for the best trolling motor for 17 ft bass boat, this can be a considerable choice if you want the best value for the money. Edge does cost more than the regular ones in the market because of the components that have been used. All the housing materials are made of premium plastic materials that you can rely on long fishing sessions. The footswitch is an exceptional addition to this package, as you can control almost everything with it. With the speed control wheel, you can set the speed up to a good level and gradually control the speed level with the leaver portion.
The handle does have a nice hinge to flex the system to your desired angle. The mechanism of attaching and removing this from a boat is super convenient and easy for a regular person.
Pros
- High quality built and materials
- Extra footswitch for dynamic control system
- A convenient mounting mechanism for ease of use
Cons
- Does cost a lot of money
- Getting used to the peddle is time-consuming
Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Trolling Motor i-Pilot
As an ultimate machine for trolling, Minn Kota Riptide Terrova can be nominated as the best trolling motor for bass tracker 175. The performance and convenience are using this machine on your boat is a bliss. It is a modern machine with advanced controls like GPS wireless controller that takes you to the exact pinpoint location you want to reach for the most kills.
The remote is a rugged, designed device that also has a large display where you can set the location you desire. It will work smartly and reach to the destination automatically. You can record your journey on this device controller, and i-Pilot will automatically monitor your positioning. The locking system of the steering is spot on and does work perfectly on this. If you have set your direction of speeding in a direction, it will go straight no matter if any wind or stream bothers the boat.
The motor does also have a smart power-saving mode so that it does not drain the battery lot more than it needs. You can easily check the battery indication with just a press of a button on the control unit.
Pros
- A smart GPS navigation controller is provided
- Modern and Convenient design and features
- An autopilot mechanism is an additional convenience.
- Silent operation with almost no vibration
Cons
- Installation is not very easy on any boat
MinnKota Riptide EM 55 Engine Mounted Trolling Motor
If you already have a trolling motor and you also want to add an additional trolling motor on your boat to add some thrust, you can add this to your collection. This package includes one or a pair of motors and a controller unit to control your motor units.
This unit may look like a very tiny unit, but the power it delivers is amazing, and most of the professional boat owners consider this as the most powerful trolling motor for bass boat. The mounting system is a bit different in this than the others in the list, and as an engine mounted motor, it does not require a lot of tools to mount perfectly. Riptide EM 55 also makes your boat look cool ad futuristic as it does not stick out, and the control is on the engine unit.
The built quality has been maintained well so that corrosion does not have to deal with the motor or the propellers. The compact motor and propeller do also pack a lot of punch to kick in bigger boats.
Pros
- Stealthy engine mounting propeller and motor
- Corrosion resistance body and
- Convenient handheld controller for speed control
- Easy to mount on the engine units
Cons
- These motors have a high battery consumption due to high power delivery
Trolling Motor for Bass Boat Buyer’s Guide
In the age of multiple types of boats and canoes, the importance of a dynamic and high-quality trolling motor is important. To get the best motor in the market, you have to make sure that you are checking all the aspects that are going to qualify the quality of the motor.
Controller unit
The most important part of a trolling motor is the control unit on it. It has all the electronics that are going to drive the motor inside the water. The electronics have to have the tolerance of driving the motor even if it is facing any resistance.
Some of the motor control units get bad if it cannot handle the power of the battery. It ends up melting and firing up the control unit. You have to be careful choosing good electronics for controlling the motor.
Some of the control units also have a remote controller that has to be waterproof as it is going o get wet sometimes.
Handles
While you are on a boat, you will always be holding the handle provided with the motor unit. To gain the best control, it has to be grippy and high quality so that your finger does not get tired at any point in your journey.
In some of the motor units, you will get extensions and locking systems that will lock your speed at constant power. Most of the power and speed control some on the turning of the handle. It has to be comfy so that you don’t get stiff hands after a long day of fishing.
How smooth is the control?
The acceleration of the unit keeps you dragging smoothly among the fishes. If the acceleration is rough, that might make a lot of noise and scare away the fishes that you have seen in your fish finder unit.
The more power diversity the unit will have, you will be able to get smoother acceleration through this. The turning should also be as seamless so that resistance does not bother the driver.
Check if the unit does also offer precision turning and accurate angle of turning.
Overall built quality
The overall built quality will matter if you are going to buy the best trolling motor for bass tracker 175. The built quality will ensure that the motor unit has the ability to fight the vibration due to any water or weather situation.
Most of the outer shell of the control unit is made of plastics. The higher the quality will be, the longer it can last. Though the carbon fiber materials last longer, it has the advantage of providing rugged performance. When it is about the material used on the propeller and the motor unit, make sure they have used aluminum or any other corrosion-resistant metals.
Shaft
The shaft is that long and thin part that connects the controller unit with the motor underwater. All the thrust that comes from the motor unit gets pressurized n the shaft. If the shaft is made of metal, that might become heavy for better performance. As the technologies have brought up more robust materials, companies started using carbon fibers on the shafts. They make them strong and flexible so that they don’t bend at heavy pressure.
Propeller
When you are going to purchase a motor unit for your boat, your motor unit will be equipped with a propeller. It pushes the water in the opposite direction of the boat is faced. The propeller must be made of aluminum or other metal because of the environment they have to deal with and the pressure they create. The blades also have to be shaped correctly and efficiently to cut through unwanted seaweeds
Speeding of the motor
Motor speed totally depends on how much thrust has the ability to create. The motor has to be able to create a thrust that will push the boat forward, and for that, there is a calculation on the next part.
Speeding also comes from the versatile control of the unit. If you have a short-range of speed control, it will not be able to put a range of effort to build up thrust. The gradual increase of speed will always give you the advantage to push your boat at a very high speed.
The versatility of the motor
Not all of the motors are good for all kinds of water conditions. The most sensitive water would be saltwater. You have to make sure of the materials of the whole unit. In some of the cheaper models, they use metals that are not resistive to corrosion or reactive to the saltwater.
Make sure that metal that has been used building the motor or the parts are not reactive to the saltwater.
The versatility of a motor also depends on what types of boats it can support. The clamping and locking system has to be taken under consideration while purchasing your motor.
Battery support
The higher the power will be, the more voltage you will need to power it up. A universal unit of battery support will be 12 volts. Some of the companies have used better technologies to preserve batteries and run for longer, which is a nice addition if you want.
Trolling Motor Thrust Guide
The matter of thrust is a very important part to cover because the amount of thrust you are getting the more pushes you are going to get out of your trolling motor unit.
You have to measure your boat, observe the performance regularly, and calculate the thrust before making the purchase. A unit that has the perfect thrust measuring will give the boat the right speed, and thus, the boat will get on the right plane smoothly.
If you have already purchased one and you want a test run to make sure that it is the right one, set it up on your boat. Makes sure that it has been connected with the electronics correctly. Start cruising and measure the speed at average. If the moderate speed of 3-4 mph can sustain, it will be a pass.
If the motor unit has a GPS unit integrated with the system, your boat will be sinking in the same position, even if there are wind and streams.
To test the thrust is in the right direction, you have to use the motor without touching the control. When you will leave the controlling handle and the boat will keep a straight and locked direction.
Measure considering boat weight
A boat will never go further at a constant and stable speed if the weight has been too heavy for the motors to drive. While you start calculating the thrust you should get, you must keep in mind that you will need at least 2 lbs. of thrust weight for 100lbs of boat weight.
For calculating, you must go through the boat specification that you are going to buy. A boat manual always has a weight measurement on their papers or manual papers.
If you have a boat of 3000lbs of weight, you must get a motor that has the ability to give you the thrust of at least 60 lbs. Under this thrust, the boat will surely move, but there is a chance that your motor is going to get damaged or electronics are going to get worse. The shaft might also get broken.
When you are calculating the boat weight, you have to add the weight of the passengers and the equipment that you are going to take with you fishing.
Take consideration of water and weather.
Water and weather conditions can also change the way your motor is working. It is always a good idea to keep your game up a notch to keep yourself secured on any adverse situation.
If the water does not have good stability, you might need to have a strong shaft that will not bend or be very hard to maneuver the board. A motor with good thrust will keep the boat flowing stability and straight toa direction that it is meant to be. You must also keep in mind that wind can sometimes make the job harder to drive the boat against the wind.
Situations can also change if you are planning to use your motor in saltwater. As saltwater is denser and the blade has to deal with more tension and fight more. While buying a motor for your boat, you can add an additional thrust of 70lbs, which will be helpful for further use.
You also have to keep in mind that more thrust will need more battery power to push it up to the maximum power. You will need almost 24Volt batteries to push an 80bs thrust out of a trolling motor.
Understanding Mount Types of Trolling Motor
All the trolling motors do not come with the same types of mounts with the package ad they are also not to be mounted in the same way. They have different types of operation on the boats, and driving techniques are different.
Transom Mount
The most popular type of mount that can be seen amount the fishing boat s the Transom Mount ones. Mounting them on boats does not really require so many instruments and drilling on the boats.
For small boats, these are more encouraged to install. You have to install a small plate that will be securing the boat woods or materials. A screwing clamp lock will secure the clamp on place, and thus, you will get a tight and right fit on your boat.
These are most popular among the anglers and sometimes called the best trolling motor for a 16 ft bass boat because they do not cost a lot of money, and they are also very easy to install. The one disadvantage of this mount would be less precise control and less diversity, but they can be easily ignored considering the price point.
Bow type
Bow type mounts are more popular among the professional fishermen, and the power and thrust they come are very high. These might not also suit the small boats.
These mounts are mainly attached to the front of the boats. The driver will get better control than the Transom types. The accuracy of direction is also pinpoint. It works in almost the opposite principle to the transom mount types.
It pulls water from the form of the boat and pushes down to the boat. These motors are mostly sold due to having precise and better control.
The controlling units are also fascinating that you may find in the box. They might come in remote control, footswitch controls, wireless controllers and also motorized steering, and many more.
The main drawback of these devices would be the high cost. These do also take very tedious procedures and a large space to mount on boats.
Engine Mount Motor
The most industrial type of motors is the engine mounted ones. Just by the name, it can be figured out that these types of motors are mainly mounted on already existing motors on boats.
These can be used on both small and bigger boats. If your small boat has an engine that can be maneuvered using your hand or a controller.
The way of controlling these motors are using any kind of remote control. That might be a wired controller or a wireless controller. They have all the facilities like speed controls and forward and reverse control that can be managed using the control unit.
The power and thrust are greater than all the other types of motors in the market. Most of the anglers who have an existing motor unit that has a steering controller and that is mounted on big boats. These can also be the best trolling motor for Jon boat because of the power it delivers.
Conclusion
Among all the motors in this trolling motor for bass boat reviews, we surely can not say that every motor is the best motor in the market. They have different levels of user perspective, and working principles are also different in different motors.
Most of the anglers say that it is always better to start with something beginner ad gradually built the level up to a point where you might have bigger boats and better control systems for your fishing boat. It will be a very wide step to calculate the weight and thrust according to the law and not go over the estimated limitations.
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