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There is a reason we have dubbed the spot-lock button the “cheater” button (spot lock trolling motor). It really does feel like you must be breaking a rule to just walk around the boat and fish and not deal with the trolling motor. What does the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of The Year, Brandon Palaniuk, have to say about it? “I almost felt sorry for the guys not running an Ultrex.

Then they’d have to fire up the big motor to get back to the waypoint. That’s a lot of time spent NOT fishing. Like I said, I almost felt sorry for them.” This post is meant to be more of an introduction to what an eye-opening experience spot-locking was this past year - spot lock trolling motor.

There’s a lot to cover! Currently, we have only tried the Minnkota version of this technology. Motorguide’s version is a bit unknown to us at this point although it is an entirely digital controlled unit, so that means that steering is all wireless and not via a cable drive like the Ultrex.

I was probably more excited to fish with the new Minn Kota Ultrex than any new fishing product announced since early 2016. I wanted, however, to spend a lot of time fishing with this trolling motor before I wrote a review on it, so I could give a full evaluation of it after lengthy use in a wide variety of fishing conditions.

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Minn Kota sent me an Ultrex to rig on my Phoenix 920Pro, XP in April of 2017 to review. The Minn Kota Ultrex is essentially a cable steer trolling motor that is motor-assisted. So it feels and behaves like a standard cable steer trolling motor, but it has a lot more functionality and performance because of the electronic motor assists to the shaft.



While it still has power switch and variable speed controls on the pedal, the Ultrex also offers multiple function control like Spot Lock, North orientation, continuous thrust and more from the touch of a toe while fishing. The hands free operation and responsiveness of the Ultrex makes it a very worthwhile addition to any fishing boat.

But even in my boat with Lowrance units, it has its own GPS system, and I’ve found it has coordinated well with what I’m seeing on completely unconnected units. While the Ultrex is an link amazing new tool for anglers, I would also caution anglers on a few things I’ve found now running several different units on different setups.

What you have to consider is that when Spot Lock is in control, the head might want to rotate beyond a full 360 degrees. If you have a cable rigged too tightly on the shaft of a trolling motor and up past the head or have too mush loose cable hanging out, the cables can get bound up and I’ve actually seen one get pinched and broken because of it.

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The other caution I would make concerns the bracket and the shaft of the Ultrex. While it looks just like a Fortrex bracket at first glance, keep in mind their is a motor housing where the spring loaded breakaway part of the Fortex bracket used to be on the Ultrex.

While the Ultrex shaft is made of a pliable design and can flex quite a bit, it can’t take a direct blow like a Fortrex trolling motor can. I have seen broken Ultrex shafts from hitting solid objects with nowhere for the motor to flex around. But that’s been the same with all electronic steer trolling motors.

As with any technology there are always tradeoffs. How much do you want one ability with your equipment versus another. I said when they first announced the Ultrex in 2016 that it will anchor be one get redirected here of those technologies that you’ll wonder how you ever fished without it. While you certainly can catch fish without so much technology, it is pretty crazy how much you adapt your fishing when you do have the convenience of technology like this.

Sometimes I just hit to sit down and tie up a few lures on a few different rods or to look at maps or drink a water. It’s nice to just go out in the middle of the bay and hit Spot Lock and rig up your stuff before a tournament and not have to be anchored up right next to everyone.

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I had a couple trips this summer where I was sitting on schools of fish and actually standing on the back deck and casting to them by myself while the Ultrex held me the other direction against the wind and current. It was almost like having a robotic guide in the front of the boat holding me on the juice while I just sat in the back and hammered on them.

I’m sure I’m not even tapping the potential of it yet with things like the i-Pilot remote or the app on my phone that can run it. I’ve been too chicken to try the remote and the trolling motor deployed after launching by myself but I plan to in the future.

It’s quite the investment in technology, but for a lot of anglers looking to make a big upgrade to their fishing boat, I’d be hard pressed to find a better upgrade that offers as much performance and functionality to every day you’re on the water than an Ultrex. You can find out more about them at .

I cannot believe how well this thing keeps you on the fish. I have never been able to fish so efficiently. I never use a real anchor anymore. I fish this thing in calm and rough conditions and it always behaves perfectly. I never have to worry about where the boat is and scaring away the fish.

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