Thread: Is a variable speed trolling motor that important?

i see lots of posts from time to time about variable speed trolling motors. is it that important? does it control your speed that much better? does it work better than a 5 speed trolling motor? is there that much difference between speeds? i guess i always thought that if you wanted to go slower then you go down a number. if you wanted to go faster then turn it up a number?

I can tell you this...I have a Motor Guide on my pontoon with 5 speeds. On the very lowest speed its will run about 1.0 to 1.2 mph. That is a little to fast for me, with the variable you can control the speed and keep it down to .5 or less. I just bought a Minn Kota Power Drive...hadn't had time to put it on yet...but that was my reasons.

depends on how you fish. If you only use your boat to get from one fishing spot to another, a 5 speed is OK. But if you like to slowly move the boat, whether for positioning or trolling or pushing corks or whatever, then a variable speed will let you find just the right amount of control.

In one of my boats I have a 5 speed and even the lowest speed is too fast. A drift sock still doesn't slow it down enough. A variable speed would let me crawl along as fast or slow as I want.

I just bought a Motor Guide Dgital 75# thrust trolling motor. I can't wait to get it on and try it out!

Originally Posted by wasabi

depends on how you fish. If you only use your boat to get from one fishing spot to another, a 5 speed is OK. But if you like to slowly move the boat, whether for positioning or trolling or pushing corks or whatever, then a variable speed will let you find just the right amount of control.

In one of my boats I have a 5 speed and even the lowest speed is too fast. A drift sock still doesn't slow it down enough. A variable speed would let me crawl along as fast or slow as I want.

Well said..

Lots of reasons for variable speed and only one for 5 speed and that is price.
If trolling you have to control speed, and i never seemed to get just the right speed with a 5 speed tm. If easing up on a stump or laydown you want to control speed and noise if you approach with the steady hum of an always on motor vs the vibration on then off will spook some of the fish. and my maximizer lasts much longer on one charge than my old 5 speed tm. roughly the same thrust.

I have a Minn Kota Power Driver with Auto Pilot. I love the variable speed because I can choose my own speed. Yes, I think variable speed it important because when the fish get picky, speed can mean everything. I just dial in the speed I want.

got to have one if you troll. How else you going to get that magic .7mph number?

I ain't got one on my Job boat. It got a 5 speed Motorguide. I drag a 5 gallon bucket if need to go slow. Works fine. Cheap too.

I might convert ones of these days.

I have an old 5 speed OMC 12/24 on my 17' deep V fiberglass bass boat and have never had a problem getting it slow enough for my spider rigging type fishing, don't know how it would work on a flat bottom alum jon. That said my next TM will be a MK variable speed whenever this motor goes out. I have to say the OMC has been the best TM I ever had. So easy to steer, deploy and stow. Don't know how many ropes I have had to replace.