8 Best Spot Lock Trolling Motors [Buyer’s Guide]

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When you look at the choices in the market, you will find some of the best trolling motors, no doubt. But here’s the catch. Some trolling motors have features that might look cool, but you won’t need them. Some other trolling motors have the basics, but not the ones you need.

Your first move when it comes to browsing through the best trolling motors is to list down your requirements. In this piece, we focus heavily on spot lock.

If you fish in windy areas or with strong currents, these trolling motors will be one of the most important features to have on your boat.

If you’re looking to create routes and lock your coordinates in place, keep reading below.

It can be quite tricky to pick a good spot lock trolling motor if you’re not sure what you are looking for. And there are plenty of choices in the market.

To make that purchase easy for you, we’ve narrowed it down to eight good options. And if you don’t know how to read the specs, scroll down for a buyer’s guide.

Let’s begin.

Our Picks for 8 Best Spot Lock Trolling Motors

Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Saltwater Bow Mount Trolling Motor

Our first pick is a Minn Kota trolling motor that’s one of the good trolling motor companies if you want a saltwater trolling motor with a spot lock. Minn Kota is a popular name when you look for trolling motors because it has a powerful trolling motor.

This spot lock trolling motor has a 60-inch shaft length and a peak thrust of 80 pounds. For ocean vessels, this mount trolling motor is perfect for windy conditions or steady currents.

This Minn Kota motor has a great i-Pilot GPS system, the i-Pilot Link, which is a coveted one in the fishing industry because of its accuracy. It is pre-installed and monitors fishing spots without messing with any of the features of the trolling motor itself.

There is a heading sensor that lets you move the spot lock five feet in all directions. And you can activate it with your remote or a fish finder.

The i-Pilot GPS features that let you control your trolling motor include steering, speed, and set a spot lock to name a few. It can also control the boating position that can be monitored on a big LCD screen.

On this Minn Kota motor, there’s an autopilot feature too which lets you move the boat in all directions. You just need to point the trolling motor in a certain direction and it will keep going on that path. In fact, it will even take the current, waves, and wind into account which is why it is considered a powerful trolling motor.

Now let’s talk about the digital maximizer on this Minn Kota motor. It has a run time that is 5x times that of the competition. And this is after charging it just once.

The trolling motor also comes with variable speeds which means you don’t have to keep adjusting the power or worry about the efficacy of the battery.

By the way, the i-Pilot GPS has some rave reviews and seems to be one of the hit features among customers who bought this trolling motor. And if you like what you’ve seen, this is just one model from Minn Kota. There’s more on display. Keep reading.

Features

• Item Weight: 57 pounds
• Material: Aluminum
• Operation Mode: Electric
• Voltage: 24 volts
• Shaft Size: 60 inches
• Peak Thrust: 80 lb
• Control Type: Remote

MotorGuide Xi5 Wireless Trolling Motor

MotorGuide is another reputable trolling motor brand, a good pick among the existing spot lock trolling motors. And MotorGuide Xi5 trolling motor is our next pick.

First things first. This trolling motor makes use of LED light to check the status of the main functions, which is very useful in tough light conditions.

There is a battery indicator on this spot lock trolling motor, which uses many colors to show the levels of battery life. Then we must talk about the foot pedal. This is a wireless trolling motor which gives you great boat control from any part of the vehicle.

A foot pedal among freshwater trolling motors with a spot lock is not a revelation but this one is smooth, quiet, and stealthy.

This lock trolling motor comes with a heel-toe operation control which makes the food pedal intuitive and precise at the same time. It’s also twice the speed of the competition.

You will also find a variable speed control on this trolling motor with a spot lock. This function makes it easy to control the trolling motor at very low speeds. It also enables more run time, which is a benefit.

Features

• Item Weight: 65 pounds
• Voltage: 24 volts
• Shaft Length: 54 inches
• Peak Thrust: 80 lb
• Mounting Style: Bow
• Battery Meter: Yes
• Autopilot: Yes
• Control Type: Foot

Minn Kota Riptide PowerDrive Saltwater Bow Mount Trolling Water

For our next pick for a spot lock trolling motor, we come back to another one of Minn Kota trolling motors. Minn Kota has been at the top of its game since its very beginning in the 1930s, when they started off with an electric trolling motor. Minn Kota Riptide PowerDrive is a good pick if you’re looking for saltwater trolling motors.

It is a high-end Minn Kota trolling motor with a thrust choice between 55 and 70 lb. That is good enough for bass boats that are small. But you must always do a quick calculation based on a full load of your boat.

Now, this Minn Kota model is actually without any add-ons which are probably why it is cheap. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You can add jogs, heading sensors, a foot pedal, and more depending on your boat’s capacity to support them.

This Minn Kota motor also gives you i-Pilot GPS functionality but it is basic. The i-Pilot link with the remote allows you to control the trolling motor from all parts of the boat.

This trolling motor also has a basic autopilot function that can be operated using the app on your smartphone.

When you want to get out of the water, you can use the assist lever on this spot lock trolling motor with ease. The spot lock on this Minn Kota motor can be enabled by pressing a single button and you will have extremely accurate i-Pilot GPS functions too.

And on top of it all, PowerDrive is known for its affordability not just from the Minn Kota trolling motors collection but across the board.

The only drawback might be that it does not come with a foot pedal.

Features

• Item Weight: 43 pounds
• Material: Aluminum
• Shaft Size: 48 inches
• Peak Thrust: 55 lb
• Voltage: 12 volts
• Steering: Electric

Lowrance Ghost Freshwater Trolling Motor

When this trolling motor model was launched in 2019, Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor was actually at the top of the market. But soon enough, this became one of the go-to spot lock trolling motors because it can pretty much do everything that Ultrex offered. In fact, it can do more if you’re looking for a freshwater trolling motor.

For starters, the Lowrance Ghost trolling motor has a very quiet brushless motor. That’s why it is named ‘Ghost’. Interestingly enough, this spot lock trolling motor is also more efficient and stronger than what Ultrex offers. So, if you’ve ever had a brushless drill, this is kind of the same experience.

This motor can also transfer power to the prop directly because it does not have as much internal resistance as the others. That’s why it works better in open waters and gets the excess power it needs when you’re making your way through weeds.

You can use this trolling motor with a 24- or 36-volt battery system, which makes it a versatile choice compared to others. You can also adjust the thrust between 97 and 120 lb by changing the battery system. That’s another advantage.

It gets a very reliable thrust rating at 120 lb compared to all the other trolling motor models. And the anchor lock is very accurate at this point when the boat is fully loaded, whether you are in steady currents or strong winds.

The Lowrance Ghost trolling motor also gives you customized button options on the foot pedal, which means you can use it to control the anchor in shallow waters, create different waypoints or engage the prop to move side to side.

This customized wireless foot pedal is just another feature that makes this trolling motor a better option compared to PowerGuide or Minn Kota.

This trolling motor is also equipped with a Lowrance transducer which gives it a 3-in-1 feature that makes active imaging powerful. It has a 2D sonar feature although it doesn’t have a UHD frequency like Garmin Force.

Features

• Item Weight: 84.78 pounds
• Material: Plastic
• Shaft Size: 47 inches
• Peak Thrust: 120 lb
• Voltage: 24 or 26 volts
• Steering: Fly-by-wire

MotorGuide Xi3 Freshwater Bow Mount Trolling Motor

Next up on the list of spot lock trolling motors is the MotorGuide Xi3. This model, also a mount trolling motor of the bow variety, is known for its wireless mode. As you can guess, you can use the wireless remote to operate the trolling motor from anywhere as long as you’re on the boat. It has some cool mount features like a big LED dashboard which means you can check the features in low light conditions.

The trolling motor itself is efficient and about 40 percent quieter compared to the best models in the business. It has a built-in sonar inducer that measures at 83/22 kHz, which means you won’t have to worry about the details of the fish or the clarity.

The GPS is not an i-Pilot. It is highly accurate with about 3x times more precise and tight when it comes to the spot lock that holds the anchor. This trolling motor has a peak thrust of 55 lb, and the composite shaft length is 54 inches long. The prop type is a 3-blade machete propeller which makes it effective.

And finally, it has a 12-volt battery system that draws 52 amps at most.

Features

• Voltage: 12 volts
• Control Type: Remote
• Peak Thrust: 55 lb
• Shaft Size: 54 inches
• Prop Type: 3 blades
• Amp: 52 A
• Pinpoint GPS: Yes
• Built-in 83/200 kHz Sonar

Garmin Force 50-Inch Trolling Motor

This spot trolling motor is called ‘Force,’ and it came out in 2018. It is the first Garmin trolling motor and has a lot of similarities with the Lowrance Ghost trolling motor, which is a good thing. But it improves upon that trolling motor with a brushless motor. As you now know, that’s a huge asset.

That trolling motor makes it stronger, quieter, and energy-efficient compared to the others on the market. The technology used to engineer this motor is impressive also because you can use it with two different battery systems: 24 volts and 36 volts.

The 24-volt option gives it a peak thrust of 80 lb, while the 36-volt system enables a maximum thrust of 100 lb. Both are fairly impressive and extremely useful on a fishing trip.

The Garmin Force trolling model comes with a wireless foot pedal. You can use it to control the GPS functions with just one tap. You can hook up this foot pedal with the battery of the boat with a power cable or use two AA batteries separately. If you go fishing often, you might want to get the cable for the foot pedal.

The Force trolling model also has a high-quality transducer with CHIRP sonar imaging. This gives you down and side imaging options at 455/800 kHz frequencies. And it gets better because the sonar imaging is very powerful thanks to its 1,200 UHD frequency.

But if you do use the UHD imaging, you must have a GPSMAP 8600 or an Echomap Ultra to power it.

And last but definitely not least is the Bluetooth connectivity option on this spot lock trolling motor. You can use it to connect to any Garmin electronics of your choice. So, you won’t need an ethernet cable or an NMEA 2000 for that.

Features

• Item Weight: 98.68 pounds
• Voltage: 24 volts or 36 volts DC
• Shaft Length: 50 inches
• Peak Thrust: 100 lb
• Steering: Electric
• Control Type: Remote
• Speed Control: 20 steps variable
• Built-in Heading Sensor
• Built-in High-Sensitivity GPS

Haswing Black Cayman 48-Inch Bow Mount Electric Trolling Motor

Our penultimate pick for a good trolling motor is the Haswing Cayman spot lock trolling motor. This one is another affordable choice after, of course, the Minn Kota PowerDrive. But if you get the 48-inch version, you will have to pay $100-200 extra, and it’s still a good choice.

This spot lock trolling motor is made in China, but it has really good quality, contrary to popular belief. It does have an edge over the PowerDrive trolling motor because its foot pedal is wireless and has a remote control too.

This trolling motor also has an adjustable shaft which makes it a good pick for boats of all sizes and kayaks too. Plus, you can use it for saltwater and freshwater fishing expeditions which gives it an edge.

And finally, if you download the Haswing app, you can save your routes and (not i-Pilot) GPS settings like waypoints. So, essentially, you can pull an autopilot on a familiar route and save the settings on this spot lock trolling motor.

This is not an uncommon feature on a trolling motor, but with others in the market, you will have to pay a little extra to access it.

Features

• Material: Aluminum, metal
• Voltage: 12 volts DC
• Peak Thrust: 55 lb
• Amp: 45 A
• Power: 650 Watts
• Decibels: ≤50 db
• Shaft Length: 48 inches
• Prop Type: 3 blades
• Prop Size: 9-inch diameter
• Control Type: Remote
• Steering: 360 degrees electric control
• Boat Weight: Up to 2,750 lb
• Foot Control: 14.7 feet cable

MotorGuide Xi3 Saltwater & Freshwater Kayak Trolling Motors

Those who want a trolling motor, particularly for a kayak, will like this one. It’s from MotorGuide and is the Xi3 model with a 36-inch shaft. This was designed for anglers who like to do their fishing on a kayak which means it accommodates the low deck and shallow draught. If you’re a kayak fisherman, check out this post on the best fishing kayaks under $1000.

But you should remember that there are two versions of this trolling motor. One is with GPS and the other is without and the price is considerably different. What you can do is some skillful retrofitting if you buy the MotorGuide Pinpoint GPS separately.

This trolling motor has a peak thrust of 55 lb, which is more than enough for a kayak. The spot lock feature is impressive irrespective of the current and wind conditions, which makes it a powerful trolling motor. It works with three blades and a 12-volt battery system that conveniently draws on 52 amps.

Features

• Control Type: Remote
• Prop Type: 3 blades
• Shaft Length: 36 inches
• Peak Thrust: 55 lb
• Voltage: 12 volts DC
• Amp: 52 A
• Speed Control: Digital Variable Forward
• Pinpoint GPS Gateway: Compatible
• Package Dimensions: ‎64 x 20.2 x 10.6 inches
• Built-in 83/200 kHz sonar
• Chartplotter Integration compatible

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick a Good Spot Lock Trolling Motor

When you look at all the spot lock trolling motors on the market, you will notice a few common features in the list of specifications. These often decide whether a trolling motor will work for you or not.

Spot lock or anchor lock trolling motors should be the first on that list. You must also look at i-Pilot GPS options.

Now, a lot of it also depends on the features you want and the ones you don’t, but this will give you a general idea about where to start.

Here’s a look at some of the most important factors that make a trolling motor a good purchase.

Thrust

When you are looking at a trolling motor, you must look at the thrust very closely. If there isn’t enough to power the motor, the GPS positioning won’t be accurate, especially when there is a strong current or wing.

If the motor gets too much power, it will overshoot the GPS position when you move your boat.

You should also remember to check this when the boat is fully loaded. And if you don’t know that weight, check the NADA directory.

Voltage

Next up is the voltage of the trolling motor. If you want more thrust, you will need a higher voltage. That’s the simple correlation for a trolling motor. Most trolling motor models will be fixed early on and cannot be changed.

But Garmin Force and Lowrance Ghost give you some legroom with their variable voltages.

Shaft Length

You need the right shaft length too, because short ones will float in choppy waters, and long ones will kick up the mud.

Ideally, you should get 12 inches so that it’s submerged properly in the water. But this decision largely depends on the deck of the boat above water.

Bass boats will need to have 45-55 inch shafts, and large boats will need about 87 inches. Kayaks will need a trolling motor with a shaft that is 24-36 inches long.

GPS

Most trolling motors in the list above give you i-Pilot GPS navigation which is one of the best. But even without i-Pilot, you can get GPS functions like autopilot, which are incredibly useful.

You might have to attach a mapping device externally. So, pay attention to the specs of the GPS model.

Remote Control

Apart from the foot pedal, most trolling motors have a wireless remote that can be used from all parts of the boat. If you don’t like this and want to contain your budget, check out Lowrance Ghost.

Sonar

This is another important factor when buying a trolling motor, especially if you don’t want to use the in-built transducer. That’s a standard with high-end trolling motor models.

How Does Spot Lock Work on a Trolling Motor?

The big thing about spot lock is how it uses GPS. That’s also what controls the autopilot function on most trolling motor models. It is how the boat is kept in one location chosen by the angler. Typically, it has an accuracy of about 3-6 feet.

Which Trolling Motors Come with Spot Lock?

Most trolling motors mentioned above have spot lock. But depending on the model, there might be some exceptions if you are looking at the trolling motor market in general.

PowerGuide and Minn Kota are innovative and allow you to fit with the spot lock option retroactively with a special kit.

What about the Best Spot Lock?

Since spot lock is about GPS accuracy, you want to pick a company that can guarantee this feature. MotorGuide, with 10-16 feet accuracy, was a popular choice for this reason till 2016. But then Minn Kota launched Ultrex and changed the market.

The i-Pilot link, with 3-6 feet accuracy, was the clincher for Minn Kota. Today, most of them have caught up with an i-Pilot link on their trolling motors. But you still want to read the specs carefully.

This is also determined by how to set up the GPS initially and calibrate it. Of course, thrust and voltage have a role too. Miss any of these factors, and you might find yourself in metaphorical and actual choppy waters.

Final Thoughts

A spot lock trolling motor for fishing can provide a number of benefits for fishermen. The ability to keep your boat in one spot while you fish can increase your chances of catching more fish, and it also makes the process easier and less tiring.

Additionally, a spot lock trolling motor can help you navigate through tricky waterways or shallow water with ease. If you’re looking for an easy way to improve your fishing experience, consider investing in a spot lock trolling motor. Also, don’t forget other fishing gear accessories to make the day on the water more enjoyable such as fishing shoes, sunglasses for fishing, etc.