If you’ve been out on the water for fishing, you might have noticed the prevalence of the spot lock trolling motors on kayaks, canoes, bass boats, aluminum boats, skiffs, and all types of fishing boats.
Those spot lock trolling motors are game changers for sure, which makes a real difference in your fishing experiences. In fact, many fishing lovers (especially saltwater fishing) purchase trolling motors simply for the spot lock functionality.
Trolling motors with spot lock help lock you boat onto your fishing spot precisely so that you can spend more time fishing and less time fighting with the elements.
However, it can be hard to decide on the best spot lock trolling motors, especially with so many options available on the market, from the big players such as Minn Kota, Motorguide, Rhodan, and Garmin to other newcomers such as Garmin and Lowrance.
The thing is that not all spot lock trolling motors are made the same, and you will never want to get it wrong with your investment.
No worries. This post will introduce everything you need to know about spot lock trolling motors to help you make a wise decision and provide bonus tips to help you make the most out of the spot lock function in use.
If you want a quick decision, click here to see our top recommendations and reviews.
If you are still not sure whether the spot lock trolling motor is a good addition to your boat, you may read from the start to check everything you need to know about the spot lock trolling motors before making your final decision.
Table of Content:
- What Is Spot Lock Trolling Motor
- Is Spot Lock Trolling Motor Worth It
- How to Choose Best GPS Lock Trolling Motor
- Best Spot Lock Trolling Motors
- How to Use Spot Lock to Catch More Fish
- FAQs About Spot Lock Trolling Motors
What Is Spot Lock Trolling Motor
Spot lock trolling motors are basically GPS trolling motors that adopt GPS anchor system to hold your boat in your fishing spot against the current and wind, functioning just like a virtual anchor.
All you need to do is press a button on the remote or step on the foot pedal, and the spot lock trolling motors will maintain your boat’s position within a radius of several feet of your chosen spot.
Some more versatile spot lock models, including Minn Kota and Motor Guides GPS trolling motors, offer advanced jog features that allow you to make adjustments by moving your spot five feet forward, backward, left, or right.
You might also hear about i-Pilot trolling motors with spot lock. What does the i-Pilot mean? By i-Pilot, it talks about the Minn Kota spot lock trolling motors featuring i-Pilot GPS systems specifically, which promises the spot lock accuracy of within 5 feet.
Editor’s Note: Remember that the spot lock function is based on the location of the motor. That’s to say, it can not keep the direction of your boat even if the motor itself is kept within a few feets of the desired spot.
Spot Lock Trolling Motor: Is It Worth the Price?
As helpful as the spot lock trolling motors are, whether to invest in a spot lock trolling motor is essentially a personal choice and depends on your boating requirement.
Here you will only learn the benefits of the spot lock trolling motor (with comments from real-world experiences) to help you decide if the spot lock is a good fit for your specific needs.
The spot lock trolling motors will essentially save you a lot of work and trouble controlling your boat while fishing.
#1. It makes fishing easy.
With spot lock trolling motors, you can forget about the drift, anchor, and pulling the anchor back up. Now just hit the button and start fishing, the boat will hold position within five feet radius of the chosen spot. Nothing biting? Pull the motor up and move.
Imagine that you’ve caught a fish and then found your boat drifted 100 ft away from your fishing spot while you were busy unhooking the fish. It’s just annoying to reposition your boat every time. That’s where the spot lock trolling motor comes in. It’s really a game changer that allows you to spend more time fishing than controlling your boat.
#2. It offers more fishing opportunities.
The spot-lock trolling motors are especially invaluable for saltwater fishing since you’ll be able to fish in places you’d never be able to fish with an anchor. In fact, most saltwater anglers purchase GPS trolling motors just for spot lock.
You can explore more fishing locations that are previously inaccessible due to the difficulty in boat control. With spot lock, fishing at those spots (such as the fishing location near the spillway) is made possible.
#3. It makes your trip easy.
The spot lock trolling motor is helpful for more than fishing activities. If you go to the beach with the family, you can also use the remote to move the boat off the drop and spot lock it. No more worrying about the tide while everyone else has fun.
All in all, spot lock trolling motors are useful whenever you want to hold positions effortlessly, no matter on your most productive fishing spots, at the jetties, oil rigs, or middle of channels.
How to Choose Best GPS Lock Trolling Motor
The spot lock trolling motors seem to be a good addition to your boat?
The most expensive and versatile ones are not always the best pick since not all of you need all the fancy functions and the price is also a big consideration. Sometimes, simplicity is more of a priority if you only care about the spot lock function.
Check out the top 5 factors you should consider in choosing the best spot lock trolling motors.
#1. Features
The functionality can be a decisive factor if you are looking for more advanced features than just locking your boat onto a specific spot in any way.
For example, the Universal Sonar offered by Minn Kota spot lock trolling motor that connects to any sonar brand you might be using currently, gesture steering offered by Garmin Force that allows you to steer the motor by pointing the remote control, the customizable foot pedal offered by Lowrance Ghost that gives you options to customize the function for each button.
Other popular features of the Minn Kota i-Pilot trolling motor favored by anglers include Autopilot, self-deploy, and the ‘distance to spot’ reading. There are many good things about spot lock trolling motors. If you can make good use of them, the extra cost would be more than worth it.
#2. Compatible Electronics
Another easy tip for finding your ideal spot lock trolling motor is to check its compatible electronics. If you already have electronics that will talk to a trolling motor, get the motor that matches the electronics.
For example, Minn Kota i-Pilot trolling motor talks to Humminbird; Motorguide pairs with compatible Lowrance, Simrad, or Mercury VesselView display for complete control; Garmin spot lock trolling motor connects to Garmin Chartplotter; However, Rhodan doesn’t talk to anything.
If you have some existing electronics in place, a wise choice on spot lock trolling motor will give you a connected fishing network and makes your fishing much more efficient.
#3. Shaft Length
The shaft length of the spot lock trolling motor can also be a deal breaker, especially for the kayak anglers who will need an extra short shaft length. Although you can easily cut the shaft down to meet your requirements but it will void the warranty.
That being said, the Motorguide Xi3 is currently the only spot lock trolling motor that comes in a 36″ short shaft version made specifically for kayaks. If you are a serious kayak or canoe angler and looking for a spot lock trolling motor for kayak, Xi3 would be your best option.
If you are fishing with other types of boats, the majority of spot lock trolling motors can satisfy your needs, with shaft length commonly ranging from 48″ to 60″.
If you are looking for extra long shaft length, Rhodan and Minn Kota Terrova offer up to 84″ and 87″ trolling motors with spot lock for you to select.
#4. Customer Service
This one seems to be a no-brainer, but customer service is an essential factor that should not be overlooked. As much as you don’t want to use the customer service, responsive customer support and time to service will make your day when your spot lock trolling motors have any problems.
So always look for a spot lock trolling motor that you can find a service location nearby if possible.
Another consideration for your purchase is availability. Some trolling motors with spot lock have a waiting period, especially during the boating season. If you want to get it immediately, remember to check the stocks and availability ahead of time.
#5. Cost
Fancy and solid as those high-end spot lock trolling motors, all the additional features come at a cost. If you just want a spot lock trolling motor that does its work on locking your boat tightly on the spot, you will have many more inexpensive and simple options, such as Rhodan motors.
In fact, very few people will use all the features in their regular fishing activities.
Also, remember to look carefully at batteries for your budget, which will be the second most expensive purchase when getting a spot lock motor setup.
You can choose either deep cycle marine batteries (cheaper) or Lithium batteries (powerful, efficient, and expensive) such as the following:
| Battery Brand | Specs | Battery Type | Price |
| Optima | 12V; 55 Ah | AGM Battery | Check price |
| VMAX | 12V; 120 Ah | AGM Battery | Check price |
| Lossigy | 24V; 100 Ah | Lithium ion Battery | Check price |
Further reading: Click to read our complete trolling motor battery buying guide. If you want to have two 12V batteries to set up a 24 volt spot lock trolling motor, check out the wiring diagram and steps in our previous post.
At the end of the day, you will be likely to spend somewhere between over $2K-4K for the whole spot lock trolling motor setup, depending on your specific needs. If you want to save money, check out our recommendation for the cheapest (yet reliable) spot lock trolling motor to get the most cost-effective build.
Best Spot Lock Trolling Motors
You will become a better fisherman using the right tools. Having compared all the major brands and popular models on the market, below are the top 5 recommendations for spot lock trolling motors to suit your various demands.
You will find the best spot lock trolling motors for saltwater and freshwater in 12V, 24V, and 36V, providing 55 lb, 80 lb, 70 lb, or higher thrust for you to choose from, depending on your applications.
Here is an overview of our recommendations:
| Model & Image | Thrust | Voltage | Editor’s Verdict | Price |
 Minn Kota Ultrex | 80lb/112lb | 24V/36V | Best Overall | Check price at Amazon |
 Garmin Force | 80lb/100lb | 24V & 36V | Best for Versatility | Check price at Amazon |
 Minn Kota Riptide Terrova | 55lb/80lb/112lb | 12V/24V/36V | Best for Saltwater | Check price at Amazon |
 Haswing Cayman | 55lb/80lb | 12V/24V | Best for the Price | Check price at Amazon |
 Motorguide Xi3 | 55lb | 12V | Best for Kayak | Check price at Amazon |
If you want more comprehensive information about the features and real-world experiences to help you decide on the best pick, read on for a detailed review about the spot lock trolling motors.
#1. Minn Kota Ultrex
The Minn Kota Ultrex model is our top pick after comparing all the popular spot lock trolling motors on the market. If you feel overwhelmed and have no idea which one to go, this one will not let you down, just as it has satisfied hundreds and thousands of anglers worldwide.
You can trust this spot lock trolling motor which is supported by the reputable i-Pilot GPS system. In fact, Minn Kota was the first in the industry to introduce spot lock, which was proven to be a big success. It has been pioneered in this technology for so long that many anglers take spot lock trolling motors as i-Pilot trolling motors.
With the ever-updated hardware and software algorithms, the Minn Kota Ultrex features highly accurate anchor lock, always keeping your boat within five feet of the chosen position tightly even in adverse conditions.
In addition, this spot lock trolling motors feature many useful functions that you can not find on other brands. For example, the ‘jog’ function allows you to ‘jog’ your boat five feet in any direction you want; the ‘distance to spot’ feature keeps you informed any time; the autopilot feature keeps a dead straight heading adjusting for current and wind once you decide a direction.
The best part of this spot lock trolling motor is that it features a universal sonar, and that means you can connect it directly to any sonar brand you are currently using without investing in a new sonar system, saving you a lot of trouble and extra cost.
Its responsive and intuitive foot pedal is also favored by a lot of anglers. It just feels like smooth cable steer and motor steer with no delay when moving the pedal.
Specs You Will Care About
| Thrust | 80 lbs; 112 lbs |
| Voltage | 24 voltage; 36 voltage |
| Shaft length | 45″; 52″; 60″ |
| Environment | Freshwater |
| Weight | 73 pounds |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon |
Why You Will Love It:
- i-Pilot spot lock system
- Cable or electric steering
- Universal sonar
- Spot lock jog function
- Distance to spot function
#2. Garmin Force
Garmin Force is our top pick for versatility in the range of higher-end spot lock trolling motors. If you have more budget and want a premium fishing experience, Garmin Force is your best choice.
Featuring a high-efficiency brushless motor, this spot lock trolling motor is more powerful (as the name implies), quieter, and efficient than its competitors with decreased battery usage.
It’s worth mentioning that the Garmin Force spot lock trolling motor can handle both 24V and 36V battery systems automatically, providing you with 80 lb and 100 lb of thrust in respective powering situations. This makes it more versatile compared with most of its competitors who only support 12 volt, 24 volt, or 36 volt.
A unique feature of this spot lock trolling motor is the gesture control which allows you to point and go, making it a good option for those with limited mobility or disabilities.
This spot lock trolling motor is also saltwater applicable with corrosion resistant design. If you are looking for a saltwater spot lock trolling motor, Garmin Force is a good option. You can also choose Minn Kota Riptide Terrova as a more affordable yet reliable alternative for saltwater fishing.
Specs You Will Care About
| Thrust | 80 lbs; 100 lbs |
| Voltage | 24 V and 36 V |
| Shaft length | 50″; 57″ |
| Environment | Freshwater & Saltwater |
| Weight | 98.68 pounds |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon |
Why You Will Love It:
- 24v and 36v supported
- Quieter with brushless motor
- More powerful & efficient
- Gesture steering capability
- Wireless foot pedal (can also be hard wired)
- Impressive GPS spot lock
- Compatible with Garmin chartplotters
#3. Minn Kota Riptide Terrova
Minn Kota Riptide Terrova is our best pick for saltwater spot lock trolling motor. If you want a dedicated trolling motor with spot lock for saltwater fishing applications specially, this motor will make you happy.
You have three thrust options for this saltwater spot lock trolling motor, including 55 lbs, 80 lbs, and 112 lbs, to suit your various fishing environments and requirements. An extra bonus of this motor for sea fishing is its wide shaft length range available at 54″, 60″, 72″, or 87″. If you are looking for a spot lock trolling motor for pontoon, the extra long shaft is a handy option.
All of the Minn Kota Riptide Terrova models feature a pre-installed i-Pilot link GPS system with spot lock and jog. It’s compatible with the Humminbird fish finder. So you can easily follow the school of fish when you notice it in your fish finder.
Besides that, the AutoPilot function allows you to automatically navigate your boat in any direction you choose, thanks to its included heading sensor. You will be able to keep on that specific heading regardless of the wind, current, and waves.
The Digital Maximizer is also a bonus feature that saves your battery life by drawing only as much power as you need to reach the set speed.
Specs You Will Care About
| Thrust | 55 lb, 80 lbs, 112 lbs |
| Voltage | 12 V, 24 V, 36 V |
| Shaft length | 54″, 60″, 72″, 87″ |
| Environment | Saltwater |
| Weight | 66.25 pounds |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon |
Why You Will Love It:
- i-Pilot GPS with spot lock and jog
- Built-in sonar
- Compatible with Humminbird
- Autopilot function
- Digital maximizer
- Durable & reliable in saltwater
- Long shaft length available
#4. Haswing Cayman
Haswing Cayman spot lock trolling motor is our best pick for the price. It’s one of the most popular trolling motors with spot lock due to its lower price yet reliable design and good quality. If you are on a budget and want an economical option, the Haswing Cayman is an excellent choice.
Compared with the Minn Kota PowerDrive, which is also an affordable choice for spot lock trolling motor recommended by many, the Haswing Cayman stands out by allowing you to experience complete features with less cost:
It comes with a wired foot pedal and wireless remote control. You can either control your spot lock trolling motor with a single tap on the remote wherever you are within 164 feet distance, or simply step on the foot pedal when your hands are busy with the fishing.
Working in a similar way as the Digital Maximizer provided by Minn Kota, Haswing Cayman also supports variable speed, which saves battery and extends the range when operating at low speed. And the speed control would be great if the current or wind is variable.
Other bonus features include cruise control which keeps your boat moving at your desired speed, and autopilot which takes you along a saved route automatically. These advanced features make the Haswing Cayman spot lock trolling motor a great bargain.
Specs You Will Care About
| Thrust | 55 lb, 80 lbs |
| Voltage | 12 V, 24 V |
| Shaft length | 48″, 54″, 60″ |
| Environment | Saltwater & Freshwater |
| Weight | 46.6 pounds |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon |
Why You Will Love It:
- Remote control & foot pedal
- Ergonomic lifting handle
- Variable speed available
- Cruise control & autopilot
- Helmsman mapping app
- Affordable price
#5. Motorguide Xi3
The Motorguide Xi3 is our pick for the best spot lock trolling motor for kayak anglers due to its availability of extra short shaft length, making it a perfect fit for kayaks specially. That being said, it also offers another shaft length, including 48, 54, 60 in, to satisfy your various boating needs.
This is a 12v trolling motor with spot lock that provides 55 pounds of thrust at less cost. It’s sufficient to run a 16 ft triton bass boat, according to our test.
There are three different options for you to choose from. Remember to select the option with GPS to enjoy the spot lock features, and then decide on the freshwater or saltwater model according to your specific application.
It offers everything you may expect from a standard spot lock trolling motor, including the wireless remote control, foot pedal (optional), virtual anchors, spot lock with jog, and replay routes. In addition, it features a large lever that helps you stow and deploy easily and quickly.
Specs You Will Care About
| Thrust | 55 lb |
| Voltage | 12 V |
| Shaft length | 36” |
| Environment | Saltwater or Freshwater |
| Weight | 45 pounds |
| Price | Check Price at Amazon |
Why You Will Love It:
- Wireless remote
- Built-in sonar
- Accurate Pinpoint GPS
- Chartplotter Integration compatible
- Easy to stow and deploy
How to Use Spot Lock to Catch More Fish
Have already settled your mind on the best spot lock trolling motor and can’t wait to bring it to fish? It’s high time to learn some pro tips to make full use of the trolling motor with spot lock and have it serve you better:
- Learn and practice using the wireless remote or foot pedal to control the spot lock trolling motor intuitively, so you can always stay focused on fishing.
- Check the electronic compatibility of your spot lock trolling motor and connect it with the supported sonar and mapping devices to unlock more features. For example, you can hit the anchor button and start fishing once you see anything on your sonar.
- Be careful to use spot lock when you are fishing in very shallow water and try to avoid churning up the mud and vegetation which will spook fish.
- Install the spot lock trolling motor right at the bow instead of on the side of the boat if possible to achieve the best motor performance.
- Use the jog function (available on selected spot lock trolling motors such as Minn Kota Ultrex) to follow the fish when the bite shifts or the current moves.
FAQs
Check out the frequently asked questions about spot lock trolling motors before you go to get quick answers in case you share the same confusion:
#1. Would you get power poles or spot lock trolling motors?
Whether investing in a spot lock trolling motor or power poles depends on your fishing needs. If you are fishing shallow mostly (less than 5′), power poles will do the work. However, if you want something to use in shallow or out deep, you will need a trolling motor with spot lock.
#2. Can I add spot lock to trolling motor?
The short answer is YES. Usually, you can add spot lock to your existing trolling motor by using the upgrade kits if you don’t want to invest in a new spot lock trolling motor. However, you will need to check with the manufacturer about the compatibility of your specific model and get the specific kit that works on your model.
#3. How accurate are trolling motors with spot lock?
The spot lock accuracy can be a little different among the trolling motor brands, and most fall in the range of 2 feet to 6 feet. The Minn Kota spot lock trolling motors promise an accuracy within 5 feets with their upgraded Bluetooth GPS system.
#4. What’s the difference between spot lock and i-Pilot?
Simply put, spot lock is a feature while the i-Pilot refers to the GPS system provided by Minn Kota. However, many anglers will just refer to i-Pilot when they talk about the Minn Kota trolling motors with the spot lock feature. Besides i-Pilot, you can also find Pinpoint GPS system provided by Motorguide which also supports spot lock.
#5. Anyone makes transom electric trolling motor with spot lock?
You will see almost all spot lock trolling motors are bow mounted and that’s for big reasons. It’s easier and more efficient to control a boat by pulling it rather than pushing it. Besides that, it makes more sense to spot lock at the bow instead of the flat transom to battle the wind, waves, and current.