Look Ma, No Feet!

I've long been a fan of Minn Kota's AutoPilot trolling motors. These units function like a normal motor, until you activate the AutoPilot feature. Then the motor takes over, automatically changing direction to maintain your desired heading. It's a great feature for following visible weededges, slow-speed trolling, or controlling your drift speed and direction in wind or current.

The new CoPilot, though, makes these motors even easier to use. Bolt the receiver unit to the right side of the motor assembly (it's easier than it sounds, I promise), and control the trolling motor from any position in the boat. Separate buttons on the compact remote-control change motor speed and direction, and turn the motor on or off.

The fingertip controls take some getting used to -- especially if you're accustomed to using foot-control motors -- but the added flexibility is worth the investment. You'll soon be moving around the boat to cast to targets inaccessible from the bow, or following fish hooked fish that surge from one end of the boat to the other, without sacrificing boat control.

Flexible Boat Control

Minn Kota's CoPilot system allows anglers to operate several electric-steer foot-control trolling motor models from any position in the boat. Instead of using a foot pedal, the motor is controlled with a compact, waterproof remote that's about the size of a vehicle keyless entry remote.

How you use the remote depends on personal preference. I like the snap-lock brackets that mount the remote-control unit to any spinning or casting rod. This setup affords easy one-handed boat control, even when I'm retrieving lures or fighting fish. The remote snaps out just as easily when you change rods.

Other anglers prefer the belt clip or the Velcro strap, which allows the remote to be worn on your wrist like a watch. These are particularly good options when trolling. Point is, the CoPilot system is flexible enough to match your fishing style, providing improved boat control however you fish.

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