Mastering Boat Control to Dominate the Spring Walleye Run

Why trolling motors and shallow water anchors are critical to targeting spring walleye in rivers and large bodies of water.

by Minn Kota Pro, Ross Robertson of Big Water Guide Services

When ice starts to melt, and rivers begin to run, cabin fever and the thought of catching what can be the biggest walleyes of the season give anglers like me the shakes. The reality, however, is that these still icy cold waters require us to slow down and cover less water then we will in the summer months, which means we need to maximize our efficiency. Throw in some big winds and nasty waves and current, and we are quickly reminded just how important boat control is.

Boat control is easily the biggest factor in fishing, and we fail to consider that it truly separates the pros from the joes.

Fisherman often ask questions that simply don’t have a good answer. If I have been asked “if I only buy one lure which one should it be” once, I’ve been asked a thousand times. The same conversation has been had in regards to boat control.

Anglers asked me weekly if they should get a gas kicker or a bow mount trolling motor with Spot-Lock^® and AutoPilot^®. To me, this is like asking a mechanic if he should buy a screwdriver or wrench.

In most cases it is not which one we need, but how to use each one and when they can be combined for maximum efficiency. I rely on Minn Kota on the bow and stern of my boat for total control.

Trolling Motors to improve boat control

I think I would rather fish with a dull hook than without a trolling motor on my boat. There is no alternative to their ability to quietly maneuverer or Spot-Lock on shallow reefs or river contours. The same being said for slip drifting in a strong river current or when slow trolling in big waves. A quality trolling motor allows you to control the bow of your boat quickly and make sure the rest of it goes where you want it.

Here are the most important functions of my trolling motor during the spring run and throughout the year.

Auto Stow and Deploy

My Minn Kota Ulterra^® helps me troll at slow speeds in the cold water periods as well as to slip current in rivers. The unique thing about the Ulterra is that it can Auto Deploy itself, which makes it easy on my back and especially appreciated when waves are breaking over the front deck.

While fishing a river or isolated targets in open water I can pull up to a spot and deploy the trolling motor without leaving the console or kicker and utilize either Spot-Lock or AutoPilot to keep me on a small spot immediately. The time it takes to shut down the main motor and then manually deploy a traditional trolling motor will easily be enough time for you to blow significantly off of the spot.

Fishing wing dams in heavy current is a prime example of this.

Boat Control Simplified with Spot-Lock and AutoPilot

Spot-Lock

Think of Spot-Lock as a digital anchor, that keeps you right on the spot that you want to fish and saves you a lot of time. Simply pushing a button allows me to fish an isolated spot without having to dedicate any energy or thought on boat control.

In rivers, this can mean holding just below a wing dam to be able to cast up onto the seam or holding in a deep hole to vertical jig. In open water like Lake Erie, I love to use Spot-Lock for vertical jigging. When ice-out occurs many walleyes on large lakes can still be found on deep mud flats adjacent to eventual spawning grounds. At this time a slow “ice fishing like” approach is typically required to finesse these fish out just like you would when ice fishing.

In the past, traditional anchoring methods meant lots of rope a sore back and lots of lost fishing time. These deep-flats fish move frequently, and instead of making it a waiting game, Spot-Lock allows me to fish them quickly and for even just a few minutes before they leave. Plus it reduces the chance of spooking the fish with an anchor are eliminated.

Once the bite slows, I can quickly go back on the search and look for fish on Humminbird HELIX at speeds in excess of 30mph. Once located again I repeat the process, truly the ultimate in efficiency. If you have several friends in the boat don’t forget to bring your ICE HELIX unit so additional anglers can “video game” picky fish into biting.

AutoPilot ​

Minn Kota’s AutoPilot^® (built-in to i-Pilot and i-Pilot Link GPS Systems) allows you to choose your heading and stay on it without lifting a finger. All you have to do is point the trolling motor head in the direction you want to go and hit a button. The motor will keep your boat on that course and corrects for current and wind.

While I still use a gas kicker engine, I rarely, if ever have it running without using my Ulterra for steering or its incremental speed adjustment. It’s much easier to steer the bow of the boat from the bow compared to trying to move the bow from the kicker. The AutoPilot feature alone is enough to warrant its use on my boat.

I think as the AutoPilot feature on all Minn Kota electric trolling motors is the best first mate possible. Simply having the motor set to follow down a break so all I have to worry about is fishing will quickly spoil you. Use in the wind has made it a mandatory piece of equipment for me. When wind and waves are pushing your boat, and you need to be able to both control and slow down your boat I use the AutoPilot to keep my bow going the direction I want it to. In circumstances like this, I use just enough power to keep the motor working where I want it and add a Minn Kota Drift Sock or two if a slower trolling or drift speed is still necessary.

Talon Shallow Water Anchors to Improve Boat Control

Quite literally on the opposite end of my boat is a Talon shallow water anchor. While most think of it as a tool for bass fishermen, I argue its effectiveness for all types of fishing as well. Before I even make it on the lake, I use it daily to help secure my boat at docks that have either been pulled or are an insurance claim waiting to happen. By using my Talon for docking at the launch alone has paid for itself by keeping me out of the fiberglass repair shop.

Once on the water it also helps act as an extra pair of hands. The ability to hold securely in place in water nearly 15’ deep has caused me to call them “the not-so-shallow water anchor”. The Talon’s effectiveness widely ranges from fishing docks to holding securely on deep weed edges. Something not possible with other brands of shallow water anchors that can only hold in truly shallow water.

As with many types of boat control, the best option is often combining them with other forms of technology. On my multi-species boat, I have a 15’ talon on the starboard side and a gas kicker engine on the port. In severe current or big winds, this can cause the boat to swing without having a second Talon to pin me in place securely. In this situation using the Ulterra or another Minn Kota bow mount model, I can use the bow motor to keep the bow from swaying back and forth.

In extreme cases, Spot-Lock can be used to help assist the Talon. Working together the Talon helps to use less battery power and causes the bow mount to work less for a steadier platform.

In conclusion

I guess the moral of the story is don’t be surprised if I shoot you a funny look at the boat launch or boat show when you ask me if I would rather have a trolling motor or shallow water anchor instead of another piece of gear. To me, that’s as crazy as asking your mechanic if he would rather have a screwdriver or a wrench.

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