When it comes to bass fishing, there’s plenty to debate. But the best trolling motor isn’t up for discussion. Since its first appearance on bows at bass clubs and the professional circuit, the Minn Kota® Ultrex™ has cemented a reputation for pinpoint precision and ruthless toughness, helping anglers win tournaments and get more out of every day on the water. So, the question becomes: how did Ultrex become the most dominant motor in the sport – with zero signs of letting up? The reasons are many, but these five rise to the top.
1. Spot-Lock®, of course.
It all starts with stopping power. Standard on Ultrex and the first reason for its sterling reputation in fishing circles, Spot-Lock took bass fishing by storm virtually at day one, helping Ott Defoe seize victory on the Elite Series back in 2017. A young Carl Jocumsen was taking note. “That’s when I knew it was going to change everything,” the Aussie fishing legend recalled in a recent bio video. Jocumsen goes on to explain how Spot-Lock has helped him succeed on the Bassmaster Elite Series™ by locking his boat on productive spots of any depth, freeing him up to make more precise casts and catch more fish. “One push of the button and that’s where the boat stays for as long as you like,” he says.
2. Have you tried the foot pedal?
Ask any serious bass angler and they’ll tell you: foot-pedal feel matters. That’s why the engineers at Minn Kota worked tirelessly to perfect the cable-steer responsiveness of Ultrex. As a result of their painstaking efforts, the Ultrex pedal is fully dialed to give anglers the feedback and control they need, so they can precisely maneuver past weeds and stumps to the most prized fishing spots.
3. Live sonar that’s always on target.
Speaking of Spot-Lock…there’s another reason bass fishermen everywhere are lining up to get Ultrex on their boats. Full compatibility with Humminbird® fish finders and new MEGA Live Imaging® TargetLock™ means you don’t have to choose between live sonar and Spot-Lock. Why’s that a big deal? Well, as bass fishing king Kevin VanDam explains, you need both running at the same time to truly take advantage of the incredible, real-time images of MEGA Live.
4. It lets you skip to the fun parts of fishing.
You’ve heard of life hacks. Well, Ultrex is chalk full of fishing hacks that help anglers at every level bypass the boring and frustrating parts of fishing. Compatibility with Humminbird’s MEGA 360 Imaging® transducer is a BIG one of those fishing hacks. This time-saving tech allows you to scan huge sections of the water in just seconds, identifying structure and cover worth exploring (and even better, eliminating areas not worth your time). See how it helped Bryan Thrift earn the 2023 MLF REDCREST title earlier this spring. And, in case you’re wondering, you now can run MEGA 360 and MEGA Live at the same time, too, thanks to a new Ultrex accessory mount.
5. It’s a Minn Kota.
This one’s a no-brainer. And that’s the point. You don’t have to worry about your Ultrex because it’s made in Mankato, Minnesota, by Minn Kota – the company that invented trolling motors and, in a way, bass fishing as we know it today. There’s a reason Ultrex has become the most trusted motor in Major League Fishing, on the Bassmaster Elite Series and beyond. It’s built tougher and handles more smoothly than any trolling motor that’s come before. And it’s made by hard-working Americans who love to fish as much as you do.
Well, there you have it: the top-five reasons why anglers who know trust Ultrex hands-down, over any other motor. But that’s not the complete story. See more reasons why Ultrex is king (like Lift-Assist) and, when you’re ready, find the one that’s right for you.
