For saltwater fishermen in the Northeast, Minn Kota changed the game. Their saltwater trolling motors, available in sizes large enough to move 35-foot and larger Downeast-style boats, opened up a new realm of bottom fishing. Anglers mounting these motors on the bows of their boats gained the ability direct, or even simulate, a drift while fishing for fluke. They could trace a path outside a boulderfield while casting for stripers. And for tog-fishing, the spot-lock feature, which replaced the need to drop anchor actually unlocked spots that previous generations of tog fishermen could only dream of holding the boat over.
Today marks a new chapter for the brand as Johnson Outdoors announced that it is combining its two flagship fishing electronics brands under the Minn Kota banner. Humminbird’s sonar and imaging technology will continue as Humminbird Imaging, powering a single system that links trolling motors, fish finders, mapping, and shallow water anchors.
The company calls it the biggest expansion in Minn Kota’s history. As fishing electronics technology has become more powerful, it’s also become more complex. By creating one fishing system, the technology feels more intuitive, so anglers spend less time managing separate, disconnected pieces of gear, and more time presenting baits and lures to fish. Anglers can draw a route, respond to depth changes and coordinate boat positioning through one seamlessly integrated fishing system.
“By bringing together two of the most trusted names in fishing, we are delivering one integrated system that makes technology simpler and the on-water experience better so anglers can stay focused on what matters: fishing,” said Khalaf M. Khalaf, senior group vice president of fishing at Johnson Outdoors.
The first wave of products hits the market today. The new X Series fish finders come in 9-, 10-, and 12-inch models, with new 7- and 16-inch models rouding out the lineup. A new generation of saltwater trolling motors also arrives, including the Riptide Terrova, Riptide Instinct, and Riptide PowerDrive are part of the launch.
The headline feature is Draw & Navigate. You trace a course with your finger on the fish finder screen, and the trolling motor follows it. Compatible fish finders and trolling motors now talk to each other wirelessly, so you no longer need an Ethernet cable between them. A feature called Intelligent Depth Control watches for changing depths and helps keep the boat out of shallow or hazardous water.
Spot-Lock has been improved too. On compatible motors, it holds up to 50 percent tighter than on previous Minn Kota models. No tog-holding structure is too small. Compatible electric-steer brushless motors steer faster and come with a new foot pedal. You can also run Minn Kota shallow water anchors from the trolling motor, the fish finder, or the app.
More products start arriving in January. That wave includes A Series fish finders, the Terrova QUEST and Riptide Terrova QUEST trolling motors, Minn Kota Live Sonar, and Minn Kota 360 Imaging.
More information is available at minnkota.com.