Trolling motors are everywhere in fishboats these days, from the stern of canoes and jon boats to the bow of kayaks, bass boats and flats boats. In the last few years, jumbo motors are even showing up on offshore fishing boats—really big offshore fishing boats.
These are all 36-volt motors and all produce 100 pounds of thrust or more at full power.
The Rhodan HD GPS Anchor model is available with shaft lengths to 108”, winning the “mine’s longer” race over the Minn Kota Riptide Terrova, which is available with up to a 100” shaft. These should be long enough to reach the water from the bow of your 53’ Hatteras if you want. (Most of these motors go on the front of fast center console boats in the 25’ to 40’ range and are used to position the boats via “spot-locking” GPS over grouper and snapper reefs, in lieu of messing with all that anchor rope.)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2024 budget includes a 300% boat registration fee increase, and BoatUS and the nonprofit Recreational Boaters of California are asking boat owners in the state to voice their concerns about the rate hike.
“Most citizens can understand, over time, the need for modest increases in government fee structures,” David Kennedy, BoatUS manager of government relations, said in a statement. “However, BoatUS and RBOC do not believe such a significant increase is justified by the administration. We are asking the state’s boat owners to reach out to their state legislators to request they reject this proposal and engage with boating stakeholders to develop realistic boat registration fees that are dedicated to boating programs.” Read more
RACINE, Wis. – Fishing’s most trusted trolling motor has been reimagined to help anglers get out earlier, stay out later and fish in places others can’t. The new QUEST series of dual 24 or 36 volt brushless trolling motors was designed for anglers who demand the best from their equipment – even in the harshest environments. With a programmable foot pedal, re-engineered motor and mount, more advanced GPS functionality than ever and even an eco mode to extend battery life, the new Ultrex was specifically designed for bass anglers and the areas they fish.
The Ultrex line features both traditional brushed options as well as the upgraded QUEST variations. Every new Ultrex model features an updated and integrated GPS-enabled navigation system which is fully compatible with Humminbird fish finders without the need for additional steps or cables. The change simplifies the product line and allows for Humminbird connectivity right out of the box. Anglers who opt for a QUEST model will benefit from the added torque and runtime of the new brushless technology platform as well.
New Features for All Ultrex Models:
NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control
Drift Mode: combats current and wind by automatically adjusting speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift. Drift Mode acts as a gps drift sock eliminating the need for cumbersome ropes or shallow water anchor paddles
One of the best-kept vacation secrets is the network of harbors that circles our freshwater state, each holding slips for those known as “transient” boaters (or those staying for less than two weeks).
These slips – open to boats longer than 11 feet – are available if you want to overnight on your boat, or tie up for the night and return to where you live or lodge nearby. This is a great option for vacationers or staycationers.
Find harbor locations with slips available using the regional links below. We’ll send another reminder in August. See you on the water!
Be sure to enter your search criteria (dates, boat type, length, beam and draft) to find your perfect spot. Read more
When the competition heats up, and the fish are biting, the last thing a pro angler needs to worry about is whether or not their marine starting battery has enough power to last the day. Lithium Pros delivers tournament fishermen peace of mind with the power they can rely on all day. The new M31150-S 12V 150 Ah marine starting battery gives anglers all the juice they need on the water.
With an impressive 1500 Marine Crank Amps (eq), the M31150-S has the highest cranking power of any other battery in its class and will have no trouble starting all conventional outboard engines on the market. Just one of Lithium Pros’ M31150-S lithium-ion batteries holds as much power as two traditional 12V Group 31 AGM lead-acid batteries at just ¼ the weight and at ½ the space!
The M31150-S features one of the most advanced, fully-integrated, digital internal battery management systems in the marine industry, safely housed in a lightweight box. This system continually monitors for over-temperature, over-current, under-current, and short-circuits. This automatically protects the battery from damage if any issues are detected, ensuring long battery life and trouble-free service. Read more
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is thrilled to announce and celebrate the inclusion of three remarkable Florida waterbodies in Bassmaster’s prestigious “Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2023.” Fellsmere Reservoir/Stick Marsh, Orange Lake and Lake Okeechobee have captured the attention of anglers and fishing enthusiasts across the nation, solidifying Florida’s reputation as a premier bass fishing destination. Additionally, Florida lakes made a good showing in the Best Bass Lakes 2023: Southeastern as Fellsmere Reservoir, Orange Lake, Lake Okeechobee, Lake Toho, Lake Seminole (Jackson/Gadsden counties), Lake Placid, Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Istokpoga and Lake Rousseau are all featured on the list.
Bassmaster’s annual rankings are highly regarded within the angling community and serve as a testament to the incredible fishing opportunities available in the Sunshine State. Read more
By JOHN PEPIN
Deputy public information officer
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
In the western part of Wayne County, about 30 minutes west of Detroit, sits beautiful Belleville Lake – a popular, 1,250-acre playground for boaters, panfish and muskie anglers and in early July, fireworks watchers.
Judy Brothers has worked there as a summer ranger for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the past three seasons.
A former General Motors worker who retired after more than 30 years on the job, Brothers took a part-time job a week after her GM “retirement” at Target where she stayed for nine years before leaving to work three more years as an assistant manager at Dollar Tree.
She said she loves her seasonal work at the DNR, her coworkers and the friends she’s made from people of different walks of life she’s met while working.
“I really, really enjoy my job,” she said. And she doesn’t want another one like it anytime soon.
A shimmering waterfront setting
Belleville Lake, the largest inland lake in southeast Michigan, was created in the 1920s when the Eastern Michigan Edison Co. being developed dammed the Huron River.
The DNR maintains two boating access sites there – east and west – that together attracted more than 95,000 visitors last year.
The east site is the busier of the two, with two docks – one for loading boats and other watercraft onto vehicles, and the other for launching.
This is where Brothers works weekends from mid-April to mid-October.
She said morning is usually a quieter time when she has an opportunity to clean up and perform other maintenance duties, like trimming trees and cutting weeds.
Afternoons get very busy when boaters start coming in.
Brothers has a booth at the entrance to the site, where she directs traffic and checks vehicles for Recreation Passports, required for entry.
She said began like most of her shifts except that with gray, cloudy skies threatening rain, there were fewer visitors than usual.
If the rain would only hold off, the Belleville Yacht Club next door would be holding its massive Fourth of July fireworks show after sundown that night, with a colorful, patriotic display for boaters and other revelers positioned around the rim of the lake.
Trouble on the water
Shortly after noon, Brothers checked in a boating party of five people – a family group of four men and one woman out for a day on the lake. Four were Michiganders and one was a visitor from Colorado.
The group put their 21-foot Marada boat in the water. “They got it started and they got it untied from the dock and they stalled,” Brothers said.
The boaters tried to restart the boat using a portable charger.
NORSK Lithium Reveals 50AH 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery with Thermal Core Heating Technology – a powerful problem-solver for today’s kayak angler
New Hope, MN (July 6, 2023) – Interest in kayak fishing has grown significantly over the past half-dozen years or so, with hordes of anglers taking to the water in small, personal watercraft. Some ‘yaks are very basic sit-inside models with entry-level fish-finders—while other sit-on-top models are being rigged with the same forward-facing sonar, iPilot and Spot-Lock-enabled trolling motors you’d find on full-size bass boats. Electronic anchors have been downsized, too, providing even better boat control to kayak anglers.
Not to mention that many kayak anglers are filming their fishing forays for posting to social media, so there’s a power need for GoPro and other POV cameras, cell phone charging—as well as lighting, navigational and otherwise. Ultimately, what all levels of fishing kayaks have in common is the need for reliable power.
Enter NORSK Lithium.
With a full reveal scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, July 11th, at ICAST Booth #833 in Orlando, Florida, NORSK Lithium couldn’t be more excited to introduce the sportfishing industry to a brand-new design in lithium kayak batteries. Read more
SALT LAKE CITY — While there are a lot of great reservoirs and ponds where you can fish in Utah, the Beehive State also offers some excellent stream and river fishing. If you are planning any stream or river fishing this summer, here are a few things to know.
Where to go
When it comes to fishing opportunities, Utah offers everything from really small streams to larger rivers, and the experience will vary based on the size of the water. If you are interested in fishing smaller streams, a few notable options include:
Currant Creek (Juab and Utah counties)
The Right and Left Forks of Huntington Creek (Emery County)
HELENA – Working with the 68th Legislature, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) simplified licensing requirements on state lands as part of Governor Gianforte’s Red Tape Relief Task Force.
The two agencies consolidated the conservation license and state lands recreational use license into one annual conservation license, supporting the maintenance of places like fishing access sites (FAS), wildlife management areas (WMA). On Montana school trust lands, conservation license sales will help fund Montana schools and other state institutions.
Effective July 1, Montanans who access state lands will be required to have a conservation license. Hunters, trappers, and anglers in Montana who have purchased licenses and tags this year already possess this license. Read more
