Are you searching for the best trolling motor for kayak fishing?
A popular method of movement that is being incorporated is the use of low thrust trolling motors on kayaks and other lightweight watercraft.
Whether you are using a personal kayak, larger models, or other lightweight watercraft, having a reliable and efficient trolling motor can make a world of difference when fishing, navigating around structures, or some added assistance moving against the current.
In this article, we will take a look at five trolling motor models that pair well with lightweight watercraft and are proven to have sensitive control, durable body and motor, and be reliable on the water.
What is the best trolling motor for kayak fishing?
Here is quick preview of our top 5 models:
- Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Freshwater
- Newport Vessels NV-Series
- Saturn 55 Lbs Short-Shaft Electric
- Goplus Transom Mounted
- Minn Kota Endura C2 40
Let’s take a closer look at each one…
The first to make our list of the best trolling motor for kayak fishing is the Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Freshwater Trolling Motor (30″ Shaft). This is an extremely durable trolling motor with a composite shaft that is backed by a lifetime warranty. The motor and blades are also highly impact resistant with the motor being covered by a 2-year limited warranty.
This 12V freshwater trolling motor can generate up to 30lbs of thrust making it a great kayak/small water vessel trolling motor.
The control over this motor is great with an ergonomic 6” telescoping handle and tilt thrust tiller that makes handling a pleasure on the water. The lever lock bracket offers a very stable mount which also improves your control over the motor.
There are five forward speed setting and three reverse speed settings that give you delicate control over the power of the trolling motor. You will find that this motor provides cool and quite running capabilities and maximizes battery life.
You may find that the size and design of this particular trolling motor might be more difficult to handle on small, personal kayaks. It can be done, but this motor might be served better on larger personal watercraft.
Regardless, if you can get it on your kayak and feel comfortable with its handling, then the Minn Kota Endura is an excellent option as it is incredibly deft at moving through shallow water. It is also an extremely affordable trolling motor and provides reliable and consistent performance.
Does the Newport Vessels NV-Series Trolling Motor have what it takes to be classified as the best trolling motor for kayak fishing?Let’s take a look…
To begin with I would like to say that this is another trolling motor that offers tremendous durability. It has a fully adjustable 30” composite fiberglass shaft that is high strength and can resist physical bending and malformation. The motor head is all aluminum and designed to take tremendous abuse and still perform, though it is recommended to stay away from these situations.
This motor can generate 36 pounds of thrust so if you are looking for only a slighter more powerful model than our previous option; this is a great alternative. It features eight different speeds, including five forward speed options as well as three reverse speed settings.
You will also find the 5 point LED battery meter to be extremely beneficial. When the day is running out, you won’t have to be anxious over how much battery you have left. This motor does feature an incredible runtime on just about any battery you pair it with.
The 6” telescopic handle is easy to use on the water and gives you excellent control over the motors direction and speed. It is extremely easy to mount when used with Newport water vessels.
This trolling motor can be used in saltwater applications as it is made with stainless steel components. Though, we still recommend a good cleaning with fresh water after use in salt settings.
The next trolling motor on our list is perfect for use on kayaks and other light watercraft when you are wanting or needing a little more power. It is not often that you find a trolling motor with this amount of thrust that works comfortably with smaller watercraft. It is the Saturn 55 Lbs Short-Shaft Electric Tolling Motor.
The short shaft that is used provides much more relaxed and natural handling when used in small and personal water vessels. Both the handle and the motor depth is easily adjustable to fit lots of water levels and perform flawlessly.
The handle can be extended up to 13.8” in length, showing you the versatility this trolling motor has when it comes to smaller watercraft. It can also be tilted to 10 adjustable positions.
The special composite shaft used on this motor is very flexible, but it still maintains as much strength as in other trolling motors of similar size. This makes it very resilient to physical forces that can warp, bend, or break the shaft.
The motor and blades run on the quiet end and can be fine-tuned regarding direction and speed. This motor features five forward speed settings as well as three reverse settings. It has great run time and depending on the battery, can run at high speeds for several hours. This trolling motor also utilizes a LED battery power display so you can closely monitor power levels remaining.
This trolling motor can also be run in the salt, but we highly recommend a thorough cleaning with freshwater after use.
So the next time you want to do a little kayak fishing I would highly recommend picking up the Saturn 55 Lbs Short-Shaft Electric Tolling Motor.
Another great trolling motor for kayaks is the Goplus Trolling Motor. This is an intermediate powered trolling motor on this list coming in with thrust at 46lbs. It is more than enough to keep you scooting around the water with ease and is especially well designed for fishing.
This 36” shaft is heavy-duty and will resist high physical stresses put on it. This along with the two blades and motor covering make an extremely durable trolling motor that is great when you’re going to be maneuvering in dense brush or obstacles in the water.
The handle is easy to maneuver with and adjust speed settings. There are five forward and three reverse settings. It is 6″ telescoping handle, so you have plenty of room for adjustments to the most comfortable length.
We love the thrust and speed adjustments on this trolling motor. As we have mentioned, it has an incredible and sensitive handle, and the speed adjustment is seamless. This motor runs as close to silent than other models in this article.
This motor does not draw off too much power from your battery life when uses. When used conservatively, you will be able to get hours of fishing in a day without needing to worry about battery life. It also features a 10 point LED battery life indicator so that you can be more comfortable and efficient with power use.
What is it that we want from a good trolling motor? A motor that runs cool, runs quietly and has power. That is exactly what the Minn Kota Endura C2 40 Trolling Motor has to offer.
This is an extremely cool running engine that does well on conserving battery power. This motor has been designed to give off less heat and run much more quietly than other trolling motors of its size. These are smooth running blades that can take a little abuse without dinging up.
This trolling motor handles well in the water with a 6″ telescopic handle and angle adjustments. The transitions between the five forward and three reverse speed settings are seamless. We also think the 40 lb thrust paired with its excellent energy conservation is a great motor for a kayak on a full day of being on the water.
The 36” shaft is made from Minn Kota’s indestructible composite material that is highly resistant to physical damage and corrosion. The lever lock bracket gives the motor a sturdy and reliable mount. For kayaks and other small vessels, you will most likely have to rig up your ride to properly mount the trolling motor.
Final Thoughts…
The right trolling motor can give your kayak or another lightweight water vessel a whole other level of versatility, especially when using these crafts for fishing. You need a motor that is more compact, be in the right power range, and be reliable for trips to come to be used effectively with a fishing kayak. In this article, we have discussed five trolling motors that will take care of business on the water.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. Now we would like for you to share with us your thoughts. What do you think is the best trolling motor for kayak fishing? Share your comments below.
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