Minn Kota Adds Wireless Fish Finder Link and Tighter Spot-Lock via Updates

Minn Kota, the trolling motor brand owned by Johnson Outdoors, has announced a set of upgrades aimed at giving anglers tighter control of their boats. The package covers three areas: a wireless link between compatible fish finders and trolling motors, a stronger version of the Spot-Lock position-holding feature, and faster steering for certain electric-steer motors paired with a new foot pedal. Importantly for current owners, two of the three can arrive as software updates rather than new purchases.

Wireless link between sonar and motor

Until now, a fish finder and a trolling motor that work together have generally needed a cable running between them. The new wireless integration removes the Ethernet cable from that connection. Minn Kota says this means one less piece of rigging on the boat and one fewer place where the connection between two key pieces of equipment could fail.

Compatible XPLORE, APEX and SOLIX G3 fish finders can use the feature, along with GPS-enabled Minn Kota trolling motors from 2024 and newer. The company says these can gain wireless integration through software updates, so many anglers will not need new hardware.

Spot-Lock that holds tighter

Spot-Lock is the feature that lets a GPS-equipped motor hold the boat over a chosen spot, such as a brush pile, a weed edge or a piece of offshore structure, even with wind and current pushing the boat around. Minn Kota says compatible motors now hold up to 50% tighter than earlier Minn Kota models. That figure comes from the company itself, and the announcement does not describe how it was measured, so treat it as a manufacturer claim until independent testing appears.

As with the wireless link, GPS-enabled motors from 2024 and newer can pick up the Spot-Lock improvements through a software update.

Faster steering with a new foot pedal

The third change is what Minn Kota calls instant-response steering. It applies to compatible electric-steer Terrova and Ulterra brushless motors and works with the new foot pedal. The company says it gives a faster, more familiar feel when you make quick adjustments. Anglers who follow a weed line or a contour, or who make small corrections between casts, are the ones most likely to notice the difference. Unlike the other two features, this one is tied to the specific motors and the new pedal, and the announcement does not say it comes through a software update.

Why it matters for anglers

Each of these changes targets the same problem: time and attention spent managing the boat instead of fishing. A motor that stays where you set it needs fewer corrections, which means more time with a bait in the strike zone. A wireless connection means fewer cables to route and fewer parts to troubleshoot. For bass anglers who spend long days picking apart structure, those small savings add up.

The software-update route also matters for your wallet. If you already own a qualifying fish finder and a GPS-enabled Minn Kota motor from 2024 or newer, you may be able to get two of the three upgrades without buying anything. Older motors and non-listed electronics are not mentioned, so check your exact models before expecting the features.

What to do and what is still unclear

• Check whether your trolling motor is a GPS-enabled model from 2024 or newer.
• Confirm your fish finder is an XPLORE, APEX or SOLIX G3 model.
• Look for the software update through the usual update process for your equipment.
• If you run a Terrova or Ulterra, ask a dealer whether the new foot pedal fits your setup.

The announcement does not give prices, a release date for the foot pedal or details on how the update will be delivered. Anglers who want these upgrades should watch Minn Kota’s official channels for specifics, and independent reviews should show whether the tighter hold performs as advertised on the water.

Source: Bass Angler Magazine