It's getting tougher every day to find something that wows us. Most of the lures we test show twinkles of brilliance – like the Chatterbait, Senko, Brush Hog, Sweet Beaver or HardNose series – but generally speaking, the bait business really just rehashes the old.
It's usually tune this, change that, add a new color, but in all reality, not much is "really" new.
The same is true in the boat business. New models have great new features, electronics continue to get better and outboards perform much better each time a new model year appears, but overall, functionality is the key there and doing something radically different is not the norm.
For years, trolling motors fell into the same pattern. And over the last 10 years it's been all about thrust with a few minor exceptions, like the new Digital Technology from MotorGuide and the "indestructible composite shaft" from Minn Kota. That changed when Minn Kota offered its new Maxxum Pro 101 with Lift-Assist and the Weedless Wedge 2 prop.
The Rubber Met the Road
This spring, we spent a full week testing the Maxxum Pro on Lake Guntersville, Ala. In case you think the statement "goes through just about anything" is just an advertising slogan, it's not. The Maxxum Pro 101 didn't meet a weed we couldn't chew through.
And we found the motor was not only quiet, but responsive too. Plus, the Bowguard 360 mount works as designed. Bump a stump from any angle and the motor moves and returns back to its original position.
This motor is super quiet and, mounted on a 21-foot bass boat, we also noted no forward momentum caused by over-thrust. The responsiveness of this motor allowed us to move in extremely shallow water and we didn't glide when the motor was stopped. That can be a big benefit when fishing for bedding bass or fine-casting to downed trees.
We were able to position the boat more accurately and we felt the Weedless Wedge 2 was the reason. It's a much larger prop than on other models we've tested, with swept-back and flared blades. It chopped when it needed to and moved effectively even in dense coontail.
Power to Burn
The Maxxum Pro 101 is a 36-volt trolling motor, which means it needs three batteries, but the power (even at 30 to 40 on the rheostat) allowed us to move at a good speed against the wind. Batteries were never taxed and each night we noticed short charge-times.
We feel this motor is extremely effective at maximizing battery life. The Maximizer technology developed by Minn Kota starts the motor easily and we noticed no surges, even at higher settings. Gradual but quick buildup to the desired speed setting is a big plus.
Lift and Lower
The Lift-Assist function utilizes a heavy-duty, gas-charged spring to help lift or deploy the motor. The motor lifted easily and didn't slam down when placed in the water. It was very quiet during both lowering and lifting and the extra-long lift cord made it easy on the back. There was no bending over and chasing the trolling motor into the water with this model.
Foot Pedal, Bracket and Cables
The foot pedal on the Maxxum Pro is made of durable plastic and the switch was very responsive to even the slightest touch. It took us a little while to get used to the switch being on the left side of the foot pedal, but that was an operator issue and not a fault of the motor.
The cables worked as designed and allowed for smooth direction changes without catching or jerking. The cables, foot pedal and motor worked in concert almost like a single mechanism. It was easy to steer and maneuverability was excellent.
The bracket is very durable, yet light, and it locked into place both during deployment and lifting. We noticed no flexing or twisting of the bracket or mount at any speed.
Notable
> It's a nice luxury to not have to worry about a bent shaft, and the crazy vibration that results from a bent shaft.
> Long-term battery life is reportedly extended with the Minn Kota Maximizer technology.
> MSRP on this motor is $909.09 to $939.09, based on shaft length and features.
> For more information, visit MinnKotaMotors.com.
