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(Rich Stern) wrote in message ...
...a fire in the trolling motor. (with apologies to Deep Purple)

Not quite a fire, but plenty of smoke. I was flipping some docks on Lake
Lanier this afternoon. Had a hit on a crankbait under a covered dock, saw the
fish spit the bait before I could set the hook. Went to resposition myself for
a better cast, further under the dock. Step on the trolling motor pedal.
Nothing. It had been working a few moments ago. Battery is charged. I switch
speeds. Motor responds on highest setting only. Play with the switch, still
nothing on the lower speeds. OK, so I figure I'll just have to use the
trolling motor for short bursts of high power until I get home and see whats
up. Wrong. I'm casting again when I notice smoke coming from my foot. Well,
maybe not my foot, but the trolling motor pedal sure is spewing. And the
trolling motor head. Quickly unplug the motor, check the bilge to make sure
the problem is above deck only.

It needed to be retired anyway. It had suffered some abuse at the hands of the
previous owner. But I didn't expect it to go out with a bang. Off to BPS
tomorrow for a new one. Motorguide or Minn Kota? Minn Kota or Motorguide?

I've had very good luck with my MinnKota. Motorguide is nice, but I
think you pay a lot for the name. My neighbor's Motorguide is okay,
but what it doesn't have that my MinnKota has is a switch position for
constant on. So, when fishing shoreline and docks quickly, I can set
the speed down slow, leave it on, and just steer a little. Kind of
like drifting.
I've not had very good luck on Lanier this year. I figured with all
the water, it would be great. I've heard people saying though, that
the hot weather fishing will be very good because of depth of points
on the main lake. Haven't been in a month.