Tournament pros want to spend lots of time on great structure, and as little time as possible getting there. A full-size bass boat with a 150 hp or larger engine can cruise at speeds over 60 mph, and often do as anglers dash to beat the clock and the competition to the best spots. Most tournaments set engine horsepower limits, or provide similar boats to all competitors to avoid turning fishing contests into out-and-out boat races.
But going slow is just as important, if not more so. Once the boat is in a good location, the angler uses a whisper-quiet electric "trolling" motor to move within casting range without spooking the fish. Commonly mounted at the front of the boat and operated with a foot pedal, the electric motor can be operated easily by an angler who is standing and fishing. This allows the angler to work all along a shoreline or other lake feature, casting continuously with just the occasional nudge or foot-tap to correct course or speed.
Larger 24-volt trolling units now available generate over 60 pounds of thrust more than ample even for the biggest bass boats. New trolling motor controllers with interfaced depthfinders and GPS can actually follow lake shorelines, drop-offs, or channels automatically, or make ongoing course corrections against wind or current.
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