Lowrance has released a teaser for a trolling motor that will debut at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades in Orlando. ICAST runs from July 8-12, 2019.
The company has largely remained quiet about the release of the motor, with the exception of a YouTube video that has three professional anglers talking about its qualities, along with shots of the motor. “It looks like a tank,” says bass fisherman Brandon Cobb. “It looks like the sturdiest trolling motor I have ever seen.”
“It goes through the thickest stuff I would fish in my entire life,” added Ish Monroe, another professional bass fisherman. “It didn’t get bogged down at all. It just cut through that grass.”
Lowrance declined to provide more details.
Garmin is also launching a trolling motor at ICAST. Bill Dance, on Garmin’s Pro Staff, posted a video on Facebook two months ago saying Garmin will release a 24- and 36-volt trolling motor. “It’s the quietest, most powerful trolling motor I’ve ever seen,” said Dance. “It’s going to be introduced before you know it.”
“When bass fishing’s eldest statesman can’t contain his excitement about a product and wants to tell the world about it a few weeks prematurely, who are we to stop him?” Garmin spokesperson Carly Hysell told Trade Only Today. “Bill’s enthusiasm is contagious and we’re glad to see the excitement out there. We look forward to sharing even more details with the world on the ‘official’ announcement date.”
The entry of Lowrance and Garmin, which could offer more integrated electronics packages, could change the trolling motor segment. It has been dominated by Johnson Outdoors’ Minn Kota and Brunswick Corp.’s Motorguide, with much smaller manufacturers like GoPlus, Newport Vessels and Cloud Mountain.
“For the consumer, this is likely good news,” wrote Gary Yamamoto on insideline.net. “An arms race to claim supremacy at the front of the boat should lead to better products, and possibly better pricing.”
