This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2007) |
A trolling motor is a self-contained marine propulsion unit that includes an electric motor, propeller and control system, and is affixed to an angler's boat, either at the bow or stern. A gasoline-powered outboard used in trolling, if it is not the vessel's primary source of propulsion, may also be referred to as a trolling motor. The main function of trolling motors was once to keep the boat running at a consistent, low speed suitable for trolling, but that function has been augmented by GPS-tracking trolling motors that function as "virtual anchors" to automatically maintain a boat's position relative to a desired location, such as a favorite fishing spot. Trolling motors are often lifted from the water to reduce drag when the boat's primary engine is in operation.