Bass Boat Trolling Motors
TL;DR: For bass boats in 2025, the brushless, cable-steer flagships win: Minn Kota Ultrex Quest is the all-around pick; Garmin Force Pro is best for Garmin/LiveScope users and rock-solid Anchor Lock; Lowrance Ghost/Ghost Xpairs best with HDS/ActiveTarget; MotorGuide Tour Pro is the value Spot-Lock alternative. Bass Pro Shops
Manufacturer Overview
- Minn Kota — Johnson Outdoors brand; One-Boat Network integration (Humminbird). Brushless Quest upgrade across bow-mounts. Minn Kota
- Garmin — Force family (Force, Force Pro, Kraken); deep integration with Garmin MFDs, multi-band GPS Anchor Lock. Garmin
- Lowrance — Ghost/Ghost X brushless motors; tight HDS/ActiveTarget control; lifetime shaft/3-yr motor warranty. Lowrance USA
- MotorGuide — Tour Pro cable-steer with Pinpoint GPS and 360° breakaway mount; long-time budget/club favorite. MotorGuide
Brand Strength Summary
- Minn Kota: Largest US service network + lifetime composite shaft + robust GPS feature set (Spot-Lock, Follow-the-Contour, Drift Mode). Resale/value strong. Minn Kota
- Garmin: Best-in-class Anchor Lock on Force Pro (multi-band GPS + reverse-prop logic); excellent build; premium pricing. Tackle Warehouse
- Lowrance: Very quiet/efficient brushless, seamless Lowrance helm control, new Ghost X adds remote; competitive pricing vs Garmin. Lowrance USA
- MotorGuide: Most affordable cable-steer with anchor-lock; mixed historical QC chatter, but proven ergonomics and breakaway mount. Bass Fishing Guide
Top Categories Comparison
- Category: Brushless cable-steer (overall)
- Best pick (model): Minn Kota Ultrex Quest 90/115 (45–60″)
- Key spec: 24/36V brushless, 90/115 lb, Advanced GPS (Spot-Lock, Follow Contours, Drift Mode), One-Boat Network. Minn Kota
- Review consensus: Quiet, powerful, classic Ultrex pedal feel; GPS modes are a major advantage for structure/contour work. Wired2Fish
- Street price & where: $3,699.99–$3,899.99 (Bass Pro) • $3,699.99–$3,899.99 (Tackle Warehouse), as of Sept 15, 2025. Bass Pro Shops
- Availability: Bass Pro “Ship to Address”; TW shows in-stock counts per shaft. (today). Bass Pro Shops
- Alternative 1: Garmin Force Pro (best Anchor Lock). Tackle Warehouse
- Alternative 2: Lowrance Ghost X (best with HDS/ActiveTarget). Lowrance USA
- Category: Best for Garmin/LiveScope setups
- Best pick (model): Garmin Force Pro (50″/57″)
- Key spec: 24/36V brushless; multi-band GPS Anchor Lock; reverse-prop & calm-water unwrap; GT56UHD-TR built-in. Tackle Warehouse
- Review consensus: Anchor Lock precision is standout; very quiet/efficient; premium cost. Wired2Fish
- Street price & where: $4,199.99–$4,299.99 (Bass Pro & TW), as of Sept 15, 2025. Bass Pro Shops+1
- Availability: Both retailers list multiple options in stock (today). Bass Pro Shops
- Alternative 1: Ultrex Quest (Humminbird users). Minn Kota
- Alternative 2: Lowrance Ghost (Lowrance networks). Tackle Warehouse
- Category: Best for Lowrance/HDS + ActiveTarget users
- Best pick (model): Lowrance Ghost / Ghost X (47/52/60″)
- Key spec: 24/36V brushless; fly-by-wire pedal; Active Imaging 3-in-1 nosecone; optional GPS remote (Ghost X); lifetime shaft/3-yr motor. Lowrance USA
- Review consensus: Extremely quiet; strong thrust/runtime; seamless helm control. Anglers.com
- Street price & where: $3,499–$3,549 (Bass Pro Ghost), $3,499–$3,749 (TW), as of Sept 15, 2025. Bass Pro Shops
- Availability: TW shows multiple variants; Lowrance.com lists Ghost X at $3,899 MSRP (47″). Tackle Warehouse
- Alternative 1: Force Pro (if you own Garmin MFDs). Tackle Warehouse
- Alternative 2: Ultrex Quest (if you own Humminbird). Minn Kota
- Category: Best value Spot-Lock cable-steer
- Best pick (model): MotorGuide Tour Pro (82/109, 45″)
- Key spec: Cable-steer feel; Pinpoint GPS anchoring; 360° breakaway mount; HD+ sonar ready. MotorGuide
- Review consensus: Strong ergonomics and value; some mixed owner reports/QC chatter—check dealer support. Bass Fishing Guide
- Street price & where: $2,199.97 (clearance) at Tackle Warehouse; Bass Pro listing varies by SKU (price not always rendered), as of Sept 15, 2025. Tackle Warehouse
- Availability: TW shows clearance stock; confirm shaft/thrust locally. Tackle Warehouse
- Alternative 1: Ultrex (brushed) if you want Minn Kota feel under $3.5k. Tackle Warehouse
- Alternative 2: Terrova Quest (electric-steer) if you prefer hands-off GPS control. Tackle Warehouse
Price & Availability Snapshot (US, as of Sept 15, 2025)
- Minn Kota Ultrex Quest 90/115 — Bass Pro $3,699.99 (45″) / $3,799.99 (52″) / $3,899.99 (60″), ship-to-address shown. • Tackle Warehouse $3,699.99–$3,899.99 with visible in-stock counts. Bass Pro Shops
- Garmin Force Pro — Bass Pro $4,199.99–$4,299.99; Tackle Warehouse $4,199.99–$4,299.99. Bass Pro Shops
- Lowrance Ghost — Bass Pro $3,499–$3,549 (range across shafts); Tackle Warehouse $3,499–$3,749. Bass Pro Shops
- Lowrance Ghost X — Lowrance.com MSRP $3,899 (47″). (Retail rollout ongoing; check dealers.) Lowrance USA
- MotorGuide Tour Pro — Tackle Warehouse $2,199.97 (clearance); Bass Pro page active but price display inconsistent—verify locally. Tackle Warehouse
Note: Retail pages sometimes hide price/stock until you pick a shaft; we captured pages showing explicit numbers where possible.
Pros/Cons (aggregated)
- Ultrex Quest
- Force Pro
- Pros: Most precise Anchor Lock we tested sources for (multi-band + reverse-prop); great efficiency. Tackle Warehouse
- Cons: Highest price tier; best with Garmin electronics. Tackle Warehouse
- Ghost / Ghost X
- Pros: Ultra-quiet, powerful; excellent Lowrance helm control; lifetime shaft. Lowrance USA
- Cons: Ecosystem-centric; Ghost X pricing near Ultrex. Lowrance USA
- Tour Pro
- Pros: True cable-steer feel + GPS for the lowest price in class. MotorGuide
- Cons: Mixed owner reports on QC over the years; ensure nearby service. Bass Fishing Guide
Tactics-Specific Recommendations
- Windy offshore smallmouth / waypoint hopping: Ultrex Quest (Drift Mode + Follow Contour). Alt: Force Pro for Anchor Lock in gusts. Minn Kota
- Grass mats / shallow power fishing: Ghost (quiet + stout mount) or Ultrex Quest (brushless torque). Lowrance USA
- Forward-facing sonar casting: Force Pro with LiveScope; Ghost with ActiveTarget; Ultrex Quest with MEGA Live (via Humminbird). Tackle Warehouse
- Tournament on a budget (<$2.5k): MotorGuide Tour Pro (clearance) if you need anchor-lock + pedal feel. Tackle Warehouse
Tips & Tricks
- Use a bow-mount stabilizer/bounce buster to reduce flex in rough water. (Common accessory best practice.)
- For live-sonar cables, add a proper nosecone or clamp mount (Ghost/Force offer OEM nosecones; Ultrex needs separate routing) to prevent pinch points. Lowrance USA
- Calibrate the heading sensor/compass after install; check prop for line every trip; re-torque mount bolts monthly. (Per owners’ manuals.) Johnson Outdoors
- Lithium batteries: all picks support 24/36V; verify charger profiles; enable “Eco/Maximizer” or equivalent modes for runtime. Bass Pro Shops
Manufacturer Guides
- Ultrex Quest Owner’s Manual (install/maintenance). Johnson Outdoors
- Force Pro Owner’s Manual (maintenance schedule, features). Garmin
- Ghost Series Operator/Install Manuals. Product Image Server
- MotorGuide Tour Pro Owner/Service Manuals. MotorGuide
Maintenance Guide (quick schedule)
- Every trip: Rinse/clean, inspect prop/shaft for line, check mount latch & cables; stow locks engaged before trailering. Johnson Outdoors
- Monthly: Re-torque mount hardware; lube pivot bushings/hinges (per manual); recalibrate heading/compass if GPS modes wander. Garmin
- Seasonal: Update motor/plotter software; inspect pedal springs/cables; test battery health and charger settings (AGM/Li). Garmin
- Storage: Remove weeds, dry fully, disconnect power at breaker; store with mount latched and shaft vertical to reduce memory. Johnson Outdoors
Final Picks
- Best Overall: Minn Kota Ultrex Quest 90/115 (52″) — broadest features + ecosystem depth for bass boats. Bass Pro Shops
- Best for Garmin users / toughest Anchor Lock: Garmin Force Pro (50″). Tackle Warehouse
- Best for Lowrance users: Lowrance Ghost/Ghost X (47″–60″). Lowrance USA
- Best Value: MotorGuide Tour Pro (82/109, 45″) (watch stock; great price/performance). Tackle Warehouse
Sources
Bass Pro Shops product pages (prices/availability): Ultrex Quest; Force/Force Pro; Ghost; Tour Pro. Bass Pro Shops
Tackle Warehouse product pages (prices/stock & feature blurbs): Ultrex Quest; Force Pro; Ghost. Tackle Warehouse
Manufacturer sites & manuals (specs, features, warranties): Minn Kota Ultrex/Advanced GPS & manuals; Garmin Force Pro manuals; Lowrance Ghost/Ghost X; MotorGuide Tour Pro manuals. Minn Kota
Independent reviews/roundups (consensus): Wired2Fish (Ultrex review; Best Trolling Motors 2025); Force Pro update; forum owner feedback. Wired2Fish
Data inconsistencies noted: Some retailer pages (especially Bass Pro) obscure price until a shaft is selected; we captured explicit price pages where available and flagged unclear cases (Tour Pro).