Transducers on Trolling Motors

Is an external mounted transducer more efficent for marking fish than the built in transducers on the motor housings?..
Do you get alot of interference with the built in transducers? Thanks

I’ve got a Maxxum with the universal sonar and a Lowrance 102c and I have been really happy with the results. I get a little bit of interference between my bow and console locators when in water deeper than 20 feet, but I think thats caused by the echoes overlapping

i have a built in transducer and have no trouble. the big difference is the chord running up the outside of the shaft. AND $150-200 more.

IMHO if you are running a powerdrive or a terrova, I think a US is the only way to go, since the unit can turn more than 360 degrees. On a cable drive mounting one exteranally works pretty good, because they can’t really turn much more than 360 degrees. If you fish a lot of shallow areas with stumps or other hazards you can bump into, there are some various products on the market that can protect it, most work pretty good. Biggest problem you’ll face is going to be pinching the cable, eventually it’s going to get pinch one too many times, unless you are super careful everytime, yo also run the option on a autopilot that the auto pilot goes wacky (which happens quite often to certain units, it can be fixed) and it will turn in circles and snap your cable, I know that’s happened to a lot of people too.

That being said if I were buying one, there is no way I’d consider buying one without the US it’s worth it, if I already had a unit, I’d probably mount one on it and live with the hassle.

(I should mention I’m only familar with Minn Kota products myself)

Also with the built in tansducer on my terrova while jigging on the St Croix I was able to watch my screen and see where my lure was exactly the entire time when on top of the jig and saw the arc appear just before the fish hit it. Will never have anything else but the built in anymore!

Shhh don’t tell them all the secrets, It’s like playing my favorite video game….

Enter my world for a minute

Opps there’s a fish, wonder what will happen if I shake it a little…. Wait! Wait! come back Hmmmpf.. Here we go there’s one again… what if I just lift up slowly this time….here he comes… Hit it, HIT IT!! Fish on!

Alright now get out of my head

Thanks anglers I do appreciate all the info and what a great site!!