Best Trolling Motors for Bass Boats in 2025 — What the Pros Actually Run
By the ChargedAnchor Team
A trolling motor is one of those purchases that changes everything about how you fish. The right one holds you on a brush pile in a 20 mph wind without you touching the pedal. It lets you follow a contour line hands-free while you work a crankbait. It moves you into casting position without spooking a single fish. The wrong one rattles, drifts, and costs you bites all day long.
The good news is that the 2025 trolling motor market is the best it has ever been. GPS spot-lock, brushless motors, full electronics integration, and wireless control are all mainstream now. Here are the five best trolling motors for bass boats — from budget-friendly to full tournament-grade setups.
Before You Buy — Get These Numbers Right
Thrust — Match thrust to your boat size. 12 to 16 foot boats need 55 to 70 pounds of thrust, while 16 to 21 foot or longer bass boats need a trolling motor with 70 to 100 pounds of thrust. When in doubt, go bigger — you can always run a powerful motor at half speed, but you can’t get more out of an underpowered one.
Voltage — Large, heavy fishing boats should be rigged with a powerful 36-volt motor. A 24-volt foot control motor will handle bass boats up to about 19 feet. More voltage means more power and longer runtime between charges.
Shaft Length — Your shaft needs to be long enough to keep the prop submerged and pulling cleanly. Too short and you’ll cavitate in choppy water. Too long and the motor head sits up in your way when stowed.
Brushless vs. Brushed — Flagship brushless motors are quieter, more efficient, and longer-lasting. Budget brushed motors work reliably but require eventual maintenance. If you’re buying a serious bass boat motor, go brushless.
Electronics Integration — Choose your electronics brand first, then match your trolling motor. Garmin graphs pair best with the Garmin Force. Humminbird graphs connect seamlessly with Minn Kota through One-Boat Network. Mismatching brands means losing features.
The 5 Best Trolling Motors for Bass Boats
1. Minn Kota Ultrex Quest — Best Overall for Bass Anglers
Thrust: 112 lbs | Voltage: 36V | Best For: Tournament and serious recreational bass fishing
The Ultrex Quest is what most serious bass anglers are running in 2025, and it’s not hard to see why. The new Quest trolling motors are more powerful, quieter thanks to new brushless motor designs, and more sturdy and rugged to handle long rough days on the water — with improved Spot Lock with Jog technology that feels like having a fishing partner in the boat.
What separates the Ultrex from everything else at this price point is the combination of power steering and i-Pilot Link GPS. Power steering means you’re steering the motor with your foot just like a car — no cable lag, instant response. Spot-Lock holds your boat within a boat length of your target position automatically, even in heavy wind. The 2021 Bassmaster of the Year Seth Feider summed it up perfectly — the Ultrex is a beast, and it’s key to fishing efficiently and quietly at the highest level.
The One-Boat Network integration with Humminbird electronics ties everything together — you can follow depth contours automatically, record your trolling paths, and control the motor from anywhere on the boat via the wireless remote or your phone.
What anglers love: Dead reliable, incredibly powerful, and the integration with Humminbird graphs is genuinely seamless.
Best for: Humminbird users wanting the best bow-mount bass boat motor on the market.
→ Check Current Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/4tosHrt
2. Garmin Force Kraken — Most Powerful, Best for Garmin Users
Thrust: 100 lbs | Voltage: 36V | Best For: Garmin ecosystem users and big water fishing
According to pro bass angler Chad Morgenthaler, the Garmin Force is the most powerful trolling motor on the market — and he believes the rated 100 pounds of thrust is a significant underrating. Even with a 21-foot Phoenix loaded heavy, he’s run it wide open at over 4 miles per hour. That’s extraordinary for a trolling motor.
Running a Garmin Force for four years, one veteran angler reports never experiencing downtime — it’s quiet, powerful, easy to use, and the wireless pedal runs reliably on two AA batteries or can be wired directly to the power system. The lift assist makes deploying and stowing the motor effortless, and the gesture steering remote — where you point the remote in the direction you want to go — is one of those features that sounds gimmicky until you use it.
If you’re already running Garmin graphs and a LiveScope, the Force integrates into your Garmin ecosystem perfectly. Anchor Lock GPS, route following, and full chartplotter control make this the most connected trolling motor option for Garmin users.
What anglers love: Raw power, rock-solid reliability, and deep Garmin electronics integration.
Best for: Garmin graph users and big-water bass anglers who need maximum thrust.
→ Check Current Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/4e0iOMa
3. Minn Kota Terrova Quest — Best Mid-Range Pick
Thrust: 80–115 lbs | Voltage: 24V or 36V | Best For: Serious anglers wanting brushless performance at a lower price than the Ultrex
The Minn Kota Terrova Quest delivers silent brushless operation and maximum efficiency, while i-Pilot Link GPS integrates with Humminbird’s One-Boat Network for precise positioning — making it the best trolling motor for 2025 in its class.
The Terrova sits below the Ultrex in the Minn Kota lineup but gives up very little in real-world performance. You get the same brushless efficiency, the same Spot-Lock GPS anchoring, and the same One-Boat Network integration at a meaningfully lower price. The Terrova stands out for its ease of use — it’s approachable for anglers moving up from a basic trolling motor without feeling like you’re learning a new piece of software.
Motorized stow and deploy is included, meaning one button press drops the motor and another brings it back up. For anglers who move spots frequently throughout a day — which is every serious bass angler — this saves real time and real energy over a long day on the water.
What anglers love: Brushless quiet, GPS precision, and Humminbird integration at a price that doesn’t require financing.
Best for: Humminbird users who want a serious upgrade without paying Ultrex prices.
→ Check Current Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/4vo8rZ0
4. Minn Kota PowerDrive i-Pilot — Best Budget GPS Motor
Thrust: 55–70 lbs | Voltage: 12V or 24V | Best For: Anglers who want Spot-Lock without the flagship price
Not everyone needs 112 pounds of thrust and full tournament-grade integration. If you’re fishing a 16-foot aluminum bass boat or a smaller fiberglass rig on calm inland lakes, the PowerDrive i-Pilot gives you the feature that matters most — Spot-Lock GPS anchoring — at a fraction of the flagship price.
GPS Spot-Lock style anchoring and route functions receive strong praise in trolling motor reviews for bass boats, especially for staying on structure or wind-blown points. The PowerDrive delivers exactly that in a simpler, lighter package that’s easy to install and easy to run. It’s a brushed motor, so it’s not as quiet or as efficient as the Quest models, but it handles everything a recreational bass angler needs without drama.
If you’re new to GPS trolling motors and want to experience Spot-Lock before committing to a flagship unit, the PowerDrive is the perfect entry point.
What anglers love: Spot-Lock performance at an accessible price with Minn Kota’s proven reliability.
Best for: Weekend bass anglers on smaller boats or anyone buying their first GPS trolling motor.
→ Check Current Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/4mrWGg9
5. Power-Pole MOVE — The New Player Worth Watching
Thrust: 100 lbs | Voltage: 36V | Best For: Anglers who want something different and genuinely impressive
Power-Pole built their reputation on shallow water anchors, and when they entered the trolling motor market their goal was simple — build the most dependable, quietest motor available. Out of the gate the Power-Pole MOVE is special, with virtually no vibration and exceptional quiet operation.
Anglers who’ve made the switch from Minn Kota to Power-Pole consistently report being blown away by the power and whisper-quiet operation — calling it unmatched among saltwater and freshwater trolling motors alike. The MOVE integrates with Power-Pole’s anchor system, meaning you can control your trolling motor and your shallow water anchors from the same interface — a genuinely useful feature for bass anglers working shallow flats and docks.
It’s the newest option on this list and the most expensive, but worth serious consideration if you want to fish something different that’s generating real buzz among serious anglers.
What anglers love: Whisper quiet, incredibly powerful, and best-in-class customer service from Power-Pole.
Best for: Anglers who want the newest technology or who already run Power-Pole anchors.
→ Check Current Price on Amazon https://amzn.to/3Q2K8zr
Quick Comparison
| Motor | Thrust | Voltage | GPS Spot-Lock | Brushless | Best Pairing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minn Kota Ultrex Quest | 112 lbs | 36V | ✅ | ✅ | Humminbird |
| Garmin Force Kraken | 100 lbs | 36V | ✅ | ✅ | Garmin |
| Minn Kota Terrova Quest | 115 lbs | 36V | ✅ | ✅ | Humminbird |
| Minn Kota PowerDrive | 70 lbs | 24V | ✅ | ❌ | Humminbird |
| Power-Pole MOVE | 100 lbs | 36V | ✅ | ✅ | Any |
Our Recommendation
For most bass boat anglers, the Minn Kota Ultrex Quest is the gold standard — it’s what the best fishermen in the country are running and it earns that reputation every day on the water. If you’re in the Garmin ecosystem, the Force Kraken is your match. Budget-conscious anglers who still want GPS anchoring should start with the PowerDrive i-Pilot — you won’t outgrow Spot-Lock, even if you upgrade the motor later.
Whatever you choose, choosing the best trolling motor ultimately comes down to two things — the size of your boat and the size of your budget. Get those right and you’ll be happy on the water for years.
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