The author mounted a 36-volt, 115-pound Ultrex Quest trolling motor to his boat this spring to put it to the test. (Photo by Anthony Jenniges)
July 25, 2024
By Anthony Jenniges
As one of the most recognizable names in freshwater fishing, Minn Kota has been around since 1934 and has been an industry leader in new technology ever since. They changed the fishing game by releasing new advancements such as i-Pilot in 2013 and Spot-Lock in 2016. Now, many of us couldn’t imagine fishing without features like Spot-Lock. Fast forward nearly 10 years, and the innovation is still as strong as ever.
Minn Kota released the Quest line of trolling motors in the summer of 2023, which improves on their existing Ultrex , Terrova and Ulterra models. I mounted a 36-volt, 115-pound Ultrex Quest to the bow of my boat this spring and have been putting it to the test in all kinds of water. Let’s dive into some features and how I have used them to help swing more fish over the gunnel.
Minn Kota's Ultrex Quest trolling motor. Foot Pedal Design The foot pedal on the Ultrex Quest is a bit of a hybrid design with cable steering feel and power steering responsiveness. As a bass fisherman, a cable steering system is a must, as it gives you the most “feel” for the motor and quick response time when needing to adjust the boat in a hurry. The Quest foot pedal is the best I have used and comes with awesome features such as the steering lock, which eliminates any play in the trolling motor and leaves the prop pointed exactly where you left it each time. The pedal also features a programmable button that connects to the One-Boat Network for Minn Kota. I used this button to connect to my Raptor shallow-water anchor to Minn Kota’s One-Boat Network, meaning I can deploy or raise them using my foot pedal and eliminate the need for extra foot switches on my deck.
Minn Kota released the Quest line of trolling motors last summer. (Photo by Anthony Jenniges) Stow and Deploy Often overlooked is the actual process of deploying or lifting your trolling motor into or out of the water. Seems basic enough, lift it up and put it down. But, when you do it dozens of times per day, you want it to be easy and “automatic.” The Lift-Assist feature on the Quest makes it a breeze to deploy by using a gas-charged spring to cut the weight in half.
Advertisement
Once you do get the motor into the water, the Quest will automatically turn and point straight ahead. We have all been there when you hit the throttle and almost get tossed overboard because the motor was pointed sideways. This eliminates that risk upon initial deployment. When you lift the motor out of the water, the Quest will turn to the side without you having to manually adjust it with the pedal. This will keep any live sonar transducers you have out of harm’s way by keeping them facing up. The features may seem small to some, but they will quickly become some of your favorites after a day of fishing.
Efficiency Possibly the most impressive feature of the new Quest when compared to older models is how efficient the brushless motor is. The new system provides up to five times longer run time on a single battery charge thanks to the Digital Maximizer. Once you pick the speed you want to run, the motor will only pull the power needed for you to run that speed, which means no more wasted energy.
I run three, 12-volt lithium batteries and have yet to pull them under 75% charge after a full day of bank beating. I no longer worry about batteries thanks to the Quest. If you are worried about your battery, you can have real-time battery level monitoring while the motor is in use, giving you a “time until empty” reading. If the battery drops below 20%, you can put the motor in Eco Mode to reduce current draw.
Advertisement
One Boat Network App Minn Kota released the “One-Boat Network” system, and it changed how users control their accessories. The new Quest is no different. Once you connect the motor to your phone, you can control the motor completely via the app. You can turn the motor, select speed, hit Spot-Lock, cruise, enter drift mode, record tracks and much more. The app also allows you to program the motor to exactly how you want just like I did when I connected the foot pedal to my Raptors. All that was done via the One-Boat Network app. If you use Minn Kota shallow water anchors or Humminbird electronics, the OBN app will make your fishing much more streamlined and will provide you with a ton of useful features.
Final Thoughts It seems like technology in the fishing world has seen a huge boom as of late, and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down. Minn Kota has firmly put their foot down as a leader of this technology boom and is showing off with all the features in the new Quest lineup of trolling motors.
The Ultrex Quest has undoubtedly improved my time efficiency on the water and has helped hone my skills as a fisherman. Depending on the type of fisherman you are, the trolling motor may be the most important tool on your boat. There’s no doubt it is on my boat, and I can say with sincerity that the Quest makes a strong case for the best trolling motor on the market. You can buy with confidence knowing you are going to get decades’ worth of experience backing Minn Kota products along with bundles of features that are useful to the everyday angler. The Quest won’t hook the fish and bring them into the boat. That’s still your job, but it’s here to make your job that much easier.