Old Town AutoPilot and Opportunities for Ropeless Anchor Fishing

This past week I was finally able to get down to the lower Columbia and test out the Old Town AutoPilot 120 in the fall Chinook wobbler fishery. As expected the motor had zero issues holding the kayak steady in the outgoing current even with a 10-15 mph wind cutting across the stern. Battery consumption was minimal at 4-6 amps per hour and with my 100 ah battery I could easily stay at it all day long with no issues. I successfully converted a nice URB on a Simon's wobbler.



In the spring I tested the same kayak in similar conditions on the upper Willamette where it proved equally effective. There is no doubt that having the ability to ropeless anchor in depths and conditions well beyond what most kayak anglers would is opening up new fisheries to me.

Old Town hit the nail on the head with this innovation.  Thanks for the second "anchoring" video.

To be able to stay in one place in wind or current is awesome. 

I honestly didn't have any interest in these motored boats until I heard about this feature. It seriously is a game changer. Have you tried it in the ocean bottom fishing? Just to be able to stop or even slow down a drift for a few minutes and move on would... well, change the game. Or just drop a point on a big school of rockfish.. almost sounds too easy. And halibut too! You could "anchor" in 300ft of water no problem. Lots of interesting possibilities. Really cool, thanks for sharing!

I honestly didn't have any interest in these motored boats until I heard about this feature. It seriously is a game changer. Have you tried it in the ocean bottom fishing? Just to be able to stop or even slow down a drift for a few minutes and move on would... well, change the game. Or just drop a point on a big school of rockfish.. almost sounds too easy. And halibut too! You could "anchor" in 300ft of water no problem. Lots of interesting possibilities. Really cool, thanks for sharing!

I honestly felt the same way at first. Kept lying to myself that I didn't want it. But the more people I see using the spotlock in the salt for jigging over structure. The more jealous I felt. LOL