Follow Mode — How It Works
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Follow Mode is a Minn Kota Advanced GPS Navigation feature that allows a compatible trolling motor to automatically follow a depth, bottom-hardness, or vegetation contour selected on a compatible Humminbird fish finder.
Unlike Spot-Lock, which is designed to maintain a selected GPS location, and Drift Mode, which is designed to maintain a desired speed and path, Follow Mode is designed to navigate along the selected contour.
Follow Mode requires compatible Minn Kota and Humminbird equipment and the required network integration. Availability, compatible hardware, available contours, and operating procedures vary by configuration. Verify requirements for your exact trolling motor and Humminbird setup before purchasing.
How Follow Mode Works
Follow Mode works through integration between a compatible Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird fish finder via the One-Boat Network. The angler selects a depth, bottom-hardness, or vegetation contour on the compatible Humminbird, and the trolling motor automatically follows the selected contour.
You select the contour to follow on the compatible Humminbird fish finder. Available contours, controls, and operating procedures depend on the connected Humminbird and trolling-motor configuration. Verify current compatibility and Follow Mode operating procedures for your exact hardware.
Actual tracking performance can vary with contour definition, water depth, vessel characteristics, available thrust, GPS/navigation conditions, and other operating factors. Follow Mode works to navigate along the selected contour; it does not guarantee perfectly consistent tracking in all conditions.
What Contours Follow Mode Can Follow
The contour types available vary by connected Humminbird configuration. Minn Kota identifies three supported contour categories:
- Depth — follow a selected depth contour associated with a point, flat, channel edge, or other structure
- Vegetation — follow a selected vegetation contour where supported by the connected Humminbird configuration
- Bottom hardness — follow a selected bottom-hardness contour where supported by the connected Humminbird configuration
Verify which contour types are available for your exact Humminbird unit and trolling-motor configuration.
Why Follow Mode Matters for Saltwater Fishing
In saltwater, fish consistently relate to structure — and structure is rarely straight. Reef edges curve. Channel edges meander. Grass flat edges follow irregular contours that shift with tide and season. Manually following these features while fishing requires constant attention to the sonar and continuous steering corrections.
Follow Mode handles steering along the selected contour so the angler can focus on the presentation. Key saltwater applications include:
- Reef and ledge fishing — follow a selected depth contour associated with a reef edge, ledge, or other offshore structure while presenting baits along the structure
- Grass flat fishing — follow a selected vegetation contour associated with a grass edge where supported by the connected Humminbird configuration
- Channel edge fishing — follow a selected depth contour associated with the drop from a flat into a channel or creek as it meanders
- Inshore structure fishing — follow a selected depth, vegetation, or bottom-hardness contour associated with productive inshore structure
- Offshore depth contour fishing — follow a selected depth contour as the bottom topography changes
Why Follow Mode Matters for Freshwater Fishing
In freshwater, Follow Mode can be useful for bass, walleye, and panfish anglers working complex structure:
- Bass fishing on points and humps — follow a selected depth contour associated with a point or underwater hump while keeping baits at the right depth
- Walleye on structure — follow selected depth contours on main lake points, rock piles, and saddles between humps
- Weed edge fishing — follow a selected vegetation contour associated with a weed line where supported by the connected Humminbird configuration
- River and reservoir fishing — follow selected depth contours associated with channel edges and creek channels in reservoirs
Which Minn Kota Motors Support Follow Mode?
Follow Mode availability varies by motor family, model, generation, GPS system, and connected Humminbird configuration. Minn Kota lists Follow Mode on select current motors equipped with compatible Advanced GPS Navigation and Humminbird integration. Verify Follow Mode availability on the exact trolling-motor SKU and Humminbird configuration before purchasing.
Hardware Requirements
Follow Mode requires specific hardware to function. Requirements vary by motor and Humminbird unit — verify compatibility for your exact configuration:
- Compatible Minn Kota trolling motor — Follow Mode availability varies by motor family, model, and generation; verify for the exact SKU
- Compatible Humminbird fish finder — APEX, SOLIX, and select HELIX series units with One-Boat Network capability; verify compatibility for your exact unit
- One-Boat Network connection — the motor and fish finder must be connected through the One-Boat Network; verify cabling and connection requirements for your exact hardware
- Compatible software and configuration — verify current software requirements and configuration procedures with Minn Kota and Humminbird documentation for your exact pairing
Follow Mode vs. Manual Navigation
Manually following a depth contour requires watching the sonar continuously, making steering corrections frequently, and dividing attention between the sonar display and the fishing presentation. Follow Mode handles steering along the selected contour automatically, allowing the angler to focus on the presentation rather than boat position.
Actual tracking performance can vary with contour definition, water depth, vessel characteristics, available thrust, GPS/navigation conditions, and other operating factors. Follow Mode works to navigate along the selected contour; it does not guarantee perfectly consistent tracking in all conditions.
Using Follow Mode with Other GPS Features
Follow Mode is one of several Advanced GPS Navigation features available on compatible Minn Kota motors. Other features in the cluster include Spot-Lock with Jog and Drift Mode. Each is designed for a distinct navigation objective:
- Follow Mode — navigates along a selected depth, vegetation, or bottom-hardness contour
- Spot-Lock — maintains a selected GPS hold location
- Drift Mode — maintains a desired drift speed and path
Permitted combinations of navigation modes vary by motor, GPS system, and configuration. Verify which modes can be used together with current Minn Kota documentation for your exact motor and setup.
Tips for Getting the Most from Follow Mode
- Select a clear, well-defined contour — Follow Mode works best when the target contour is clearly defined; in areas with complex or irregular bottom, tracking performance can vary
- Engage Follow Mode correctly for your configuration — select the desired contour on the compatible Humminbird and follow Minn Kota/Humminbird’s current operating procedure for engaging Follow Mode on your exact configuration
- Verify speed-control procedures — Follow Mode is designed to automatically follow the selected contour. Verify current speed-control options and operating procedures for your exact motor and Humminbird configuration
- Verify contour availability for your configuration — depth, vegetation, and bottom-hardness contours may not all be available on every compatible Humminbird and motor pairing; confirm which contour types your setup supports
- Keep the One-Boat Network connection secure — Follow Mode depends on continuous communication between the motor and fish finder; ensure the connection is secure and undamaged