Minn Kota

Minn Kota is the oldest manufacturer of electric fishing motors in the world with 68 years of hard-earned experience in the lab and on the water. Throughout our history, Minn Kota has led the way in product innovation and cutting edge technology. Our list of Minn Kota “firsts” supports this commitment to trolling motor development and the fishing community.

1934 First electric gear-driven motor
1935 First electric flexible cable motor
1965 First electric motor with reverse switch
1968 First remote control adaptable to other brand motors
1985 First electronic speed control, sold as an accessory (Maximizer™)
1986 First built-in electronic/variable speed control
1987 First electric steer in commercial quantities
1987 First low profile foot pedal in cable steer
1987 First compact bow-mount, built-in electronic speed control with first automatic electronic battery gauge
1991 First computer-controlled motor, first self-steering unit (AutoPilot™)
1991 First composite, energy-absorbing motor tube
1992 First completely weedless propeller (Weedless Wedge™)
1995 First all-direction breakaway mounting system (BowGuard 360®)
1999 First fully-automatic trolling motor (Genesis™)
2001 First trolling motor with built-in sonar transducer compatible with all major fish-finders (Universal Sonar)
2002 First wireless remote that allows trolling motor control from fishing rod, wrist, or belt (CoPilot)

Celebrating 68 years of product excellence
Fargo, North Dakota —

The Minn Kota electric trolling motor began its life in 1934 in Fargo, North Dakota. Mr. O.G. Schmidt, inventor of the trolling motor, was known to be a man of many diverse ideas. Prior to the trolling motor, Mr. Schmidt invented, produced and sold a copper soldering torch from his home in Wheatland, North Dakota. Due to its success, manufacturing operations were then moved to Fargo. Because of its proximity to the MINNesota-North DaKOTA border, Mr. Schmidt named the business The Minn Kota Manufacturing Company.

Although the brand Minn Kota has become synonymous throughout the world with trolling motors, many other products have also carried the name. The Minn Kota Manufacturing Company manufactured utilitarian products such as commercial vacuum cleaners, rock pickers, and straw choppers. Some of the earliest Minn Kota trolling motors produced used Ford Motor Co. Model A starter motors. Unlike today’s motors, these first units were designed with the motor out of the water.

During WWII Minn Kota joined the war effort by producing parts for automatic pilots installed in fighter planes. In February of 1946, the company moved its operations to Moorhead, Minnesota. At the Moorhead facility, Minn Kota was well equipped to manufacture products in-house from start to finish.

Upon Mr. Schmidt’s death in 1965, Ole Rommesmo took over Minn Kota Manufacturing Company and concentrated on recapturing the electric fishing motor business. In 1969, Johnson Reels of Mankato, Minnesota, purchased the company. Trolling motors opened a whole new realm of related product possibilities for Johnson Reels, already known for its fishing rods, reels and lures.

In 1970, Johnson Reels and Minn Kota trolling motors were acquired by a subsidiary of Johnson Wax, Johnson Diversified Inc., known today as Johnson Outdoors Inc. Minn Kota motor production moved to Mankato, Minnesota in 1979, where it is still located.

Today, Minn Kota is the unquestioned leader in the trolling motor industry, enjoying dominant market share in both bow-mount and transom-mount motors.