Minn Kota invented the electric trolling motor and has been the name on the bow ever since. In 1934 O.G. Schmidt built the first gear-driven unit in Fargo, North Dakota, and named the company for the Minnesota–North Dakota border. Still designed and built in Mankato, Minnesota, it’s now the world’s biggest trolling-motor brand — i-Pilot GPS, Spot-Lock, Ultrex, Riptide and Raptor anchors included. Their line is Fish for more.