Weed deflection device

A trolling motor comprising:

• a motor unit disposed on a lower end of a down shaft, wherein the motor unit includes a propeller and a motor housing with a nose piece and a tail piece;
• a deflector plate disposed on one side of the down shaft above the nose piece, the deflector plate including a bottom edge that extends forwardly from the down shaft, an oblique front edge that extends forwardly and upwardly from one end of the bottom edge, a rear edge that extends upwardly from an opposite end of the bottom edge, a first angled leg that extends outward from the rear edge toward the down shaft in one direction, a second angled leg that extends outward from the rear edge toward the down shaft in another direction, and a top edge that extends between the oblique front edge and the rear edge;
• and
• a cutting member disposed on an opposite side of the down shaft above the tail piece, the cutting member including at least one cutting edge disposed adjacent to a location on the tail piece where the propeller is mounted.

A device for a trolling motor comprising:

• a bracket with a first part disposed on one side of a down shaft and a second part disposed on an opposite side of the down shaft, the first part being coupled to the second part such that the down shaft is disposed between the first and second parts;
• a deflector plate mounted on the first part of the bracket, the deflector plate including a bottom frame member that extends forwardly from the first part of the bracket, a front frame member that extends obliquely upward from one end of the bottom frame member, a V-shaped rear frame member that extends upward from an opposite end of the bottom frame member, and a wall that extends between the bottom, front, and V-shaped rear frame members;
• and
• a cutting member mounted on the second part of the bracket, the cutting member including at least one blade disposed adjacent to a location where a propeller of the trolling motor is mounted.