Are Power Poles/Talons really all that necessary?

[Redlinerobert]

I've been against installing them on my new boat (I hate the way they look) but the more and more I talk to people that have them they make it seem like they are truly indispensable.  I would think that they're a PIA for the person in the back of the boat trying to cast. 

For those of you that have them could you live without them? 

IF I was to get them (big IF) I'd probably lean towards the talons.  Less moving parts means less things that could break.

[tcbass]

I fish a lot of shallow lakes and I like fishing docks. I know that if I had them it would be a lot easier to go from dock to dock, put them down and really be able to fish the dock thoroughly, rather than have the Terrova's spotlock push me around in a 5-10' foot radius almost hitting the dock. They will also save on the battery a lot by not having the TM constantly fighting for position.

 

So, hopefully my next boat will have them.

 

If you don't fish shallow water often or docks, they maybe a waste for you.

[S. Sass]

If you never have them you cant very well miss them.

However I haven't seen anyone that has them say they didn't like them. But again after spending the farm on them what else can ya say. tcbass has a excellent point also if your fishing is 90% in deeper waters probably wont be of much value to you. 

I did read a post where someone said they had a issue with the Talons fitting in the garage I think. I am sure some of the guys with them will chime in in the morning.

[iabass8]

I fish a lot of shallow water and would never want to not have them again. They truly are indispensable for me

[S Hovanec]

For my fishing, they are of no value.  The shallowest my boat sees is the marina when I leave and come back.  Other than that, it's 18'-50'+ all day.

[WIGuide]

It really depends on where you fish. If you fish a lot of shallower water they'd be a great addition. If you fish out deep most of the time then not so much. As for fishing out of the back of the boat, the tall ones  would get in the way some, however with power poles you can drop them part of the way down to get them out of the way. Talon's have a tilt bracket even though with their new 3 stage systems they don't sit all that high anymore. 

I unfortunately don't have either, but I'd love to have a pair. If I didn't have the added cost of having to switch to hydraulic steering on my boat in order to add them, I'd probably have them by now. 

[Al Wolbach]

12 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

It really depends on where you fish. If you fish a lot of shallower water they'd be a great addition. If you fish out deep most of the time then not so much. As for fishing out of the back of the boat, the tall ones  would get in the way some, however with power poles you can drop them part of the way down to get them out of the way. Talon's have a tilt bracket even though with their new 3 stage systems they don't sit all that high anymore. 

I unfortunately don't have either, but I'd love to have a pair. If I didn't have the added cost of having to switch to hydraulic steering on my boat in order to add them, I'd probably have them by now. 

Don't intend to steal the thread, but why do you need to add hydraulic steering to add Talons/power poles?

[A-Jay]

I have twin 12 ft Talons.  Mounted to the transom.  I LOVE THEM.  Total Game Changer.

Pro's ~ Great for solo launch and especially recovery.  Boat sits 12 inch off the dock and I can slip the trailer right under - too easy.

          ~ Obviously fantastic for holding position and fishing. (if you're rarely fishing 12 ft of water or less then this will not help you.

           ~ The available Tilt Brackets allow for the Talons to be laid flat onto the rear deck for any low approach & for storage in low overhead places.

            ~ Talon is an all electric unit that requires nothing additional (no hydraulics)

Con's   ~ The twin towers will slow the boat down 1 or 2 mph running down the lake - not noticeable really but it's just physics.

               The twin towers will also reduce highway gas mileage to some degree.  Again not a travel or safety concern at all, just physics.

  On a side note - I fish alone much of the time so the back deck only gets occasional use.  The Minn Kota product deploys straight down where as the Power Poles deploy out away from the stern of your boat in a sort of crab like fashion.  The Talon towers remain in position whether they are deployed or not.  The power poles deploy down into the water when being used and might not impede casting. 

For me, my situation & my style of fishing,  The Pro's FAR OUT Weigh the Cons.  I'd never own another Bass Boat without them.

 Your results may vary.

A-Jay   

[WIGuide]

7 minutes ago, Al Wolbach said:

Don't intend to steal the thread, but why do you need to add hydraulic steering to add Talons/power poles?

I've got a Ranger Sport R70 and added a 6" jackplate. With that the steering cable is already stretched to it's max and has an awkward bend in between the pass-through hole and the motor. With the addition of sandwich brackets it would need to be switched over. Either that, or I'd need to buy a different jackplate that you could use the brackets that bolt to the side of the plate. The steering option would be the cheaper route. 

[Al Wolbach]

8 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

I've got a Ranger Sport R70 and added a 6" jackplate. With that the steering cable is already stretched to it's max and has an awkward bend in between the pass-through hole and the motor. With the addition of sandwich brackets it would need to be switched over. Either that, or I'd need to buy a different jackplate that you could use the brackets that bolt to the side of the plate. The steering option would be the cheaper route. 

I understand. I was thinking of a functional need, not a space limit. 

[Redlinerobert]

Great points all around.  I'll finally be picking up my boat next week if all goes as planned so we'll see how the first few times out go.  I suppose I should fish with my pal that has them to see if in fact I'd really feel the need to buy them. 

[slonezp]

I use them more for panfishing than bass fishing. I think if you target bedding bass they are a must. If not they are just another tool on the arsenal to help you catch fish

[crypt]

have been using stick-it shallow water anchors for years. cost of both was 175.00. lot better than 1200.00 for one power pole.can put one up front one in back and when not using they are stored out of the way. 

[A-Jay]

42 minutes ago, crypt said:

 stick-it shallow water anchors cost of both was 175.00. lot better than 1200.00  

 Definitely less money but better is a matter of opinion.

A-Jay

[S. Sass]

45 minutes ago, crypt said:

have been using stick-it shallow water anchors for years. cost of both was 175.00. lot better than 1200.00 for one power pole.can put one up front one in back and when not using they are stored out of the way. 

Where did you find a power pole for $1200? I see $1800+ all over when I look. I did see a 6' Talon for $1400 but 6' is very limiting even here where I fish. Id pay the few hundred more as I would want more reach if I was buying. 

Anyway I agree if your not sure how much you would use them a manual shallow water anchor may be a great alternative. If you find your using them very often then powered ones may be worth the large increase in price. 

[Redlinerobert]

I'm looking at what, ~$4000 for two 12' talons? 

[Catt]

At the price of two 12' models I could spend 2-3 whole months on Toledo Bend!

If you fish stationary in water under 12' a majority of the time then ya might want to consider em.

[Redlinerobert]

I fish the O'Neill Forebay for stripers a lot.  I also am a member at a few private lakes that are fairly shallow, and of course there's the CA Delta that has tremendous amounts of shallow waters to fish. 

 

[iabass8]

2 hours ago, S. Sass said:

Where did you find a power pole for $1200? I see $1800+ all over when I look. I did see a 6' Talon for $1400 but 6' is very limiting even here where I fish. Id pay the few hundred more as I would want more reach if I was buying. 

Anyway I agree if your not sure how much you would use them a manual shallow water anchor may be a great alternative. If you find your using them very often then powered ones may be worth the large increase in price. 

Powerpole sportsman II can be found for around 1150-1295 all day.

[Jeff H]

I only have 1- 8 ft'er (Talon) on my Champion.  Would love to add another but it's not going to happen.  Importance of item to me falls right after bow mount trolling motor.  I could not fish without the bowmount, I could fish without the Talon but I really wouldn't want to give it up.  As Ajay said, total game changer, money well spent!! I use mine quite a bit.

[crypt]

4 hours ago, S. Sass said:

Where did you find a power pole for $1200? I see $1800+ all over when I look. I did see a 6' Talon for $1400 but 6' is very limiting even here where I fish. Id pay the few hundred more as I would want more reach if I was buying. 

Anyway I agree if your not sure how much you would use them a manual shallow water anchor may be a great alternative. If you find your using them very often then powered ones may be worth the large increase in price. 

when they were new a few years ago the "cheap ones" were 1200.00

[RAMBLER]

I have an eight foot power pole on my Tracker Grizzly 1648.  I'll tell you like the salesman said, once you get one you'll wonder how you ever got by without it and will never want to be without it, again.

I've thought my boat was pulled up on the shore real good, while I parked the jeep, only to find the boat drifted away.  With the power pole, that never happens.

It is possibly the most useful accessory on my boat.

[gim]

I have one 12 foot model on my Ranger RT178.  I paid about $2 grand for it after professional installation and a special tilt bracket.  Its a very steep cost in my opinion.  I almost always have a second angler on my back deck and it takes some getting used to for the person back there.  It would be nice to have two of them but the cost is not justifiable in my opinion, and I only have a 17'8" aluminum boat so one can easily hold it in place.  I often use it as more of a pivot point in conjunction with the bow mount.  I could probably get by without it but now that I have it, I'm certainly going to use it.

I think the new Minn Kota Ultrex is a hybrid cable-electric steer equipped with I-pilot that is specifically designed for a bass boat and that could potentially reduce or even eliminate the need for a talon or power pole.

Another thing that others have already mentioned, if you mostly fish in deeper offshore waters then I wouldn't really see a regular use for them.  This is why I rarely see them on the deep V walleye boats up here in the north.

[slonezp]

3 hours ago, Redlinerobert said:

I'm looking at what, ~$4000 for two 12' talons? 

Minn Kota brackets aren't cheap and unless you are mounting them directly to the transom, an additional investment is needed. 2 sandwich brackets or jackplate brackets are required and then you'll need 2 tilt brackets if the boat will be seeing garage doors and low bridges. If you wait until January to make your purchase, based on Minn Kotas history, they will have some pretty hefty mail in rebates. 

[Redlinerobert]

3 hours ago, slonezp said:

Minn Kota brackets aren't cheap and unless you are mounting them directly to the transom, an additional investment is needed. 2 sandwich brackets or jackplate brackets are required and then you'll need 2 tilt brackets if the boat will be seeing garage doors and low bridges. If you wait until January to make your purchase, based on Minn Kotas history, they will have some pretty hefty mail in rebates. 

I just saw the brackets.  With my OCD, I'd have to get them powder coated or anodized to match the rest of the boat.  Therefore factor in an additional cost.