Best Shallow Water Anchor for 19ft Bass Boat

[Rainy]

I got a 19ft Triton 19XS bass boat and i want to put shallow water anchors on it what i just want to know is what make and model to put it on it.

[NYBasser]

I run 2 8 ft power pole blades on my boat and have been pretty happy with them. Other guys run minn kota raptors or talons, it honestly just comes down to personal preference and how much you can get them for.

[Jig Man]

If you have good electronics or plan to get some then get the ones that pair with them.  When I ran Lowrance I had Power poles.  I have gone to Humminbirds so if I still used them I would have Talons.  Since I got a spot lock trolling motor I find no use for them.

[Reel]

I like short (8 foot ) Talons in combination with my Ultrex.  I use spot lock in deeper water and the Talons are not too heavy.

[WRB]

Nearly every bass boat over 18” out west have dual Power Poles or Talons, it’s seems to be standard equipment.

The only time I ever see anyone using Power Poles is bed fishing!

Our reservoirs have steep banks and deep water where Power Poles are ineffective so everyone is using Spot Lock outside the spawning period.

You mount the Power/Talon Poles on a jack plate bracket.

Imo Spot Lock is 1st choice.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

26 minutes ago, WRB said:

Nearly every bass boat over 18” out west have dual Power Poles or Talons, it’s seems to be standard equipment.

The only time I ever see anyone using Power Poles is bed fishing!

Our reservoirs have steep banks and deep water where Power Poles are ineffective so everyone is using Spot Lock outside the spawning period.

You mount the Power/Talon Poles on a jack plate bracket.

Imo Spot Lock is 1st choice.

Tom

Everyone has to keep up with the Jones’s, everything has dual poles here too but I’ve never once seen anyone use them 

 

the only reason I could see them being better than spot lock is they only make noise when you first drop them, as opposed to constantly adjusting

 

i use a cinder block and a rope haha, works at most depths approaching  100 feet 

[Captain Phil]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

Nearly every bass boat over 18” out west have dual Power Poles or Talons, it’s seems to be standard equipment.

 

I fished without power poles for over 60 years.   These days, it seems like every bass boat at the ramp has two.  I have fished in numerous bass boats sporting power poles.  I have never seen them used for anything other than holding a boat at the dock.   You would think with Florida's shallow waters someone would use them when actually fishing?   If you are salt water sight fishing, having some way to hold the boat in position would be an advantage.  Bass fishing is different, at least where I fish.  Have you ever tried to fish around two power poles from the back of a boat?  Power poles are a great example of how marketing can influence buyers.   What power poles do is announce to the other anglers that you are a serious fisherman even if you never use them.   I would take the $4,000 you will spend on two power poles and buy something that actually helps you catch more fish.  

[A-Jay]

Been running twin 12 ft Talons on the Pro-V Bass since 2016.

I use them every single trip almost as much as I use the Fortrex.

Replacing the remote(s) batteries a couple times a season is routine.

Just depends on how and where you fish.

For me, they are vital. 

A-Jay

[Logan S]

I prefer Poles function-wise...But 8' Talons are shorter than the outboard so I wouldn't have to lower my poles to back into the garage if I had them.  If I could snap my fingers and swap my Poles for Talons I would just for that convenience.  You can't really make a wrong choice, they all do what they need to do.  

 

I use mine a ton and would give up a lot of other accessories, including spot-lock, before I gave up my poles.  To me personally they are essentially required equipment.  

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, Logan S said:

I prefer Poles function-wise...But 8' Talons are shorter than the outboard so I wouldn't have to lower my poles to back into the garage if I had them.  If I could snap my fingers and swap my Poles for Talons I would just for that convenience.  You can't really make a wrong choice, they all do what they need to do.  

 

I use mine a ton and would give up a lot of other accessories, including spot-lock, before I gave up my poles.  To me personally they are essentially required equipment.  

Minn Kota offers "Tilt Brackets" as an accessory.

Allows the Talons to be laid flat on the deck

to facilitate in/out of storage or other low clearance.

They were a must have for me. 

 

A-Jay

[J._Bricker]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Nearly every bass boat over 18” out west have dual Power Poles or Talons, it’s seems to be standard equipment.

The only time I ever see anyone using Power Poles is bed fishing!

Our reservoirs have steep banks and deep water where Power Poles are ineffective so everyone is using Spot Lock outside the spawning period.

You mount the Power/Talon Poles on a jack plate bracket.

Imo Spot Lock is 1st choice.

Tom

X2

I went from a boat similar to yours @Rainy, having no shallow water anchors and a trolling motor without spot lock to a boat with both. It’s definitely nice having both options. I found that other than fishing shallow during the spawn, I definitely use the spot lock feature on my trolling motor more, especially in current and/or windy conditions.

[gim]

I have a single 12 foot talon on my Ranger RT178. I had to use a sandwich bracket since the transom is irregularly shaped. At the time I did not know it would void my Mercury outboard factory warranty but that’s a moot point now since they are both beyond that time frame. Make sure a shallow water anchor won’t void the boats hull warranty.

 

In 2015 when I bought my boat, spot lock was not a thing yet. So I got the talon which works pretty good in conjunction with my Maxxum. One talon acts as more of a pivot point. Two would be better for holding position.

 

I use mine every time I fish, sometimes more sometimes less, depending on how windy it is. Most of my fishing is in shallow water. I also have a tilt bracket like @A-Jay does so I can park in my garage.