Power Pole Question

[Stratos92]

Question for the power Pole crowd. Thinking about adding a single power pole in the distant future and wanted to start collecting some info. What are the advantages and disadvantages to a single Power Pole?  Boat is an 18'1" Vexus aluminum and I fish up north for clear water smallmouth. Any info would be great. 

[Born 2 fish]

Disadvantage is in the wind you will still spin with one. I would definitely get both.

[gim]

15 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

Disadvantage is in the wind you will still spin with one. I would definitely get both.

 

He's right, with one there will be some movement.  I have one talon and it does not hold me in a true position.  Rather, it acts as more of a pivot point in conjunction with my bow mount.

 

2 > 1

1 > 0

[InfantryMP]

I agree with getting a dual setup. I would also consider the waters you will be fishing. Do you need 8's or 10's?

[Stratos92]

Another question is whether it is worth the expense to add pole(s) since I already have spot lock. I have never fished with poles. I am guessing I would need at least 10 footers. The water I fish is generally on the deeper side.  Not sure that 8 footers would work at all.

[NYBasser]

I run 2 8ft blades off the back of my boat. Usually anything deeper than 6.5ft, I'm using spotlock. If it's 6.5ft or shallower, I use the power poles. I don't get to use them much besides when docking or bed fishing but they're nice to have and very useful when you need them.

[gim]

2 hours ago, Stratos92 said:

Another question is whether it is worth the expense to add pole(s) since I already have spot lock.

Only you can answer that.  I find myself using it regularly when launching and loading at the dock/access.  I talon down, and then tie a short rope at the front to a cleat.  That way the back and front of the boat are tethered.  Having two of them, you could just anchor them without a rope right next to the dock and I'm sure many anglers do that.

 

If I had to just choose one, I would choose a bow mount with spot lock.  Being that you already have that, you could probably get away with one power pole pretty well.

[WIGuide]

I currently have one and a second one that I'm waiting until it's slightly warmer outside to put on. Last year fishing with 1 was nice, but having a 2nd will be nicer. Since they aren't on the center line of the boat like the trolling motor is the boat will spin in the wind and will have a tendency to walk back and forth a bit. Personally the 8 footers are enough for me. They don't sit much higher than the motor and let me anchor in about 6.5 feet regardless of bottom composition. If it's harder bottom I can get a little more out of them. Anything deeper I can use spot lock and not disturb anything. Having 2 will not only allow you to stay in one spot, but also pick the best boat position and will stay where you put it. Depending on the water you fish, they might not get as much use so one might be sufficient. That's a personal decision bases on how and where you fish. There's a lot of shallow water up in my neck of the woods so mine get used all the time regardless of season, so for me having 2 is the best option. 

[Captain Phil]

I think power poles are overrated on a bass boat.   They are expensive and make it difficult for a fisherman in the back seat to fish around.  I have fished out of many boats with power poles.  All they seem to be used for is holding a boat when docking.   At $2,000 each, I would rather use a dock rope.  Here in Florida, you would think power poles would provide an advantage due to our shallow water.  When bass fishing artificial lures, I have never seen the need to hold in one spot for any length of time.   In water deeper than 6 feet, you are better off with spot lock.

 

Power poles are extremely useful in shallow salt water back country and flats fishing where these fish are easily spooked by trolling motors and anchoring.  That is why guides use manual push poles.  Back in my guiding days, I carried two wooden poles in my boat.  These were used to stake out when shiner fishing.  You need two or the wind will swing the boat and tangle your lines.

[TOXIC]

3 hours ago, Stratos92 said:

Another question is whether it is worth the expense to add pole(s) since I already have spot lock. I have never fished with poles. I am guessing I would need at least 10 footers. The water I fish is generally on the deeper side.  Not sure that 8 footers would work at all.

Two completely different tools for totally different situations.  Spot lock is rendered pretty ineffective in shallow water due to the repositioning and blowing out the spot.  Power Poles are called shallow water anchors for a reason.  There are many reasons for anchoring in shallow water besides bed fishing.  In Florida, spot lock was useless and Power Poles invaluable.  We have even used Power Poles with the drift paddle attachments when in the past we would have used a drift sock.  Spot lock is great for deep water spot holding in wind or current.  

[Glenn]

I have 2 10' Power Poles - after upgrading from 8-footers.  The difference is significant.  I use them multiple times every time I go fishing. I didn't realize how much I'd use them until after I got them. Now they're an essential tool with every outing.

 

I've had friends start out with just one, and quickly realize it wasn't enough and got another one.

[immortl]

36 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

<snip>... Spot lock is rendered pretty ineffective in shallow water due to the repositioning and blowing out the spot.  </snip>

Can you elaborate a tick more for me?  How shallow?  Are we saying moving around of the boat and turbulence from the motor is spooking the fish?  I ask because I hadn't thought of this and am working on setting up my new kayak. 

[Born 2 fish]

5 hours ago, Stratos92 said:

Another question is whether it is worth the expense to add pole(s) since I already have spot lock. I have never fished with poles. I am guessing I would need at least 10 footers. The water I fish is generally on the deeper side.  Not sure that 8 footers would work at all.

I honestly think you need both spot lock and poles. spot lock for anything over 6 ft and poles for shallow water.?if I’m trying to flip a reed patch that’s in 4 foot my spot lock is going to wash it out trying to hold my position.  That’s just me tho 

[Born 2 fish]

2 hours ago, immortl said:

Can you elaborate a tick more for me?  How shallow?  Are we saying moving around of the boat and turbulence from the motor is spooking the fish?  I ask because I hadn't thought of this and am working on setting up my new kayak. 

No I think he’s referring to the trolling motor running on high spinning around holding your position. And the prop stirring up your spot.

[Jig Man]

8 hours ago, Stratos92 said:

Another question is whether it is worth the expense to add pole(s) since I already have spot lock. I have never fished with poles. I am guessing I would need at least 10 footers. The water I fish is generally on the deeper side.  Not sure that 8 footers would work at all.

I had power poles for two years before I sold them.  They were practically worthless.  Most of the time my boat is in too deep of water for them to reach.  I now have spot lock and would never go back.

 

 I have never seen anyone with them down and fishing.  I see them keeping boats off the bank while the owner is getting the truck.  Personally I get out move the boat away and hit spot lock while I get the truck.

[scbassin]

I have one 6' power pole so when I am fishing large flats of lily pads or other grass cover I put the pole down. This lets the boat swing while I fan cast. This lets me cover a large area with out disturbing it. I pull the pole up & let the wind blow the boat in & put the pole down & start fan casting. I use this method every time I frog fish & I feel It improves my catch ratio. When they are bedding I put a lizard on & do the same thing & catch fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TOXIC]

On 4/21/2023 at 2:02 PM, immortl said:

Can you elaborate a tick more for me?  How shallow?  Are we saying moving around of the boat and turbulence from the motor is spooking the fish?  I ask because I hadn't thought of this and am working on setting up my new kayak. 

If you are fishing in anything that puts your trolling motor head  less that 1 to 2 feet off the bottom, every time spot lock kicks in to either hold or reposition the boat the motor stirs up the bottom.  In Florida we were always in aquatic vegetation where using the trolling motor to hold the boat would wrap the prop with weeds.  That requires pulling up the troller to clear it or turn it up too high to use the ninja blade on the troller shaft to slice the weeds off.  With poles in order to hold a spot you just lower them and when you are ready to move lift them and put the troller on high and move to your next spot. The fishermen who use them to hold at the dock and think that’s their main purpose, are really missing the mark. I’m not knocking spotlock and we use it a lot but here’s a situation where is was less than ideal….We were fishing the Rappahonock River.  Wind was blowing 15-20.  Strong tide moving opposite the wind.  Spotlock had a very hard time adjusting to that situation.  We were in 10 feet of water.  Boat was spinning like a top. ?

[GaryH]

On 4/21/2023 at 7:30 AM, Stratos92 said:

Question for the power Pole crowd. Thinking about adding a single power pole in the distant future and wanted to start collecting some info. What are the advantages and disadvantages to a single Power Pole?  Boat is an 18'1" Vexus aluminum and I fish up north for clear water smallmouth. Any info would be great. 

1 pole would be better than none but 2 poles is the way to go. Spot lock is great for deeper water but poles in shallow water is hands down the ticket. When fishing shallow I deploy my poles and when I’m going to move I will usually just bring them up around 2 feet and drift to my next spot and then put the poles down again. Way less noise than bringing them up all the way then deploying them again. If not enough wind or current for me to drift to the next spot just use the trolling motor. I personally wouldn’t want to give up either the spot lock or the poles.