Minn Kota Talon Or A Power Pole?

[bird-dog]

I am trying to make a decision on which shallow water anchor to get. I have a 2008 Tracker 175TXW. I am leaning towards the Minn Kota. Besides the obvious, electric v hydraulic, which is better the Minn Kota Talon or the Power Pole? It seems the Minn Kota is easier to install and has a cheaper price tag. If I do go with the Minn Kota should I have two or will one be sufficient? Is either of them something I can do myself or will it require a shop to install.

Any help is appreciated.

Jay

[Shawn Dompierre]

They both seem easy to install, if you have a jack plate that makes your life even easier...

They're youtube videos with DIY.

I'd like to know if one makes more noise then the other.entering the water..

[Nice_Bass]

With a boat that light I dont see how you would need two.

[Fishing Rhino]

Unless I'm mistaken, the housing for the Talon stays where it is even when deployed. The anchor pole telescopes down from the housing, which remains upright. With the Power Pole, the upright portion swings down and gets it out of the way for anyone fishing from the back seat.

[Glenn]

You're absolutely right, Tom. The Power-Poles do indeed get out of the way. Power-Poles are also quiet - very quiet, and there's very few parts to wear and tear, unlike the Talon. You can also program settings via Bluetooth on your smartphone. I don't think Talon offers that.

Think of it this way - given the choice, all the pros go with Power-Pole.

[win222]

I have a Talon, and it works ok, kinda wish I had got the PP instead, the Talon gets stuck easy in the mud, but there is a nut you can turn to manually raise it, only takes a few seconds.

But if price and storage space are a concern, then I'd go with the Talon, plus the Talon will have a $100 rebate starting after April 1st, I only paid $1000 for my 8' Talon, and with the $100 rebate, it's not a bad deal, how cheap can you get a power pole? Can you install the power pole by your self? I think anyone can install their Talon themselves.

[Shawn Dompierre]

Can you install the power pole by your self?

I've never installed one but after looking at this video I wouldn't be afraid to try..

[slonezp]

With a boat that light I dont see how you would need two.

The reason for 2 is not to keep you in place, but to keep from spinning around because of wind and current. The tracker being a tin boat IMO could benefit greatly from a second one depending on the conditions the OP is fishing

[Nice_Bass]

The reason for 2 is not to keep you in place, but to keep from spinning around because of wind and current. The tracker being a tin boat IMO could benefit greatly from a second one depending on the conditions the OP is fishing

Touche. Did not think of it in that sense. Anyhow, I dont want those ugly things sticking off the back of my boat!

[slonezp]

Touche. Did not think of it in that sense. Anyhow, I dont want those ugly things sticking off the back of my boat!

If I fished by myself, probably not a bad idea. They'd get in the way of my partner in the back of the boat, I'm sure. Also, I don't bed fish much. I don't have the patience. I've got the Ipilot. If I want to stop and fish an area, I hit the spot lock button and can work the area with minimal movement. In fact the higher the wind or current, the better it keeps you on spot. Plus I can anchor in 100ft of water if I wanted to. I believe you're limited to 10ft with the PP.

Sorry for the hijack.

[Nice_Bass]

I dont bed fish at all either, not sure I would ever use the things if I got them for free bed fishing or not.

I think the only time i would use them is to relax and drink a beer out of the wind in some shallow cove.

[Glenn]

You're right. If all you're going to use them for is bed fishing, than the Talon or Power-Poles are very expensive "toys". Bed fishing is the obvious use, but expand your thinking a bit and you'll realize they're invaluable tools. Both Keri and I have first-hand experience watching the pros use Power-Poles all day long - not once were they ever bed fishing.

I can see the wheels spinning now, so I'll give you a head start to get the ideas rolling: current and windy conditions (ever cursed at the wind as your trolling motor bobs in and out of the water in windy chop?); although none of the pros we watched were in those conditions.

Also, I don't know about you guys, but I don't recall ever fishing for bass in 100' of water.

P.S. Power-Pole has a 5-year warranty. Talon? Not so much.

[Wildbillb]

Here is my question...............How tall are these darn things above the boat when not deployed? Will I still be able to get by boat in the garage without hitting them on the overhead door?

[win222]

Here is my question...............How tall are these darn things above the boat when not deployed? Will I still be able to get by boat in the garage without hitting them on the overhead door?

The Talon has a fold down bracket, so it only sits a couple inches above the boat, but they say your not suppose to drive with it down.

This bracket to fold it down costs extra

[ww2farmer]

The Talon has a fold down bracket, so it only sits a couple inches above the boat, but they say your not suppose to drive with it down.

This bracket to fold it down costs extra

That is one reason I would probably go with a Talon over a Power Pole if or when I buy a shallow water anchor. As I have height issues with the Power Poles. Another reason is I don't have the room anywhere in my boat for the Power Pole's motor, oil tank, and other stuff needed to run it. They may be better and what all the pro's use, but It wouldn't work for me.

[Glenn]

Those are great questions about the Power-Poles. They're only about a foot above the motor when raised, if that.

Yes, you'll probably need to lower the poles slightly to get them into the garage. But once you're past the door, you can raise them back up. Very easy to do with the remote.

As for the oil tank and pump - the new Blades have a smaller tank/motor than previous models. I have a Ranger, which is notorious for having little room in the battery compartment, and it fits just fine.

[ww2farmer]

I am not worried about getting it in or out of a garage, there are "other" places I need to go that I just couldn't with one. Your Ranger may have little room to spare, my tin boat has ZERO room to spare.

[bird-dog]

I call my boat the Aluminum Cork; in a slight breeze it is moving. Where I fish most often I seem to always be battling the wind and tidal currents. I would like to be able to drift and then stop fish a piece of structure then continue on my drift. My intentions for getting one are to be able to stop and fish a productive area without having to constantly play with my TM. After reading this thread and the advice given, I think I may go with the Talon. Actually, two Talons sound like what would work best for my application. I also like that the Talon is all electric, so no hydraulics to have mounted inside the boat. My Tracker doesn’t have enough room to store a gallon jug of 2-cycle oil with the batteries, fuel tank and such. I also think I can install and mount the Talons myself. Not to mention the price is cheaper per Talon then for the Power Poles.

Thanks everyone,

Jay

[Chris at Tech]

Hehe...I went on the cheap and got this one:

http://www.stickitanchorpins.com/

Will hopefully install it in the coming days.

[Glenn]

If you want to go into tight areas while on the water-that is exactly why you should not get a talon. They do not deploy down and out of the way when on the water but the power pole does.

Also two talons do not work like two power pole because they are too close together, waste of money it does not work very well at all. But two power-poles work well at holding sideways in the wind because they create a wide footprint.

Also about the cost- beside better performance and features the sportsman II is less expensive than the talon. The talon retails for 1450 and the sportsman II is 1195 and you don’t have to spend another 169 for the tilting bracket. The power pole adapter plates are also less expensive and come with a powder coated finish not just the plain anodized aluminum169.00 verses 225.00. So when you add it all up you'll sill spend a lot more for the less effective talon than you would for the real thing.

[TommyBass]

I'd say you'd be happy with both. I installed my Power Pole by myself using the brackets that go between your motor and hull. If you do one side at a time you can slide it in no problem, then do the spacer on the other side. Electronic hook up is a breeze.

I've seen / heard more issues with the Talon than I have the PP, but everyone is going to have something bad to say about both. To me, the powerpole seems to have more power, and it does lower out of the way somewhat. For instance, I fish an area where I have to go under a bridge, and my pole would hit it. I can lower it down a couple feet and slide right under. However, if the water was really shallow there, then you wouldn't be able to do that since your spike would drag.

The uses are endless, anwhere you'd drop an anchor in <8ft of water. I find it most useful for parking the boat at docks or beaching it. Fishing wise, as long as its shallow enough, I will drop it on wind blown points or brush piles so I can concentrate on fishing and not boat control. I also have an aluminum boat, and I know how tough it is in 20mph + winds. Its also good for holding you in a good spot while your retie your bait or do other misc chores in the boat.

[Dinky]

I have only used PP so cannot comment on it vs the Talon.

Just make sure your jack plate is such that you do not have to remove the boat motor to attach the PP bracket to it.

My old jack plate was in two pieces and on my 1st PP --a 6'---I had to have the motor taken off to safely attach the bracket.

Regarding the hieght of the PP: the 8 or 10 foot models would have to be lowered to get into most garages, but as Glenn said it is no problem and then you can raise it back up inside.

As far as on the water-you can lower them to get under a bridge and can even allow them to drag in the bottom as long as it is soft. I know some pros who drag the bottom at times simply to slow down drift--somewhat like a shallow water wind sock. but of course this could cause damage if you are not careful.

PPs remind me of cell phones when they first came out....I never saw a use for them then, but now I can't get along without them.

Every time I have fished or marshalled with an Elite Pro and they have caught a fish in 8' or less of water the PPs immediately go down as soon as the fish is boated, then there is time to retie, etc before throwing back into the same general area.

I will do the same if I ever catch a fish!

[Crappiebasser]

My new boat has 2 PP 8' and I wouldn't want another boat without them. I fished a tourney in January with 40mph winds. I sat on top of a point the whole day fishing a jig into the wind and never touched the TM. They are kinda in the way for anyone trying to fish from the back deck when up but you can lower them if needed.

[bird-dog]

Good points on the Power Poles. Would I have to install a jack plate to put on the Power Poles?

[webertime]

^{Talon's weigh a fair amount more (the parts that you mount to the hull/jackplate). Something to consider if you are mounting it to an older or tin boat. The motor and hydralics on a pp are in the boat, all the moving/heavy parts on a talon are outside. I've fished out of both and the PP was nice and did get out of the way for casting out of the back of the boat. The Talon owners I have fished with were very luke-warm about them.}