Minn Kota Talon Or A Power Pole?

[WookieeJedi]

Not to jack the thread, but could someone familiar with these things clue me in on how they are better than just using fore and aft anchors? I fish from a kayak or canoe right now, but have plans to build my own fishing boat, and I will need to accomodate these things into my design if they are really that good. On my first two bass rigs, I always kept an anchor up front, as well as one at the back. They seemed to do the job pretty well, except when I was on offshore structure in heavy wind, and I don't think these poles go down far enough for that anyway.

[bird-dog]

Not to jack the thread, but could someone familiar with these things clue me in on how they are better than just using fore and aft anchors? I fish from a kayak or canoe right now, but have plans to build my own fishing boat, and I will need to accomodate these things into my design if they are really that good. On my first two bass rigs, I always kept an anchor up front, as well as one at the back. They seemed to do the job pretty well, except when I was on offshore structure in heavy wind, and I don't think these poles go down far enough for that anyway.

I haven’t made my mind up yet on which one I will get. But the advantages that I see are that you can deploy them quickly and you do not need to move from your place in the boat to anchor. So let’s say you are working a bank and you hook up with a fish on some submerged cover you didn’t know was there, you can deploy the anchor with minimal noise and under waster disturbance while never having to do anything but fight your fish and push a button. No moving around on deck getting an anchor from a hatch then setting the anchor. I fish Aquia Creek in VA and I am always fighting current from the tides or from the wind. I continually have to work the trolling motor to stay in one spot to dissect a piece of cover or structure. With this type of anchor you deploy it and forget about it till it is time to move. Again you push a button and away you go; no pulling up wet dirty anchor/ anchors onto the deck.

Jay

[WookieeJedi]

The boat plan I'm going with is this: https://www.boatdesigns.com/20-Sweet-Caroline-dory-_-skiff/products/543/ My finished boat will look much like this with the exception of a raised front casting deck and a pole platform in the rear.. I need something that can fish local reservoirs, rivers, marsh, and even Lake Pontchatrain in the big water. Not too many designs can do that, so I decided to make it myself. As you can tell by the picture, putting the poles on the rear would involve some major redesign and balance considerations for the boat. I would be interested in putting them in if they were really worth it, I just need some user testimony from regular people (not paid spokes-folks) who own them and use them.

[TommyBass]

Benefits vs an anchor? Much much faster and quieter. However, you are correct in that you are depth limited. I still use an anchor from time to time in deeper areas if the wind is setup right, but the benefits of the Pole are amazing. Unless you fish water that never gets shallower than 8 ft, there is no way you would regret buying one. I use them taking people bluegill and crappie fishing, so they can setup on spots easier, I use them catfishing at night to hold me down, and during my bass tournaments. Makes fishing more fun and efficient.

I do not have two, and although I would like to have two but I can't justify the money. The times when I need two have been rare. Usually its when its extra windy and I setup on a brush pile for crappie and want to angle my boat so three people can effectively fish it. In that instance I drop the pole then use an anchor up front to keep from swinging. I do the same catfishing. Most times bass fishing I can line up the boat, and its only me and maybe a partner, so its much easier to just worry about the front of the boat. If you sight fish a ton two would be helpful, but there isn't water thats clear enough here for that, and its only a small portion of the season.

The fast aspect comes very in handy, when I am floating down a bank in high winds. I simply drop the pole, pitch what I want to target, then lift it a foot or two, float some more, then drop at the next spot. I can effectively anchor unlimited objects down a windblown bank with only a couple seconds of anchor time.

[Hooligan]

Power Pole is the way to go in nearly any situation. They're much more durable, have MUCH better hold and penetration than the Talon. I see guys getting blown around all the time with two talons down. The PP also has greater depth 10ft versus 8-4. There are a few other reasons that I'd go against the Talon- reliability, research, anchor weight, penetration, durability, materials, and construction. The Power Pole is just better.

In terms of one or two: One will hold you as a shallow anchor, but will not position lock you. You'll still be forced to correct with the trolling motor. Two will lock you down, in all but the highest of winds, and keep you facing the same spot.

Edit: Fixed while lucid. Sorry Chaps.

[gpbassbuster1]

i have a 2008 190tx, i went with the pp sportsman 2- now my problem is a place for the pump. not much room in there. i moved the battery charger to the side and now i made a place but... it is on top of the step where the bottom of boat steps up and goes horizontal to the bottom of transom- cant!!! drill there so i thought about gluing (5200 marine adhesive) a piece of black neoprene mat and the screwing the pump to mat (3/4" thick). you all think that would hold!

back to your point, i went with pp cause i think it looks better and you can move it out of the way. (besides honey said it was ok, bought it before she changed mind) now to figure out how to make it thief proof!

[scrutch]

Power Pole is the way to go in nearly any situation. They're much more durable, have MUCH better hold and penetration than the Talon. I see guys getting blown around all the time with two talons down. The PP also has greater depth 10ft versus 8-4. There are a few other reasons that I'd go with Talon- reliability, research, anchor weight, penetration, durability, materials, and construction. The Talon is just better.

In terms of one or two: One will hold you as a shallow anchor, but will not position lock you. You'll still be forced to correct with the trolling motor. Two will lock you down, in all but the highest of winds, and keep you facing the same spot.

Ya got me a little confused with this post. Do you like PP or Talon?

[Shawn Dompierre]

Ya got me a little confused with this post. Do you like PP or Talon?

X2

[Hooligan]

Ya got me a little confused with this post. Do you like PP or Talon?

DOH!

That's what I get for posting at beforeGod Thirty. Power Pole all the way. I think I was having a thought about the Talon's construction, erased it and left the end of it.

The Talon is better built, in terms of the control arm, but the overall build of the Power Pole is better for holding in deep water. I'll edit the post while I'm lucid.