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Pushpole ?'s

5K views 42 replies 25 participants last post by  kenb 
#1 ·
I will soon be a new skiff owner. I've ordered an Ankona Cayenne. I live in Indiana and will travel on the regular with my boat.

I am looking at a 21' stiffy multi-piece for ease of transport as this will breakdown into 3, 7' sections.

What other options are out there?
If I were to get a one piece pole, what's it like to tow with a 21' pole on the boat?

Please keep in mind this is all new to me so thanks for all your input!

Lou
 
#3 ·
You should be fine. I don't even use bungees unless I'm making a really long trip, and even then it's more for piece of mind. For trailering to my local ramps, there's enough bend to the pole that it stays in place. I just keep the forked end forward, that way there's something to catch if it tries to work its way back (not that it ever has).
 
#6 ·
I'd say stick with a 1 piece, as far as trailering, I have a 23 Carbon Marine GL3R and it had no issues going from Orlando, FL to Bradenton, FL and back to Charleston, SC. As a matter of fact, I'm heading to Big Pine Key the first weekend in February and the Push pole is the least of my concerns on the trip. Having to fuel up 937649 times is.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the input fellas :)
Are there other recomendations apart from stiffy?
If I get a one piece carbon, anyone have and idea how this will winter over? I would have no place to keep a 21' push pole indoors.

Lou
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the input fellas :)
Are there other recomendations apart from stiffy?
If I get a one piece carbon, anyone have and idea how this will winter over? I would have no place to keep a 21' push pole indoors. I have a Biscayne brand very light and sturdy I run a small rope thru the foot of mine whenever I am trailering it and tie it to the casting platform on the boat so I don't have to worry it



Lou
 
#13 ·
I have been trailering from Albany or Watertown NY to Mosquito lagoon for years (around 1200 miles) never had a problem. Mine is a 1 piece poll and it lives on the boat. With that said my flats boat is 20' so I put the pole under the cover. Leaving a pole out in the elements 24X7 will degrade the finish on the pole. When I bought the boat it had a carbon fiber pole. It had no finish on it(at the time i didnt know any better). I would go out and pole around and come back with my hands filthy from the pole. Eventually I spiked the boat with it, the wind shifted, and pole pole got sanpped off between the motor and the trim tab. Upon taking it to get repaired I actually learned that pole must have been left out in the sun completely and it wasnt worth repairing. Then I bought a fiberglass moonlighter because that was all they had and I was going fishing. Ugh that is heavy.
 
#14 ·
Awe gad, a New Yooka with a 20 foot boat in da goon. Just kidding bro, had too. I use a Polecat glass and had it since the 90's. might be heavy they say but never used a different one so wouldn't know. Been heavily abused and don't think anyone could snap it short of tying off and going full throttle. Would like to try a lighter one, but you hear of so many breaking.
 
#15 ·
I would go one piece. I know it doesn't happen often, but poles can fall out of the holder if not strapped down. Seen a couple on the road to Flamingo. Either get holders with bungee, or you can throw a couple zip ties on there for each trip like I do. I don't expect it to fall out but what's the extra 20 seconds of putting on zip ties when I know FOR SURE my expensive pole isn't going anywhere?
 
#24 ·
You are Texan; you know better. Shooting kneecaps will just get you sued.

Two to the chest, one to the head. Repeat as necessary until the target is horizontal. Police reports are easier to write down accurately without conflicting accounts. Just remember that double taps after the target is horizontal are frowned upon.

Nate
 
#26 ·
Yeah, the type of holders and their location matters a lot. I have the fold down C-type holders, factory from Hewes, and my push pole is pretty secure. My buddy has the C-type ones also (his are fixed), but he had his push pole come off because they didn't put much of a bend in the pole. He also trailers with the foot of the pole at the stern.

I'm a little curious as to if it's the pole sliding back and out of the front holder that causes most issues, or if it's the pole bouncing up and over the top of a "mushroom" or "spool" type holder.
 
#31 ·
Mine popped out in very rough water. It was also the first and only time I had the foot forward. The bow was down and the foot contacted the water and popped out of the forward holder. It snapped at the 2nd holder. Foot will always go to the back and bungees will be on. I'm also looking at dipping the holders in tool handle dip so the bullet aluminum doesn't ware into the graphite.
 
#32 ·
I think I'm still going with the modular 3pc for now. I am hoping to move to south once I retire from the Army. I'll most likely upgrade to a one piece at that time. There are a lot of places I will fish at home in Indiana that I wont need the it so I'll just suffer through the extra weight till then. It is good to know that towing will not be an issue so I don't have to break it down every time I move from spot to spot. Thanks for all the input guys!

Lou
 
#33 ·
I have had mine pope out a number of times. Always in rough water. All but once, we turned around and retrieved it. The last time though, we were coming back from tarpon fishing in the gulf and it had gotten pretty rough. Coming back into the pass, the tide was going out so the waves were pretty stacked up. We think that it is where it popped out. We don't know, we didn't see it. I was so focused on being in the right place with the incoming swells that neither of us noticed it. We didn't notice until we got back to the dock. It was one of those days that at the last minute we blew off responsibility to go jump some poons. Ended up being an expensive trip. I have never had it come out trailering. But I do bungee it now in rough weather or long trips on the trailer.
 
#35 ·
I also put one zip tie on the middle holder when traveling from GA to Fl or GA to NC. Always take the pole off at night. When I get home I keep them (2) tied up in the ceiling of my downstairs garage
 
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