New to poling
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Find a friend that likes to fly fish and offer to pole him around. He will yell at you until you figure it out lol. Seriously just put someone on the front and try. It’s something that comes quick, just don’t fight the boat. Let the current, wind, etc help you make the boat do what you want.
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1,707 Posts
Find a creek and just pole. It takes a few times to get it dialed in but it won't be that difficult after a while. Eventually you won't even think about it. Where are you in Charleston?
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59 Posts
I live on James Island, thanks for the advice
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2,678 Posts
You'll be doing a lot of overcorrecting at first. If you're on a soft bottom don't overwork it. I have switched out with friends and when they get on the platform they ask how I was doing it. The key in mud is to push hard enough to get the skiff moving and no harder. If you really get after it your are just burying your pole further in the mud, then you have to get said pole out of the mud which kills your forward momentum and gets you worn out and frustrated quickly.
Also, I have found over the years that I use my hip to put or hold pressure against the pole. Hard to explain. Rivets and snaps on your pants are not your friend here.
Also, I have found over the years that I use my hip to put or hold pressure against the pole. Hard to explain. Rivets and snaps on your pants are not your friend here.
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373 Posts
This is going to sound crazy, but it will eventually help... I think... lol.
Think of your skiff as a shopping cart that you’ve turned around and are pushing backwards. The front wheels are locked, as is your bow, in that it wants to inherently track straight. The back wheels freely pivot, as does th flatter aspect of your stern.
If you want to turn your backwards shopping cart right, you kick out the back end to the left... push the stern out towards the left, the skiff will pivot and track right.
Figure out what side (L or R) you prefer to pole from, face the bow, and let her rip. A few hours and some 360’s later you’ll have it down. Gentle nudges and slow going are your goals. Have fun!
Think of your skiff as a shopping cart that you’ve turned around and are pushing backwards. The front wheels are locked, as is your bow, in that it wants to inherently track straight. The back wheels freely pivot, as does th flatter aspect of your stern.
If you want to turn your backwards shopping cart right, you kick out the back end to the left... push the stern out towards the left, the skiff will pivot and track right.
Figure out what side (L or R) you prefer to pole from, face the bow, and let her rip. A few hours and some 360’s later you’ll have it down. Gentle nudges and slow going are your goals. Have fun!
Yep, I think I remember feeling like I was backing a trailer. It's also pretty much the same way your motor propels the boat. You'll get the hang of the basics quickly.
The good thing is the areas shallow enough to pole aren't generally the areas where you'll be bothering people. The shallower the water, the easier it is (as long as you're floating, of course).
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2,244 Posts
Any secluded oyster flat will work, but get out once the tide turns. Avoid the deep cuts. Other notes:
1.) Take your cell phone out of your pocket.
2.) Go with a friend who can get the boat back to you if you fall out. Watching your boat blow off the flat and across the Intracoastal Canal while you are stuck in pluff mud is a sickening feeling.
3.) Load some extra weight in the bow. If the boat floats reasonably level, the bow wants to stay straight. If the bow is light, the wind will blow it around.
4.) I had a buddy who was way too serious about how badly he poled. The more we laughed at him, the more he tried to muscle the pole. He ended up facing where he came from more often than not. If you can’t laugh at your own expense, you’ll be the only one cussing.
Nate
1.) Take your cell phone out of your pocket.
2.) Go with a friend who can get the boat back to you if you fall out. Watching your boat blow off the flat and across the Intracoastal Canal while you are stuck in pluff mud is a sickening feeling.
3.) Load some extra weight in the bow. If the boat floats reasonably level, the bow wants to stay straight. If the bow is light, the wind will blow it around.
4.) I had a buddy who was way too serious about how badly he poled. The more we laughed at him, the more he tried to muscle the pole. He ended up facing where he came from more often than not. If you can’t laugh at your own expense, you’ll be the only one cussing.
Nate
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481 Posts
Less is more...and you cant steer a boat that isnt moving.
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119 Posts
If you go out by yourself make sure you have some weight to put on the bow. A big cooler full of ice will help! Poling without a balanced boat doubles the difficulty.
Yep all of these suggestions are great! What ever you do DO NOT PUSH TOO HARD INTO MUD. Less is more mentality applies here. I would google earth it to find hard bottom sand, you will have a much better time learning. Or just wait till your flood tides get going and push over land.
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481 Posts
Mud!!! Also, don’t tilt the motor totally up out of the water, the skeg in the water will work as a keel help you track straighter
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694 Posts
Sometimes if you're poling in soft bottom, and you're kind of trying to get after it a little bit, you can get pulled backward off balance a bit when the pole gets stuck in the mud. It's something to watch out for. I like to give the pole about a 90 degree twist as I come forward with it to help free it.
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141 Posts
This really helped, I am new to the game as well. Thanks for supplying good info to the newbs!
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