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| The Power Pole |
| By Mort Bank | 06/28/10 |
| A unique anchoring system for your boat. |
I’ve never owned a piece of fishing equipment that draws more attention than the one I put on my boat a couple years ago. Just driving down the highway I get a ton of looks that say, “What in the world is that thing?” Stopping for gas or launching my boats always brings a crowd with lots of questions.
Mounted on the back of my boat and sticking up higher than my outboard motor, it looks like a bazooka. It’s called a Power Pole and is manufactured by J.L. Marine in Tampa, Florida.
The Power Pole is a unique anchoring system that was developed for and first used by saltwater flats fishermen. When they found a school of feeding fish they needed a quick and silent way to stop their boat without spooking the fish.
With the invention of the Power Pole, just a flick of the switch lowers the unit and firmly anchors the boat in less than 5 seconds. It works by extending a sturdy composite spike into the bottom in depths up to eight feet. The spike works in sand, mud or hard gravel. When I’m ready to move my boat, the hydraulic arm retracts and folds up like the arm on a backhoe.
While they were originally designed for saltwater use it didn’t take long for freshwater fishermen to see the advantages of having one in the their boat. It started with southern bass fishermen and has gradually spread north.
Here are some of the benefits of the Power Pole:
• When I get a strike or have a fish on, I immediately lower the Power Pole. Where there’s one fish chances are excellent there’s more nearby. I can shut off my electric trolling motor and I don’t have to worry about spooking the rest of the school by drifting over them. I’ll also shut off my electronics. Being quieter means catching more fish.
• When I have a fish hooked (especially a big one) I can play it out and not drift away from the spot or over the rest of the school.
• My boat won’t drift if I have to re-tie or search for a different lure or bait.
• I can easily position my boat on points or flats and effectively work both shallow and deep water.
• It’s much quieter and easier to use than traditional anchors.
• It works great for anchoring my boat when I pull up on a shoreline. Especially if there’s no dock to tie up to.
• It will hold bottom even in a strong current or wind.
I did find a couple disadvantages:
• There are times I wish I could anchor my boat in deeper than the 8-foot maximum.
• I have to raise and lower it to get it in and out of my garage.
Overall, after having one on my boat I couldn’t survive without it. It’s a valuable piece of fishing equipment that has enabled me to catch more fish.
The cost of the Power Pole ranges from $895 to around $1500 depending on the model. You can view a video how a Power Pole works by going to the company’s website www.power-pole.com. • |
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