Looking for Pole

[BCRodman]

Can anyone give me information on Pole Cat vs Stiffy? Fiberglass 19 to 20 footers?. I have an 18' Crestliner Mod V-Hull with a Platform. I could use some sound advise from those in the know before spending the $.

thanks

nick :brow

[lemaymiami]

Many years ago we bought our first push poles for around $30, now a good one is around $300 and up at wholesale... You don't need top of the line, though. Here's a good overview. Today you can find poles that are fiberglass, glass/graphite, or all graphite. They're available in lengths from 16 to 22' or more. If you're standing on a poling tower you'll want at least 20' unless you're never going to pole in water deeper than 3'. Your first consideration is how much you actually intend to pole your skiff. Will you just use it to get in and out of a shallow area where you're going to stake up or will you be "on the pole" most of the day? I know more than a few anglers who carry a push pole "in case" that rarely gets used. Yesterday, I had mine in hand for more than 8 hours poling in 4 to 7' of water.... I see more than a few flats boats these days that never even have a push pole at all. They're set up a lot more like a bass boat with an electric motor for moving around in semi- shallow waters. It's mostly a matter of how and where you're fishing now that you can find flats boats for sale from Boston all the way down to Key West (I'll bet they're even for sale in Kansas....)

At any rate, the most durable (and the heaviest) are fiberglass - they're also the cheapest, generally. The graphite are the lightest, stiffest, most expensive, and also the most fragile of poles. My favorite is the graphite/glass combination. The ones I've owned are a good mix of durability and relatively light weight and stiffness. The top of the line makers these days are probably Stiffy and Biscayne, the Pole Cat and the old Moonlighter are at the other end of the scale. If you look around you can possibly find a used pole for sale, I see them down here in south Florida periodically. Most anglers and guides that I know have more than one, since if you break one you're out of business. Remember that push poles also are used as anchors in soft bottom areas. Stake out without placing the pole at the right angle and it will snap like a toothpick if the wind or current are pushing your skiff around. It's handy if your pole can be repaired and some manufacturers are more "repair friendly" than others. I have two old Loomis poles that could be repaired by replacing a section (they came in 6 or 7' sections joined by a replaceable ferrule) if you had a break and I always kept a new section and ferrule on hand. Now, of course, they no longer make those sections.... Not good news for those of us who still own them.

If you can try to get your hands on a few different poles and actually push yours or a friend's skiff around with each one. You'll quickly discover which you like. Hope this helps

[danny]

funny, i have a broken loomis, too. i use it to pole my canoe in the glades, and gave the other half to my friend who does the same. if you're going to pole a lot, get a stiffy (they're very light). when i first started (before the whole skiff explosion) i had a 22' moonlighter, it was less than half the price and did me just fine. so, if you're not going to be up there all day with a client, get a cheaper one.

[BCRodman]

Thanks Capt. Bob, Danny. That's good information. I don't plan on using it nearly as often as you all as I am in Michigan and plan on using it every so often when throwing flies fo --127-3- r dem "Golden Bones" of ours (Carp). As well as Shallow water Pike/Muskie.

I think I'll investigate the Moonlighter and go with either it, or a Pole Cat.

Great advise.

Thanks

Nick
Get Bent <><