push pole alternatives?

[medburd]

My buddy has a j16 carolina skiff with a polling platform. He's been looking around and he has trouble finding a pole that seems reasonably priced. I was thinking an adjustable pool skimmer (or is it to weak)? Does anyone else have any ideas or solutions that might be less than 100 bucks? Thinking about something around 14-16 feet in length to pole with (collapsable is preferred). We didn't get a chance to use the platform last year..he got the boat late in the season..but we are anxiously anticipating using it (very soon) this year.

[Fin Addiction]

I've seen bamboo used....not sure where you are or how to get it but I've seen smaller skiffs use it with good success. If your going to pole and be serious about it, a quality pole is a good investment. It has the point and yoke used for different bottom types...My buddy made a pole out of an aluminum pipe and made his own yoke and point for it but by the time he finished with labor and tracking down odd parts it would of been easier to buy a pole.

[Bob Parsons]

Hunting catalogues often carry a push poll. two 8' sections that slide one inside the other to adjust length. can but either a point or a yoke on it. I 've had one for my duck for over a decade. camo paint peeling off and could use another yoke. but has worked for me. Polling from a platform may require a longer poll then 16' to be effective.

[Capt.ChrisLembo]

If you are going to do any substantial poling then buy a good pole. The lightest and stiffest you can find. Stiffy are a good choice for the $. If you buy or fabricate a cheap one you will break your arms and make lots of noise to spook fish. Figure out the depth you will be fishing in, add the height of the platform and add twice your height and that is what you will need to pole comfortably. Most flats guys use a 18-20 footer. Hybrid, graphite or carbon fiber are best choices.

[bigfish48]

Go to http://www.goodpushpoles.com/index.html and tell them I sent you. I bought one and they are great. 18' comes in two pieces that your epoxie. I ahve used it on the flats in FL

Tell them I sent you

[dlahiff]

A couple of years ago I had a small dory, and wanted a push pole. My son was a pole vaulter in high school. I contacted the pole vault company and got a 16' "second" rather inexpensively. I then got a point and end from Capt. Harry's in Miami. It worked fine.

[Kuskus68]

Cabelas sells a 12ft and a 18ft graphite both under $200.00 with two types of feet.I used a pole vault pole that I got from a high school.

[wheels36]

buy a good pole made for poling ,it's not worth trying to find some thing cheap cause thats what it is. I like cabelas 18......good luck

[Cogen]

Two years ago I bought a 16' wooden dowel from mid cape lumber in Kingston MA. I picked the straighest one I could find to pole around my 15' logic. It worked very well. At the time I weighed 230lbs. To make it last longer I painted it white and put a copper cap on the end of the pole. I still have it today! Price, I think it was 40 bucks!

[exmtguide]

check the NH craigslist under boats......someone has a post for a platform and pole.

Bill

[gseries69]

I was in Belize last year and every guide there used a wooden pole that they made themselves. Pushed around 20' Pangas all day with it.