Push Pole

[Smcdermott]

Does anyone have a used push pole for sale or even one they would let me borrow for a few days in the RI/MA area? I am hoping to get a sense of how hard it would be to push my 20' Jones Brothers just over a few shoals for flats fishing. I can motor in pretty shallow water trimmed up but that is a quick way to move the fish off the flat. Just hoping to get in position and then post up not neccessarily actively pole as I understand that would be a lot of work with a 3 thousand pound boat.

Thanks,
Sean

[BBT]

No pushpole leads for you but I've poled a 20' Jones Bros (with a platform) and it's pretty manageable - so long as the wind isn't honking. Wouldn't want to do it all day but an hour or two wasn't too taxing. If you're going to do it with any regularity, don't skimp. Get a one piece and if you can swing the $, the graphite ones sure are nice.

[HatTrick]

Sean,
I have a 20' SeaCraft and I carry a push pole on every trip just in case. It is a workout even under the best of conditions though. I still consider myself a novice in the subtle art of push poling boats this size , where you are standing, where you place the pole etc. are skills I haven't totally mastered. I will be fishing a lot over the next two weeks but e mail me in mid June and I would be happy to let you try mine if you haven't bought one yet.

[nattybo]

get intouch with roled composites in Fall River you can go
to STIFFY push poles web page go to dealers to get the phone #
I got one to use on my boats good price to he makes poles
for everyone except stiffy but uses stiffy products.

[Smcdermott]

Nattybo,

Thank you for the heads up on Rolled Composites. There prices are very reasonable compared to what I have seen elsewhere. I don't have a platform on my boat so I was thinking of just standing either on the rear compartments or possibly on the leaning post.

Sean

[dogfather]

Send me a private email with how to contact you. I'll let you borrow my Loomis fiberglass push pole.

[Smcdermott]

Dogfather,

Thank you very much for the offer. I was able to locate another generous soul and will be testing out the polability of my boat this weekend.

Thanks again,
Sean

[soundownsam]

I do little flats fishing personally, however, I know one trick that folks use for poling boat w/o platforms is to poll from the bow. From what have heard thius is alot more directionally stable.

Poling from the leaning post sounds like a recipe for circles. If your going to spend the $$ for a push pole, you may as well pony up the dough for a nice motor shade also.

Sam

[msiler]

Sean,
I have been thinking along the same lines as you for our local flats along the Piscataqua River here in NH...make sure to post your thoughts and experience about poles and poling on a boat w/o a platform.

I am sure it would be usefull for many of us thinking about doing the same thing.

Good luck and fair winds.

I look forward to your report(s),
-Matt S-

[Smcdermott]

Msiler,

The initial run was both sucessful and unsucessful depending on what you are trying to achieve. I would say actively poling even with a platform would be just about out of the question with the exception being very little wind and tidal influence. Now if you are just trying to control the drift the pole seemed to be a good tool and I was able to back out when I got in to tight. I was not able to post up but think that may be possible with less wind than I had. My boat has considerable freeboard for a 20'er so you may have better results with a smaller lighter boat. I still need to try poling from the bow as that does seem like a viable option.

Soundown, I can get a carbon pole for about $200 from rolled composites which is considerably less than a platform would cost. May consider the platform if I do more poling but for about $1500 I can upgrade to trolling tabs (you can get a remote for the new ones) which may end up being the best option for me and my 2500-3000lb boat.

More to come.

Sean

[Slinger]

Wait till that thing gets high and dry and your trying to push it 15` to where it will float again!
Slinger

[soundownsam]

$1500 sounds way high for a platform. If you can do the install yourself you may want to look for a used one off of boattrader or some other sources. Another option would be to mount a cooler with tie down straps jus forward of the engien and pole from there.

Sam

[Smcdermott]

$1500 sounds way high for a platform.

Sam

Sam,

I was saying the troll'n tabs were about $1500. I know I can get a platform for less.

Sean