push pole

[beachbum]

Anyone make their own out of PVC.
beachbum

[Willie]

How ya doing Beachbum? I went and got an aluminum pool pole. the kind that one piece slides into the other and then got a rubber bow stopper like on a trailer and attatched it. Works pretty good. I have also seen something called a duckfoot which is made to go onto the end of a pole. Believe Cabelas or BassPro shops carry them. Around $15.00 if I remember right. the PVC one I had seen was pretty good, but it had a definet bend to it when you put any muscle into the push. Take care Willie

[Fillet1]

I made one but havent used it yet. The wood closet rod may be the best bet!

[beachbum]

Fillet1 if you use it could you post the pro's or con's.
Thanks beachbum

[Fillet1]

Beachbum,

In NJ I dont use one to fish with. I figured that I needed something to push me out of shallows, or off of a bar if necessary. I bought a 10 foot length of 2" sched 40 pipe and capped both ends. That is it. The problem is that it was too long to keep on the floor of the boat in the DLV. I wouldnt use it or need it enough to justify mounting the thing like a real pole. I cut it to 8 foot, which is probably too short and I'll use it in an emergency. I dont really like it rolling on the deck too much.

I did check out the closet poles at Depot/Lowes and they are lighter and stiffer than the pvc by a long shot. Thinner diameter and stronger. For back bay excursions I will probably use one of those. I would try to find one that is not pine/poplar if possible. BTW the closet rod just about squeezes into some of the thinner wall pvc - so with some minor sanding you could slide it in, cap it, put a T on it (or a duck foot) and have a waterproof pole thats really strong for cheap.

Again, I'm no expert on these things, and I'm sure a southerner who actually uses one to fish has better ideas than me!!

[Riverine1969]

I made a push pole out or regular closet dowel, like you get from Home Depot, etc. On the end, I put a"duck bill"; I bought mine from Cabelas. I use it to push a CS 24, with two to six people, through heavy weeds or water too shallow for the trolling motor. The pole by itself is somewhat bendy, but in three years, has not broken. If it ever breaks, I'll use West System epoxy, and graphite tape, to make the next pole more rigid. If you plan on being out in cold weather, and poling, wood is far easier on your hands (warm) than a metal pole I pole off my front deck, and get everybody toward the bow; that way (with motors up) the stern edge is just at the water surface, to glide over weeds and lily pads.

Jim

[Familymanof5]

My pushpole says SUZUKI 140 on it. Does that count ???
011 011 011

[chumhead]

I have the wooden closet rod as well, and very happy with it. Very light weight and fits the hands perfectly. Never bothered to seal it and have not had any problems in over a year of use now.

(I also have the DF140 push pole mentioned above for deeper water applications)

chumhead

[Fillet1]

Hey chum what length do you have and where/how do you store it?

[chumhead]

I purchased the 10 foot model and have not really needed anything longer for flounder gigging or moving around the shallows during the day. To be honest, I just lay it on the floor next to the sidewall for storage, nothing fancy. I was thinking of some sort of a PVC holder under the rolled gunnel, but it hasn't really been an issue in the corner of the floor (I don't carry it all the time). On my 24 DLX, I find it much easier to poll the boat from the front than the back deck.....too much nose for wind to get 'hold of and change your direction. Even a 24 polls very easy from the front with minimal effort, and the visibility from the front deck is much, much better.

chumhead

[FishEater]

I made a push pole out or regular closet dowel, like you get from Home Depot, etc. On the end, I put a"duck bill"; I bought mine from Cabelas. I use it to push a CS 24, with two to six people, through heavy weeds or water too shallow for the trolling motor. The pole by itself is somewhat bendy, but in three years, has not broken. If it ever breaks, I'll use West System epoxy, and graphite tape, to make the next pole more rigid. If you plan on being out in cold weather, and poling, wood is far easier on your hands (warm) than a metal pole I pole off my front deck, and get everybody toward the bow; that way (with motors up) the stern edge is just at the water surface, to glide over weeds and lily pads.

Jim


I hope I don't sound to foolish... But Ok you pole from the Front (Bow) motors up And as I see this you are poling the boat back wards? Is this correct? does it track OK? Thanks Because I had to pole across some shallows as the tide was going out with only a 9 foot closet wood pole and It was OK but I like your Idea if it works. Better weight distribution it seems.

[chumhead]

When I poll from the front deck, I still move the boat forward. You can poll along side the nose of the boat, and even reach out in front and 'pull' the boat along. I find it is much easier to maintain direction polling from the front and I'm also at the point with the best visibility.

chumhead

[Slim to None]

i second what chumhead said! it's much easier to pole from the front deck. if i push from the rear of my J16 it just kinda slides all over the place. from the front though i can control where the bow goes and the rest of the boat just follows along.

[saltyballs]

Bamboo works. I have never owned a real push pole. I go through about 2 a year and grow about 200 a year.

[emsiegel]

I live in Florida and push pole all the time. I never push pole from the bow unless i get into narrow areas where i cant turn around. I find it much easier to pull the engine out of the water and just pole from my platform. More people can fish out of the boat that way and its a ton easier.