Pole or anchor

Anthony A

Anthony A

Well-known member
Hi All,

Quick question. How many of you use a pole to anchor your boat for hunting? and how many use an anchor? How many use both?

I have more space in my Estuary than I had in my Aquapodm and I've been thinking about switching at least one of my anchors to a pole. I'd appreciate any feedback and experience you all might have.

Thank you in advance

Anthony
 
Around here, there's not enough soft bottom for a pole to be reliable. I use a pair of small anchors, or else beach the boat. We also often tie off the bow on a tree on shore and run a stern anchor only.
 
Anthony:

I hunt out of a Kara in very shallow water and use a pole. Don't even carry an anchor. One advantage of the pole is that you can stake the rear of the boat and it will swing with any changes in the wind - meaning that my back stays to the wind and my front faces the (sometimes theoretical) ducks when they come in for a landing. I suppose you could do the same with an anchor. I've seen versions of the Kara with a "pole hole" built into the rear deck. Looks like a good idea to me.

Kevin
 
I use both in my duck invader. I use a pole when i'm beached and i use an anchor when i let my boat float down river a little when coverage is scarce or use my layout blind.
 
Anthony, since your hunting NJ I'm assuming you get into some mud in the marshes, I would go with the 2 poles and an anchor and when you can, 2 poles. Poles keep you much steadier.
 
I often use a stake on salt meadows, about a 2 1/2' broom stick goes into the bog easy, a clove hitch with the attached bow and stern lines and your there to stay.
 
Thank you gentlemen... I will definately try using poles. As someone posted, it all depends on what the bottom is like, the muddier the better. I can guess where I'd use them, based on the places I hunt. I'm just not 100% certain on the depth. I guess this is just another aspect of hunting that will need to be figured out by trial and error. I sometimes wish I had someone to show me everything when I first started, what boats to use and how to use them, decoys, shooting etc... I've had to figure it all out by myself over the years. Then again, the learning experience has been rewarding in and of itself, and every year I notice that I get better and better :) I just hope I don't break anything or run into something with the new boat/motor!

I'm off to Home Depot at lunch to see if I can find a wooden rod or two (I'll sharpen one end when I get a chance). I figure one long(er) and two short(er) should be ok for conditions where they can be applied.

Have a great day!

Anthony
 
(I'll sharpen one end when I get a chance).
Anthony
Click to expand...


Leave the end with a squared off cut. There's no need to add another item that can draw blood out in the marsh. Additionally, you don't need to sink the pole very far for it hold. Trust me, you'll cure yourself of trying to ram it down in the mud the first time suction holds it in place and you bust a gut pulling the pole out.

As suggested, closet rod are great, cheap and, best of all, they float. Buy or fab a duck foot and you're in business.
 
Should I bother treating the poles with anything?

Picked up a 10ft long 1.25 inch closet pine rod ($1.53/ft) and 5ft gardening handle (for a hoe maybe?) made out of good hard wood.

Interestingly, the 5ft piece came out to just under $1/ft! Too bad they don't make them longer :)

(these poles will be used to anchor the boat; I already have an Avery push pole with the duck foot attachment for getting out of mucky areas)
 
Many lakes around here have no reachable bottom but floating islands of cattail/bullrush roots. When hunting from a canoe, I just jam two paddle blades down into the root mass, one on each side,and tie each shaft to a thwart end with cord. Nothing excess to carry, and makes the canoe stable enough to shoot out of standing up, if the rushes are tall enough to provide cover.
 
Don't even put a hook on it. Just cut a notch about an inch from the end and it will
snag decoy cords but not much of anything else!! John
 
Anthony, your hunting the Jersey marshes as I do. I have a wooden push pole to get into shallow areas. You can use these to stake out, however I have found that using 2 hunt anchors, about 1 lb each with 20' of camo line and a cork float or a pool float on the end works best. Pull up into the shallows, throw one off each side into the brush and anchored to your cleats and it will keep your boat in perfect shooting position. If you dont hunt with a dog, when you down a bird you just unhook from your cleats and throw the line over and retrieve your bird. When you come back to your spot just pick up the float on the end of your lines and pull your boat back into position and tie off. Also very easy to adjust for changing wind conditions.
 
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