Spud pole

[William Reinicke]

I am in need of a heavy duty spud pole for this upcoming season. It needs to double as a wench anchor so I am looking for something pretty heavy duty. Any leads on this? After 11 seasons, having to play this game this season by myself, and possibly for a few seasons. I am really going through everything and making sure I don't get myself stuck and lost by myself. I have put a winch on the duck boat, but I am not always near vegetation and there are some areas its just the thickest knarliest mud. A winch makes life really easy but I need that heavy duty spud pole.

Where would you guys call to get one?

Thanks for replies

 

[Eric Patterson]

I got curious and googled spud pole and there are more out there than I expected. Here's a few that caught my eye. No recommendations here, just passing on a few sources. There are a lot of brackets on the market too.

Heavy Duty Aluminum Push Pole Spud Anchor Combo - Halk Marine Fabrication & Design

All welded aluminum push pole and spud anchor combo kit. We build our poles from marine grade 1" sch 40 6061 aluminum pipe for a lifetime of hard marsh abuse. You have a choice of fittings on either end and choice of length.

halkmarine.com

Aluminum Spud Poles & Push Poles | Gale Marine

Spud poles and push poles are used for a variety of purposes, including anchoring, pushing, and trimming up the motor.

galemarine.com

Cast aluminum spud pole parts for jon boat or duck boat fishing.

Aluminum jon boat or duck boat spud pole kits.

www.hillsidecastings.com

All Steel 17 lb. Spud Bar w/Tamp – Dunn & Abee, Inc.

 

[Douglas Petro]

Anyone who is not in coal country would not know what a roof bolt is. It's a 6 foot thin but very strong rod with a bolt head in on the top. They are ideal as spud poles. They are everywhere in SW PA. Make perfect tomato stakes.

 

[William Reinicke]

I got curious and googled spud pole and there are more out there than I expected. Here's a few that caught my eye. No recommendations here, just passing on a few sources. There are a lot of brackets on the market too.

Heavy Duty Aluminum Push Pole Spud Anchor Combo - Halk Marine Fabrication & Design

All welded aluminum push pole and spud anchor combo kit. We build our poles from marine grade 1" sch 40 6061 aluminum pipe for a lifetime of hard marsh abuse. You have a choice of fittings on either end and choice of length.

halkmarine.com

Aluminum Spud Poles & Push Poles | Gale Marine

Spud poles and push poles are used for a variety of purposes, including anchoring, pushing, and trimming up the motor.

galemarine.com

Cast aluminum spud pole parts for jon boat or duck boat fishing.

Aluminum jon boat or duck boat spud pole kits.

www.hillsidecastings.com

All Steel 17 lb. Spud Bar w/Tamp – Dunn & Abee, Inc.

So these kits are for 1" poles. I need to give halk marine a call, seems they make one that is heavy duty enough. I need something pretty heavy. Excel used to sell their spud poles and they are awesome. Last couple times I called, I can't seem to get one ordered. That last link that shows a spud bar, thats a heck of a deal and 17lbs seems pretty heavy duty to me. That might just be the ticket. Thanks for that link.

 

[William Reinicke]

Anyone who is not in coal country would not know what a roof bolt is. It's a 6 foot thin but very strong rod with a bolt head in on the top. They are ideal as spud poles. They are everywhere in SW PA. Make perfect tomato stakes.

Any leads on where these are sold? Also, it looks like there are a bunch of roof bolt varieties. I am sure its strong as they are used to hold up ceilings in caves, but some of the stuff I am seeing looks like rebar. I dont want something that will bend under pressure. Has to be super sturdy so when I put a winch on it, it wont bend from the pull.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Bill, where are you located? I have a couple different poles that I use as anchors. We hunt very thick mud on a river tide. Conventional anchors on a rode, even with chain are a PITA. We bought a couple of the fittings from Max-Gains. and they work very well. I think we bought the glass rod from Grainger. The issue with them is they are solid, and will sink very fast! For my smaller boats, I found a 1" 8ft glass rod at the local Ace Hardware. I added a pr of oval floats and a t-handle to the top, so when I drop it, I don't loose it. I also have a hallow fiberglass Flats Push Pole from Cabela's. Found it on FB for cheap, as it was damaged, so it is about 6" shorter now. Finally, in SC, Monks Corners, there is a guy making the poles, but also sells the blanks and parts. He has access to honeycombed broom handle blanks, 18ft long. Not as rigid, but when sealed on the ends they float, and were only $20 each a few yrs ago.

 

[William Reinicke]

Bill, where are you located? I have a couple different poles that I use as anchors. We hunt very thick mud on a river tide. Conventional anchors on a rode, even with chain are a PITA. We bought a couple of the fittings from Max-Gains. and they work very well. I think we bought the glass rod from Grainger. The issue with them is they are solid, and will sink very fast! For my smaller boats, I found a 1" 8ft glass rod at the local Ace Hardware. I added a pr of oval floats and a t-handle to the top, so when I drop it, I don't loose it. I also have a hallow fiberglass Flats Push Pole from Cabela's. Found it on FB for cheap, as it was damaged, so it is about 6" shorter now. Finally, in SC, Monks Corners, there is a guy making the poles, but also sells the blanks and parts. He has access to honeycombed broom handle blanks, 18ft long. Not as rigid, but when sealed on the ends they float, and were only $20 each a few yrs ago.

I am way out west in New Mexico. not a whole lot around here. That spud bar is nothing more than a solid piece of steel like a digging bar. Never in a million years would of thought to use a dig bar as a spud pole, but theyre heavy, one piece and have a spike. Should work and they are like $30 at harbor freight. I am going to look at them this weekend. Why i didnt think about using one, I have literally no idea. I will keep this in mind though and I really appreciate the input. Biggest thing, I want it super sturdy, I want it heavy, and I want it 1 piece. So what I want, most wont ship unfortunately.

 

[Richard Lathrop]

I am way out west in New Mexico. not a whole lot around here. That spud bar is nothing more than a solid piece of steel like a digging bar. Never in a million years would of thought to use a dig bar as a spud pole, but theyre heavy, one piece and have a spike. Should work and they are like $30 at harbor freight. I am going to look at them this weekend. Why i didnt think about using one, I have literally no idea. I will keep this in mind though and I really appreciate the input. Biggest thing, I want it super sturdy, I want it heavy, and I want it 1 piece. So what I want, most wont ship unfortunately.

What about a telephone pole ground anchor? Long solid steel bar with a loop to tie off to.

Rick Lathrop

 

[William Reinicke]

What about a telephone pole ground anchor? Long solid steel bar with a loop to tie off to.

Rick Lathrop

What a great idea. Found one that is 66" long, with an auger style bit and the loop at top to hook into. My only worry would be the auger style bit at the bottom. Wondering if this would cause more issue? Could always use a mojo pole or something to twist into ground or mud to set in place before hooking up winch. I mean at the end of the day, if I am having to use any of this stuff, I am having a bad day lol. Really just putting everything in place as precautionary stuff since I wont have a human backup to come save me this season.

 

[roy brewington]

I would think that winching a boat out of mud will require more than your standard aluminum of fiberglass spud pole. While they,re great at stabilizing a boat I don,t believe they,ll take the pressure of a boat sucking muck bottom. Have you considered finding a piece of white cedar cypress 3": diameter and sharpening one end. Seasoned it won,t rot and a lot lighter weight than steel. Although that's probably not a common wood in your area possibly a lumber yard could order it in.

 

[William Reinicke]

I would think that winching a boat out of mud will require more than your standard aluminum of fiberglass spud pole. While they,re great at stabilizing a boat I don,t believe they,ll take the pressure of a boat sucking muck bottom. Have you considered finding a piece of white cedar cypress 3": diameter and sharpening one end. Seasoned it won,t rot and a lot lighter weight than steel. Although that's probably not a common wood in your area possibly a lumber yard could order it in.

Well I have used the one piece design that came with excels and it does very very well. I agree with you though, I also have a fiberglass pole that wouldnt be good for anything that relates to a winch. I dont need a ton, but I need solid and not bendable at all. I have winched out my boat with one of those excel spud poles, I stood there and held it tight while pushing the button to winch the boat to me. Worked really well actually. Then tromp out another 30-40 yards with spud pole and winch hook and do it all over again. Sucks when it happens but sure beats pulling and breaking your back. The issue.... that spud pole went north with my old hunting partner.

I really like the telephone line anchor idea and a hole digger post. I think I will acquire both and keep in the boat this season. This is another fantastic idea though and I could even tie in an eye bolt for the winch hook to go into. Definitely will keep this in mind as well. Knew this was the place to get answers.

 

[Paul Taylor]

I hunt S. Louisiana. It's easy to make a Cajun anchor. I use a ground rod, flatten one end and add a SS ring like on the commercially made below.

Similar to these:

Cajun Marsh Anchors

O&H Cajun Marsh Anchors work great for boats of all sizes! Available in... 3/4" (CMA34) & 1" (CMA1) Aluminum (6 ft. length) 3/4" Stainless Steel - 3 ft (SSCMA343) - 4 ft (SSCMA344) - 5 ft (SSCMA345) - 6 ft (SSCMA346) Also available in our 2-PC Kayak Marsh Anchor & Extension Rod

www.hhlure.com

 

[Richard Lathrop]

What a great idea. Found one that is 66" long, with an auger style bit and the loop at top to hook into. My only worry would be the auger style bit at the bottom. Wondering if this would cause more issue? Could always use a mojo pole or something to twist into ground or mud to set in place before hooking up winch. I mean at the end of the day, if I am having to use any of this stuff, I am having a bad day lol. Really just putting everything in place as precautionary stuff since I wont have a human backup to come save me this season.

William,

You could cut off the auger part to just have a rod. I am guessing the auger part is welded to the rod.

Rick

 

[William Reinicke]

William,

You could cut off the auger part to just have a rod. I am guessing the auger part is welded to the rod.

Rick

I actually like the auger idea the more I think about it. I am probably going to buy one of these and a 17-20lb digging bar. Where I might like the auger is if I get stuck near land but don't have a tree or something solid to hook up to. I think if I were to put that down in the ground, it would hold much better than the digging bar. Heck it might even be better in mud as well, but I know a spud pole works beyond well in the mud and I would expect a digging bar to do just as good.