Finding the perfect flats boat push pole is probably the most important equipment decision you'll make after buying the boat itself. If you've spent any moment from all chasing bonefish, redfish, or tarpon in the skinniest of water, you already know that will stealth isn't just a "nice to have"—it's the whole video game. You can have the fanciest skiff and the most expensive lures, but if you're clunking around or creating a huge wake up using a trolling motor, those fish are gone before you even see them.
The Silent Benefit of Poling
Let's be genuine for a 2nd: trolling motors possess come quite a distance. Spot-lock is great, and they're quieter compared to they used in order to be, but they nevertheless vibrate. They still push a column of water that fish can sense through their lateral lines. A flats boat push pole is your solution to becoming a new ghost on the water. When you're up on that will poling platform, you're not just moving the boat; you're observing. You possess a higher vantage point, and you're moving at the pace that let us you actually discover what's happening within the grass.
The pole permits micro-adjustments that a motor just can't mimic. You may stop on the penny, pivot the boat to give your own angler the perfect casting angle, or "stake out" by shoving the pole into the mud in order to hold your situation towards the wind. It's a physical connection to the bottom, and once you receive the hang of this, it feels way even more natural than fiddling with a remote device.
Carbon Fiber compared to. Fiberglass
Main things you'll realize when shopping is the fact that there's a huge price gap between different poles. This usually comes down to what they're made of.
The Case for Carbon Fiber
If you're planning on spending more than an hour or so at a period on the system, carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer is almost always worth the particular investment. Why? Pounds. Or rather, the lack of it. A top quality carbon fiber flats boat push pole is incredibly gentle. When you're doing the "pole-recovery-pole" movement thousands of periods a day, each ounce feels like a pound by 2: 00 PM. Carbon is also very much stiffer. Once you push, the energy goes directly into shifting the boat instead of the pole bowing like the wet noodle.
Fiberglass and Hybrids
Fiberglass poles would be the budget-friendly access point. They're durable as heck—you may practically run them over having a truck—but they're heavy plus they flex a lot. If you just pole occasionally or even you're just beginning out and don't want to fall $800+ on the stick, fiberglass is fine. Then there are hybrids, which combine the two materials. They're a strong middle ground, providing you some associated with that carbon stiffness with no eye-watering cost tag.
Getting the Right Size
I've observed lots of guys purchase a pole that's too short simply because they think it'll become easier to shop. Big mistake. In the event that your pole is definitely too short, you'll find yourself inclined over the edge of the particular platform, ruining your own balance and killing your back.
An excellent rule associated with thumb is to take those length of your boat plus add about 2 to 4 ft. If you're working a 16-foot skiff, an 18-foot pole is usually the minimum. However, you also have to consider how high your poling platform is usually and how strong the water is where a person usually fish. When you're constantly within 4 feet of water on a high platform, you might want the 21-footer. More length gives you more "stroke" distance, meaning you don't need to reset as frequently. Remember: you can always choke-up on a long pole, however you can't add length to a brief one.
It's About the Tip and the Foot
The 2 ends of your flats boat push pole do very different jobs. The particular "foot" (the forked end) is exactly what touches the bottom. You want a foot that's wide enough to not really sink one meter directly into soft "plaster" mud, but not so big that this creates a huge little in order to hits the water. Most contemporary ft are made associated with glass-reinforced nylon or even similar tough plastics.
Upon the other end, you usually possess a pointed tip. This really is specifically for staking out. If you spot a college of fish plus want to remain put, you turn the pole about, jam the point into the fine sand or mud, plus tie off to a cleat or make use of a "staking" clip. A few high-end poles have got integrated tips which are replaceable, which will be a nice feature because that's the particular part that gets beat up the most on oyster pubs and rocks.
Technique Matters Greater than Strength
You don't need to be a bodybuilder to use a flats boat push pole effectively. In fact, if you're muscling it, you're probably carrying it out wrong. It's all about the "hand-over-hand" motion. A person plant the feet, lean your body pounds into the push, and let the particular pole slide via your hands.
The greatest rookie mistake? Lifting the pole straight up out from the water and allowing it to spill. That "plink-plink-plink" sound of water hitting the surface is similar to an alarm bell for fish. Instead, try to keep the pole low and slide this forward. Also, consider to avoid "clunking" the pole towards the side associated with the boat or the platform. If you're using a co2 fiber pole, this can act such as a megaphone, delivering that vibration directly down in to the water.
Storage and Safety
Where are you going to put this particular thing when you're running 40 with across the gulf? Most flats motorboats come with "poling chocks" or clips across the gunwale. Make sure your pole is snug in these. A bouncing pole can crack or, worse, fly from the boat entirely. I always recommend using the bungy or the sacrificial rubber strap to lock it down.
Another thing to keep in mind: lightning. You're essentially holding a 20-foot lightning rod made of conductive material (especially if it's carbon dioxide fiber). If the sky starts looking dark and the particular hair on your own hands stands up, put the pole down instantly and get away the platform. This sounds like common sense, but you'd become surprised how numerous people forget they're holding a huge antenna inside a thunderstorm.
Maintenance regarding the Long Carry
Even though a flats boat push pole is really a lengthy stick, it still needs a small love. Saltwater is brutal on almost everything. After every vacation, give the pole the good rinse with fresh water. In case it's a multi-piece pole that you've ferruled together, examine those joints from time to time to make sure they aren't loosening up or getting grit inside.
If you occur to nick the particular carbon fiber on a sharp rock, don't ignore it. A little gouge can become a snap point under pressure. You can usually fix minor scuff marks with a bit of marine-grade epoxy to seal the fibers back again up. It won't look brand fresh, but it'll maintain the moisture out and maintain the structural integrity.
Is the Purchase Worth It?
At the end associated with the day, your own flats boat push pole is the primary tool regarding hunting. Think of it like the hunter's bow. You can spend $10, 000 on the best camouflage and scouting cameras, but in the event that the bow doesn't work right, you're not going house with dinner.
A top quality pole makes the day more pleasant. You'll be less tired, you'll end up being much quieter, and you'll find that you are able to reach places that others just can't. There's a certain zen to poling a flat—the rhythm from the push, the silence associated with the water, as well as the sight of the tailing redfish just thirty feet apart. It's the finest method to fish the flats, and having the right pole in your hands makes all the particular difference in the world.
So, don't just grab the cheapest one the truth is. Think about just how you fish, just how long your boat is, and how much your shoulders can take. Received it right the very first time will save you a lot of cash (and Advil) in the long run. Happy hunting!