Maintaining the Chesapeake’s innumerable channels and other marine construction are continuous operations. Integral to this work, be it dredging channels or building piers, are spud barges. No doubt you’ve seen them: barges rigged with posts on each corner of the platform. The large, metal sticks can be temporarily sunk into the bottom to hold the barge in place while the crew conducts its work. Once a section is complete, the spuds can be raised to allow the tender to reposition the barge as needed. While efficient and secure, it’s also pretty loud.
Now apply the concept of a stable platform to fishing boats, add stealth and ease of operation, and you end up describing the Power-Pole anchoring system. Today, the Tampa, FL-based company that makes them, JL Marine Systems, Inc., offers five products in its line of shallow-water anchors.
The Blade works in water up to 10 feet deep and offers the strongest hold of any of the Power-Pole models. It features the company’s Everflex spike that’s nearly indestructible and folds neatly into the pocket design. For anglers operating ultra-light poling skiffs in uber-skinny waters, there’s the John Oliverio Signature Series, named for the brains behind creating Power-Pole. According to JL Marine Systems, it represents the latest, most sophisticated design and technology.
Next up is the Pro II. Designed to meet the demands of professional tournament fishermen who are notoriously tough on gear, the two Pro II models can hold bottom in six or eight feet of water, respectively, and are rugged enough for taming multiple bottom structure. The Sportsman II was built with the recreational angler in mind, both in features and price point. Durable and lightweight, it is designed to cover a variety of bottom and should do well on the flats of either the Susquehanna or Poquoson.
The newest member of the Power-Pole tribe is the Micro Anchor that, according to company literature, “boasts a compact, all-electric powerhouse built to stop small crafts on a dime.” It sports an eight-and-a-half-foot spike that will lock your rig on the fishy spot in a blistering seven seconds. It’s gaining popularity among kayak anglers because of its versatility and low weight. As the only Power-Pole model with an electric motor (the others are hydraulic), it will tap into your 12-volt system. No battery on board? No sweat. Power-Pole will sell you its Battery Pack and Charger kit.
All Power-Pole models come with a warranty ranging from two to five years, depending on the model. Each model also comes with the wireless C-Monster operating system. You gotta love the name. As you might expect, Power-Pole offers the latest in 21st Century technology: A USB connector for software updates and downloads; Bluetooth-ready, and, of course, a smartphone app.
I called Walter George, the owner of Annapolis Boat Sales in Chester, MD, and a Power-Pole dealer, for his take. Not only do Power-Poles live up to the hype for fishing applications, he said, recreational boaters like them as well. “Set the bow anchor (on the beach or land), and drop the Power-Pole for a no-spin set,” he said, adding that they don’t tear up underwater grasses, and the company uses environmentally friendly hydraulic oil.
Drift socks, stakeout poles, and traditional anchors still have a role to play in many Bay fishing scenarios. For fishermen looking to add the next evolution in anchoring systems to their current light tackle or kayak rig or those researching a new skiff (like yours truly) who want flexibility for skinny water fishing, the Power-Pole lineup deserves a good hard look. Learn more at
power-pole.com .
by Captain Chris D. Dollar
All Power-Pole models come with a warranty ranging from two to five years, depending on the model. Each model also comes with the wireless C-Monster operating system. You gotta love the name. As you might expect, Power-Pole offers the latest in 21st Century technology: A USB connector for software updates and downloads; Bluetooth-ready, and, of course, a smartphone app.
I called Walter George, the owner of Annapolis Boat Sales in Chester, MD, and a Power-Pole dealer, for his take. Not only do Power-Poles live up to the hype for fishing applications, he said, recreational boaters like them as well. “Set the bow anchor (on the beach or land), and drop the Power-Pole for a no-spin set,” he said, adding that they don’t tear up underwater grasses, and the company uses environmentally friendly hydraulic oil.
Drift socks, stakeout poles, and traditional anchors still have a role to play in many Bay fishing scenarios. For fishermen looking to add the next evolution in anchoring systems to their current light tackle or kayak rig or those researching a new skiff (like yours truly) who want flexibility for skinny water fishing, the Power-Pole lineup deserves a good hard look. Learn more at power-pole.com .
by Captain Chris D. Dollar