Here's what I have - sort of in the same situation you are, don't have a poling skiff, but wanted something to push along a shoreline, etc. This works good and is reasonably priced.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Supe...2-133798054-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02939324&rid=20

 

Yeah for $200 that looks like a good deal.

 

Pole

i tried several.

like the ones made by Moonlighter out of Florida for many reasons.

check them out

 

i tried several.

like the ones made by Moonlighter out of Florida for many reasons.

check them out

I just can't bring myself to spend $600 on a piece of carbon fiber haha I know it's probably worth it, but dang that's high!

 

I know that lightweight is the name of the game if you are poling most of the day.

I only use my pole to get out of an oyster bed, or some other obstruction. So...I just use a length of the grey electrical PLV.

Not very fancy, but does the job. The grey is UV protected, the white PVC is not.

richg99

 

Stiffy Hybrid is a great pole. I have a 21' Guide Series but they are pricey.
For your boat you will get the most out of a 21'. Our boats are just about the same size. The worst thing you can have on a poling skiff is a pole that is too short. You will work your arse off.


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For your boat you will get the most out of a 21'. Our boats are just about the same size. The worst thing you can have on a poling skiff is a pole that is too short. You will work your arse off.

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This is spot on. I think the general rule of thumb is get a pole that is AT LEAST 2 ft longer than your boat, if you're poling from a platform then you'll want even longer. There's no real down side to having a longer pole than you need (insert d!ck joke here) other than weight. I wouldn't recommend a fiberglass push pole in that length if you're looking to pole a lot. Sure you can grit it out with one, but you'll be a lot happier with a lighter pole.

If you don't want to break the bank on a push pole, I would go with something like the TFO mangrove push pole. They're probably the cheapest graphite pole you'll find but you have to assemble it yourself. It comes in sections with ferrules and you epoxy it together yourself. Big advantage of this is you don't have to pay a ridiculous amount for shipping.

 

Yeah from what I see the stiffy poles are Deff top notch but I don't wanna spend. that much! Haha im going to keep looking around and see what else I can find before pulling the trigger on that one.

 

Call Stiffy, tell them what you are looking for and your price range, they have an option that may satisfy you.

 

I've heard of people using extendable pool cleaning poles.

Can't hurt to stop by your local pool supply place and check them out. You could bolt them tight to stop slipping if necessary.

richg99

 

I bought a boat recently that had one on it (21' Stiffy fiberglass) and I bought a hybrid before that (used), never have used it. If you're willing to come to the SW side of Victoria, I could swing through there on the way home (Austin) from Rockport and sell you one.

Let me get the details on the other pole.

PM me if interested.

 

PM sent

 

There's a guy in houston selling this one for 40 bucks claims he never used it let me know if your interested I'll try and get his info for you

 

that looks like a stake out stick and not a push pole. hard to tell form the pics

If you want to pole down a shoreline, invest the money in a good pole. You need the proper tools to get the job done. believe it or not, the $600 is on the low end as far as quality push poles go. Esp those moonlighter carbon fiber ones. That's what I use. I just listed mine. 9K for push pole but you get a free boat, motor and trailer. HAHA. seriously, if you want to pole for any length of time you need a decent push pole. I'd be happy to show you my 18ft carbon fiber pole by moonlighter. im in BMT and will be fishing either east or west bay on Sunday.

 

I use superstik, very reliable and telescopes. Less than $200

http://thesuperstick.com/product/push-pole/

 

If you pole a lot you will want one that is light and at least 21'. Some of these push poles on this thread are just for pushing off to deeper water to get up, not for poling several miles all day long sight casting.

 

100% correct! I run a technical poling skiff with a 21ft moonlighter carbon pole and at times it even feels heavy after a long day on the water. Honestly most of your typical texas bays boast and center console bay boats are not going to pole well given the hull weights and design. A push pole will more or less be used just for conturing a drift or as stated pushing off into deeper waters.

 

God has spoken...that's it, discussion is over.

 

What do you know about push poles or poling skiffs? The OP and I have been discussing how to set up his new boat for weeks because is very similar in size and construction and these other options people are throwing out there are not viable. It is a shame I have to explain and justify my posts to you to keep you from de-railing yet another thread like your buddies do. Mind your own business and if you don't have any push pole advice or know where one is for sale then move along to the Jungle where you and your internet yuppies go back and forth all day.

 

Everything you use is a decision. Good, better, best. No different here, if you use a pole to move off an oyster reef, then stick it back in, then good will work the three times a year you use it.

Just like your rods, a $20 rod will certainly catch a fish, but will it stand up over time the same a $150 rod will? If you never use a better or best, then it's just like a rod, you don't know.

 

Everything you use is a decision. Good, better, best. No different here, if you use a pole to move off an oyster reef, then stick it back in, then good will work the three times a year you use it.

Just like your rods, a $20 rod will certainly catch a fish, but will it stand up over time the same a $150 rod will? If you never use a better or best, then it's just like a rod, you don't know.

I catch your drift. Thanks for the input sir.

 

I have a stiffy fiberglass. For years I didn't know how heavy it was until I picked up a carbon pole. But if your on a budget the fiberglass is fine if your not poling all day (which I don't).

 

You might be surprised on the Stiffy prices. Call Kevin and tell him what you're looking for and a price point. He worked with me on mine and gave me a better than fair price.


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You might be surprised on the Stiffy prices. Call Kevin and tell him what you're looking for and a price point. He worked with me on mine and gave me a better than fair price.

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Will do that now! Thanks!

 

Agree with the discussion regarding a push pole. If you`re wanting to poll all day/miles then yes, as light and as long as possible, you wont regret it. If you`re wanting to use it to inadvertently push yourself off of shell, steer while drifting or pole for short distances (like me) then get you a 3/4 aluminum electrical pole, add on a marsh duck foot, $30 solution. Cant poll for too long with the alu pole cos your arms wont be able to cast too many times after that!!!

 

For the money the mangrove push poles are just fine. They are light and tend to flex quite a bit more than a stiffy but work great. I have both a stiffy custom graphite for my poling skiff and a mangrove for my G3. The construction of the mangrove is easy just don't try and cut corners. If you want to save $ the mangrove is great.

 

The mangrove is sectional ... ? Where'd you pic yours up ... ?

Just curious, I'm leery of sectional push poles, but the money, my God. Someone stole my pole this past summer.

 

I use a carbon marine 23.5 g2lr, but I'm in Florida, and I pole in 2-6' depths so I purchased a "tarpon" length pole. If I lived in Texas, I would contact Stiffy- if you are on a budget, get the hybrid. If you want to go all out, get the guide. If your boat is 16-18 foot and you plan on poling in less than 18" 95% of the time you will do fine with a 20-21 foot pole. If you plan to pole deeper than that, go with 22-24'--

 

Yeah I have an 18' G3 and pole in 1-3' depths. I will be contacting stiffy. I think the 21' hybrid would do just fine.

 

for a quick solution you can go to home depot and buy a 16ft length of 1 1/2 closet rod, a pvc T and some end caps, and some teak oil. you will have a heavy push pole for about $50. You can use it till you save up for a real push pole.

This is what I did and I still havent bought a push pole, I realized I dont really want to push pole that often so I kinda scrapped the idea.

 

Go to Amazon and search for fiberglass rods. I bought one eight feet long and 3/4" diameter for about $12. On one end I attached a rubber bike handlebar grip. The other end I ground to a point on my grinder, then sealed the end with a piece of heat shrink tubing. Whole thing was less than $20 and works great.

 

Mine is a 12-foot, 2-inch thick wooden dowel from the hardware store. It cost $1 a foot...I bolted on three little chunks of wood on the end, so it won't dig into the mud. Fits well on my 15-foot jonboat. I've used it to reach out and grab the dock, a houseboat, even a wellhead in the bay so I could tie up. Great for pushing off from the jetties, if you drift too close. The first one I had, I poled my 25-foot Mako with it, up in creeks, going with the tide. It was uncoated and eventually warped but lasted more than 10 years. Even used it to burn bagworms out of my tree with an old t-shirt on the end of it, soaked with a little gasoline... I coated this new one four days in a row with polyurethane and it carries a golden color, is waterproof and doesn't warp. Great for poling shorelines or over oyster bottoms with the motor raised. I'd send a picture but it's in the boat in Beaumont waiting to go fishing. Nice to have on a winter's day, if you need to push off a flat and want to keep your feet dry. It's probably saved my lower unit a number of times. For $12 bucks? Yeah, I'll take that. Some of those other poles are expensive; one Keys guide had his blow out on the highway, and he jumped out of his car to save it. And got run over, with both his legs broken. And you don't have to worry much about somebody stealing a wooden push pole....

 

Call me old fashioned and cheap but I have polled further than most people with an old inch an a half closet dowel rod. I'm just not paying for a push pole.

 

Spec rig. I ordered mine direct from the rep. I'm pretty sure if googled it will have ordering instructions.

 

Go find a used pole vault pole. Schools retire them pretty frequently.

 

we have used a piece of 1 1/4" pvc pipe with a tee glued on 1 end with short pieces of pipe and blind caps and a blind cap on other end, but we mainly just use ours to push off the back or oysters, we have even taken and put the foam that you can buy in cans at box store and injected it in pipe to make them stiffer.
good luck