I cannot justify the cost of power poles at this point, (need to earn a tournament check or two first!) but certainly see the need for them. In the mean time I am wondering how everyone feels about manual power poles or anything else that I can use until I get to that point.

Thanks

Get a trolling motor with spotlock/anchor mode. Maybe not a stable as power poles, but should adequately do the job until you can justify them.

thanks

how about a rope and cinderblock?

I have used a fiberglass pole for several years. Works great. Can't remember the brand. Bought a bracket that mounts to the transom. Pole stores in clips mounted to side wall. Pop it out and slide it in bracket. Works to about 7' deep.

I was contemplating Power Poles or Talons on mine but decided I would see more use out of an Ultrex so that is what I went with.

Depends on how you fish and where you would use the pole at in relation to the boat. For me, I move too much to keep deploying and removing them. If I was going to be really shallow using them, I'd probably want them at the back of the boat and no way am I moving back and forth in the boat putting them out and removing them. That is why I myself never got any. The trolling motor with spotlock is the best solution. If using the poles works for you then go for it.

I use Dig In anchors for my manual shallow water anchors.

https://www.diginanchors.com/

I also have an Ulterra so I have spotlock when I'm off shore and use the dig in anchors when I'm up shallow. Mainly when I beach launching and loading, since I have spot lock I don't use them as much anymore. But they are great at a fraction of the cost for power poles.

I built 2 fiberglass manual shallow water anchors, but with the Xi5, don't use it that much. There's an excellent site on how to do this. Your biggest cost is shipping. The anchor themselves are only about $25 each in parts.

https://www.catfishedge.com/shallow-water-anchor/

http://skinnywaterproducts.com/home.php?cat

I have one of these