Does anyone have an idea/experience on how much wind powerpoles will hold? There are a lot of vsriables, type/size of boat, soft/hard bottom, etc., but what's your experience with them?

I can not give you scientific data on precise max wind speed, boat length/weight, wave height..... but several years ago when Falcon refilled and was on fire three of us were fishing a shallow rocky open water hump while the wind howled. My buddy had a 20� Legend and a single Power Pole. It held us in about 4� of water while the waves came over the transom fast enough that the auto bilge pump kept running. I was very impressed with the holding power of a single pole. Wave/ swell height will certainly come into play way more than simple wind speed as to what the �holding� limitations are going to be for any shallow water anchor. Simple physics: they can�t hold if they ain�t stuck on the bottom. All this being said: I have two 8� Blades now because they were on the boat when I bought it. If they were not there would I purchase two? I�m not sure. Real handy when you want them but how often do you want them? Depends on your fishing style. Stupid expensive like any fishing related item. My buddy called them �sandwich poles� because it seemed like the only time he dropped his pole was to eat a sandwich!

361V is dead on the variables. I took my pole off and traded for the Ultrex TM. I wish I had it back now. The reason is the boat swings around in the wind using the Ultrex in lock on position. If the pole was in use also the back of the boat would now swing around allowing you to fish the shoreline in the same direction.

I mostly fish by myself, so I use my 2 power poles just about every time at the boat ramp. I also use them quite often to lock down and work over a prime spots in shallow water.

In my experience, if the poles can get a bite on the bottom, they will hold in fairly stiff wind/wave wind action but you really need the boat pointed with the back to the wind. Granted, I have a big heavy cc boat, but I find that the poles will flex and allow the boat nose to turn if there is significant wave or wind action.

A few years ago I pulled up to a tree row that was in 4 to 10 feet of water, it ran north and south, I pointed my boat to the north and set my poles down in 5-6 feet of water, we had a 20 plus mph south wind, I sat there for a couple of hours and never had to do anything with the boat.

I think the holding power depends on the bottom composition. If the bottom is mud, clay or sand they will hold in almost any conditions. If it's rocky they can slide. I've had them slide quite a bit when I use them at the ramp if it's windy. That's why I still tie a line to the dock.