Boat electronics upgrade, but what?

SpartanBass · January 18, 2013, 12:50:50 PM

Ok, I have been debating over the past 2 months on what I will upgrade on my boat. I have been seriously debating adding a Minn Kota Talon vs. Adding a new upgraded SI Combo at the dash (I have one now but it does not have SI/DI and is an older unit). I am looking for your opinions on this debate. For those of you who have both a power pole/Talon and a SI unit at the dash, which would you rather keep if you only could keep one, and why?

With my style of fishing, I prefer slop and visual cover, but I have over the past year worked heavily on deep water fishing. I do not fish a whole lot of "deep" lakes but I don't mind finding submerged cover when I can. The price for either is pretty much the same, the debate is what do I choose? If it was your choice, knowing what my style of fishing is, what do you spend the $ on? What are your opinions? Just wanna make sure I have looked at everything before I make the decision.

Mike Cork · January 18, 2013, 01:02:23 PM

Ouch... Gonna make me choose....

For your style of fishing I would say the shallow water anchor system first.

Here is a another question for you. Do you fish the same water mostly? If you do, then you probably know where the majority of submerged objects are already. Even on home water I've learned a lot with SS, but if you were going to make me choose between the two I'd keep my power poles. I fish a lot of shallow water and the ability to stop the boat is amazing. I can easily say that it's improved my catch ratio dramatically.

SpartanBass · January 22, 2013, 10:25:01 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on January 18, 2013, 01:02:23 PM
Ouch... Gonna make me choose....

For your style of fishing I would say the shallow water anchor system first.

Here is a another question for you. Do you fish the same water mostly? If you do, then you probably know where the majority of submerged objects are already. Even on home water I've learned a lot with SS, but if you were going to make me choose between the two I'd keep my power poles. I fish a lot of shallow water and the ability to stop the boat is amazing. I can easily say that it's improved my catch ratio dramatically.

Mike, do you feel that your poles have helped you dissect areas more rather than power fish your way through? I have been telling myself that I need to slow down and really pick apart areas before moving on. Especially when you know you are at a dock, tree, bridge piling...that you know was not fished thoroughly. I know one weakness I have is fishing too fast and not picking an area apart. Thanks for the help.

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BigDBasser · January 23, 2013, 04:27:01 AM

I agree with Mike here.

I put new HDS units on my boat in June, and new Talons on my boat in December. I can already see that the Talon's are more useful to me than the HDS units.

I thought that by getting the HDS units, that I would fish deeper, but I find myself moving to shallow water where I fill more comfortable and I have more confidence.

I'm finding that the Talon's make fishing an area easier because I don't have to stay on the trolling motor to stay in an area. I can put the Talon's down and re-tie without getting blown off the spot and go back to fishing the area. I think they will help you dissect an area more if you use them for that reason.

Good luck in your decision.

K2Racing · January 23, 2013, 06:28:43 AM

I did both this fall. I bought the electronics for a trip to Falcon and on black Friday landed dual power poles. Now that I'm home in Shreveport, the poles are used every single outing. The electronics aren't even plugged in every time. If you fish shallow water, the poles are going to be more of an asset. I use them for a lot more than just actual fishing. Go poles and then save up for electronics

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Mike Cork · January 23, 2013, 08:27:18 AM

Quote from: SpartanBass on January 22, 2013, 10:25:01 PM
Mike, do you feel that your poles have helped you dissect areas more rather than power fish your way through? I have been telling myself that I need to slow down and really pick apart areas before moving on. Especially when you know you are at a dock, tree, bridge piling...that you know was not fished thoroughly. I know one weakness I have is fishing too fast and not picking an area apart. Thanks for the help.

This is definitely true. On windy days or even when you're on the go, the boat will drift past your intended target. Power Poles allow you to set up and really work a target.

Almost to a fault, there are times when the bite is quick, either they are there or not, and over working an area can cost you time. The flip is that working a point of grass, bass move up and down the grass line and if you sit there long enough bass move to you. There are all kinds of scenarios like this going both ways. Bottom line is that I can without a doubt say that power poles have put fish in my boat.

big bill · January 26, 2013, 04:25:24 PM

WOW! I have been thinking over this same post in my mind! Guess you guys are helping me make my mind up!
as a newbe to this site, this is making me like it even more!!

SpartanBass · January 26, 2013, 07:50:14 PM

Ok, second big question on the subject. Not being Bill Gates, I can only afford one pole at this moment. I realize 2 poles would be best but for those with one, do you have to fight the wind/current to keep the boat from spinning around much? I guess what I am wondering is, is one pole counter productive and hard to secure the boat with? Wish I could get 2 now but I just don't have the $$.

Mike Cork · January 27, 2013, 08:02:29 AM

I've always run two, but see and talk to a lot of guys with one. They say it can be an issue but....

If you're using it to just stop the boat quickly one is effective. If your using it to anchor the boat to fish an area it is still useful but you have to take the wind and current into the consideration and line up your position just as if you were using a real anchor.

"Single" polers still love the addition.

There are a lot of times that the wind or my foot (trolling motor button) have me going to fast and putting the pool down to stop the boat so I can make a couple of quick specific pitches is all I need. A single pole would be fine for that.

laangler21 · February 06, 2013, 02:03:35 PM

I would go with the upgraded electronics. The way I see it, a powerpole, or talon is an anchor, if you use one alot, especially in shallow water, then one would probalby be benefitial to you. I hardly ever use one, but stare at my graphs all day, shallow water anchor will be one of the last additions to my rig, but they sure do look sweet.

Oldfart9999 · March 27, 2013, 06:57:52 PM

Me, I want electronics first, I fish deeper water most of the time so the electronics are more important to me. The one thing I'm going to get is I-Pilot for my PD2 Minn Kota. There are several reasons, first, I hate the foot control that came with it, Co-Pilot helps but it needs more. With I-Pilot I can hit spot lock and it will keep me within 5 feet of my spot, and I can program up to 6 trails into it. I would like to get at least 1 Talon eventually though for when I am fishing shallow, also to hold the boat at launches where it's hard to tie up.
Rodney