Talon vs. Power Pole

Wolfeman · Post by **Wolfeman** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 3:55 pm

I want to know the pros and cons of each model.
And, if you can only afford to get one Talon or one Power Pole, which would you get and why?
Thanks,
- Wolfeman

kraetzer · Post by **kraetzer** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 5:48 pm

I have talons so here we go:
All electric, which makes for easy installation (did mine all by myself) and with the quick disconnect it takes about 2 minutes to take them off or put them back on.
You can get the tilt brackets if you need clearance to get under obstructions.
Never had a problem with them and Minn Kota customer service is awsome.
Let me know if u have any more specific questions.

Tight lines

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 8:51 pm

I have Talons with the tilt brackets. Just got done fishing the Delta for a week. There were times I would deploy them and just be on the edge of the dropoff. If I had Power Poles, they would have been stuck out too far away and not stick. I also worried that around docks like at Clear Lake, I wouldn't have the room I needed.
I also installed them myself. Easy.
I use them everywhere from lakes just stopping to tie up, to holding on a wind swept point, holding quietly off a bed, to the Delta tides. I deploy them when I stick a fish on the Delta and not worry about drifting into the rocky shoreline.
Although they are heavy compared to The PP, I love them.
Morgan

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 12:44 pm

I have had talons since when they were first introduced. first gen had its issues as they needed better field testing and had to be repaired a few times by the TM dr. 2nd gen. are Vastly improved with better brackets and talon durability. yes, they are heavy and do affect my holeshot, but its a trade off for their usability. Definitely need the newer version tilt bracket to help get thru docks and into the garage. The PPoles have an App.. Big whoop. Not sure if I need my sonar unit or phone to control my PPoles . No matter what you get, they are still mechanical and still malfunction. Good news is that both companies support what they sell. New gen Talons have a 5yrs. warranty. Good for the consumer.

reddog · Post by **reddog** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 1:15 pm

Just checking, I know one of the "problems" with the Talons was the height and laying them down became a problem form time to time. I heard they had reinvented them to a 3 maybe 4 stage unit which meant they were no higher than the motor on the back of your boat? If thats true they really hit it but I'm not sure of this. Anyone know?

kraetzer · Post by **kraetzer** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 1:36 pm

I know they have a new 8ft version coming out that is a 3 stage and therefor very compact.
But you can always use the tilt brackets to lay them down without any problems.
And from the minn kota website:
What is the overall length of Talon shallow water anchor when stowed?
6' Talon is 45"
8' Talon is 57"
10' Talon is 49.5"
12' Talon is 57.5"…

Morgan · Post by **Morgan** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 8:29 pm

[img]

: Height of Talons on a Skeeter

[/img]
Here they are with tilt brackets.

The Jerk 936 · Post by **The Jerk 936** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:50 am

Power poles are definatley more quite. I believe they are lighter, and I know there more aroedynamic. However, you need to put a pump for each unit in the boat, which is a huge downside, unless your boat came factory with this built in. The other obvious down side is they stick out like spider legs, and when fighter fish while anchored in shallow water, you can get wrapped around them.
The talon take two connections at the battery, and all remotes are wireless, so any person with wire strippers can install. They are vertical, so it's easy to fight fish around them. The rotor hammer feature gets the talon unstuck every time, without getting in, with power poles, you must get in and pull up in them, which cans eriously ruin a day of fishing. They are a bit heavy, and not aroedynamic, but function flawless. Recommend the tilt brackets.

Wolfeman · Post by **Wolfeman** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:43 pm

Got another question for the guys who did the install themselves.
I'm guessing you already had a jackplate. True?
Thanks,
- Wolfeman

fishn4bass · Post by **fishn4bass** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:00 pm

I have had twin Power Pole Blades on my rig for three years now without a single issue. They are quiet, and swift. You have three different speed settings,and the ability to operate each pole individually.So if you are on ledge fishing and need to anchor down you have to option to drop one down to hold position.Installation is very simple, and requires very few tools. having the ability to drop them down to the desired height to go under a low structure like a dock, bridge or the garage door is just a bump of the switch. Just like the boats we run, the graphs we look at, or the rods we fish with, everyone has to use a product that they believe is best suited for them!

kraetzer · Post by **kraetzer** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:05 pm

Wolfeman wrote:Got another question for the guys who did the install themselves.
I'm guessing you already had a jackplate. True?
Thanks,
- Wolfeman

That's correct.

Mike Phua · Post by **Mike Phua** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 3:46 pm

Powerpoles have been my choice since 2008 on my boats. I currently run twin 8' Blades. They are light and do not effect Boat Performance as much as the Talons do. The number one selling point to them is the ability to control the height via mounted switch or key fob around your neck. This enables you to lower them for clearance or simply to have them out of the way when your partner is back there fishing. Since they do extract out like one person said a "Spider" I find it beneficial for protecting the motor cowling when you are fishing around brush. But the number one reason I like them is if you were ever to have a failure with the unit "Which I never had." you can pull them up and bungy or zip tie them in the up position. This argument was not brought up with the Talon. Here is a review about a talon getting stuck and what you have to do in order to get it back up.

" The Talon is a product that works well but needs improvement. Mine gets stuck on the mud quite often. Sometimes I have to get out of the boat to help it get unstuck with my hands or rocking the boat sideways. In my opinion the motor is powerful enough to get it 1 or 2 ft down into the mud but not powerful to get it up. It may need a stronger motor or upward force. Last time I used it got stuck on the down position and something inside the metal mechanism got bent. I couldnt get unstuck so had to use the motor to break the composite shaft to get the boat moving, then since the metal mechanism goes down about 4 ft, I had to unscrew the talon from the boat on the water to prevent it from damaging it or the boat as I was getting back to the ramp.. The talon service specialist closest to me 2 and 1/2 hour drive said "they are getting talons for service every day". He recommended the power pole better. I would call the authorize service specialists that repair both products to compare and for advise. Good luck! "

I hope this helps,
Mike Phua

kraetzer · Post by **kraetzer** » Wed Oct 21, 2015 5:26 pm

I was in 2ft of water a couple of time and had the talons deploy all the way down to 8ft in the delta muck. The only time they don't come back up is if the current/wind puts pressure on them -> step a little on the trolling motor and up the come. If that wouldn't work or you half an electrical problem there is always the bolt on the side housing which let's you manually stow the talons.
And since it hasn't been mentioned for the power pols, you also don't have hydraulic fluid in the bildge area in case of a defect

Mike Phua · Post by **Mike Phua** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 6:23 am

I would rather have Hydraulic fluid in my bilge all day long than trying to cross lake mead in 5 foot waves with a freaking talon sitting on my lap! Take your pick!

kraetzer · Post by **kraetzer** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 8:21 am

Mike Phua wrote:I would rather have Hydraulic fluid in my bilge all day long than trying to cross lake mead in 5 foot waves with a freaking talon sitting on my lap! Take your pick!

Why would it be sitting on your lap?
Just to clarify, with the bolt you are able to retract the talons manually

Brian D. · Post by **Brian D.** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 11:25 am

Its mechanical and therefore its bound to break at the least convenient time. Pros and con with both types of anchor systems as long as the companies support their equipment. Regardless of whatever you install on your boat, being prepared for mechanical breakdown can mean the difference between having a good or bad day on the water.

Here is another persons PowerPole failure story. Just for you Mike.

--------

"Has anyone ever broken on of the lines on a power pole? I did and didn't know how pull the pole up in an emergency.

The blue line snapped at the transom and pole fell 8' deep. considering everywhere i go it's 2-3', you can understand my predicament.

After a battle that had me in the water in my skivvies, in 30mph wind and 3' whitecaps. trying to anchor from the front and let the back of the boat swing onto a sandbar, dragging the pole. I managed to lift it about half way, roped the hell out of it. and in the process bent the bracket from the jack plate to the PP.

I limped it home and got it on the lift and replaced the blue line. "

---------

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 6:12 am

Howard, Howard, Howard, you're right again!

Mike Phua · Post by **Mike Phua** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 9:31 am

Brian if you knew about power poles you would know that the Blue Line is the Hydraulic Line. I've never seen one snap, I've heard of them coming loose but not snapping. And if that happened, the Power Pole becomes limp with zero pressure on it. You can do whatever you want with it. Since it basically weighs nothing my 4 year old daughter could lift it back up and tie it off.

And to Clarify if you read the review about the talon he could not manually screw the Talon back in due to the bent mechanism and had to manually remove the Talon and have it serviced.

basshol · Post by **basshol** » Sat Oct 24, 2015 2:03 pm

Regardless they,both have there individual problems. Knowing what to do ahead of time will solve it.id the talens get stuck ( mine never have) 4 eleven millimeter nuts and the unit slides up and off the bracket.knowing what to do before it breaks solves a bad day of fishing .Talens any day

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 6:09 am

basshol wrote:Regardless they,both have there individual problems. Knowing what to do ahead of time will solve it.id the talens get stuck ( mine never have) 4 eleven millimeter nuts and the unit slides up and off the bracket.knowing what to do before it breaks solves a bad day of fishing .Talens any day

You make a really good point.
Everyone who owns a boat should know how to disassemble stuff on their boat, and have a tool kit onboard with whatever is needed to help get home, in an emergency.
I had to loan a guy a flat bladed screw driver at the launch ramp, when his trim went out and he had to release the hydraulic pressure so he could raise his big motor to get back on the trailer.
Taking the time to figure out how to gerry-rig something mechanical is a lot easier in your own driveway than on a lake somewhere.

bassrman · Post by **bassrman** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:35 pm

I have had both PP's & Talons on my boats ' over the years ! both CO's have solved just about all the problems from the early days !... I think it's just personal preference ! just like trolling motors & sonar units !....