So last year I picked up one of those 4-8ft adjustable paint roller rods to use as a makeshift stakeout pole. Let's just say I'm looking to upgrade a little, I wish I had something better while I was out today. 

I'm open to both DIY and marketed stakeout poles. I'd like to keep it under 50 bucks either way though (the cheaper the better as long as it works). I would like it to reach at least 8ft, adjustable would be nice but not a deal breaker. I'm curious what you guys use for yours? 

I have a telescoping pole that used to be a lure retriever before the metal coil snapped off. It's worked very well and since it was a 15' pole, I can easily stake out in up to 10' of water and collapse it down to about 5'. 

I made one for my small flat bottom out of a galvanized ground rod. Put in my vise and drilled through close to end and put a 2" split ring. Its not fancy but it works. Less than $20 in it too. Its not the lightest but when staking out i just drop it and let the weight work for me instead of trying to drive it in. 

I made one out of one of those flexible signs that have a flag on it. took the solid fiberglass tip and epoxied it and it's about 4 1/2 foot. lightweight, sticks real good and was free. 

On 10/23/2016 at 1:08 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

I have a telescoping pole that used to be a lure retriever before the metal coil snapped off. It's worked very well and since it was a 15' pole, I can easily stake out in up to 10' of water and collapse it down to about 5'. 

that sounds like a pretty awesome way to re-purpose that lure retriever!

I won a tournament largely because I had a DIY fiberglass stake out pole (basically a sharpened stick). 3/4 of the field that day took a complete beating from the wind and was out of the running. I took part of the winnings and purchased the 6' YakAttack ParkNPole.

http://www.yakattack.us/by-product-name/parknpole/

It is light weight, incredibly strong and it floats.

 

I use an old folding hiking pole.

On 10/23/2016 at 11:24 AM, junyer357 said:

I made one for my small flat bottom out of a galvanized ground rod. Put in my vise and drilled through close to end and put a 2" split ring. Its not fancy but it works. Less than $20 in it too. Its not the lightest but when staking out i just drop it and let the weight work for me instead of trying to drive it in. 

 

I have a 9 foot fiberglass stakeout pole with metal tip.  Has been very useful and was 60 bucks i think. 

I have a Parknpole.  I know...it seemed silly to me, too...spending that much when I could make one...but, I've been VERY happy with it and it is highly unlikely that I could have made one this good for less $$.

Thanks guys, definitely some ideas I will consider

I bought an eight foot tree stake from Home Depot.  Worked well and was very inexpensive.  It is green and made of high strength lightweight plastic. 

On 10/24/2016 at 0:51 PM, Turtle135 said:

I won a tournament largely because I had a DIY fiberglass stake out pole (basically a sharpened stick). 3/4 of the field that day took a complete beating from the wind and was out of the running. I took part of the winnings and purchased the 6' YakAttack ParkNPole.

http://www.yakattack.us/by-product-name/parknpole/

It is light weight, incredibly strong and it floats.

 

I have the 8' version and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Other than rods, reels, baits and PFD, it is right up there as far as importance.  It always goes with me.

20 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I have the 8' version and wouldn't trade it for anything.  Other than rods, reels, baits and PFD, it is right up there as far as importance.  It always goes with me.

Now you guys are making me feel like I "need" one too 

It's definitely on my wish list but I will probably hold off for a while still

The longer ones are hard to transport but are very useful.  Id use it more if one of my lakes wasnt so steep banked.  Ive caught fish with it that i wouldnt otherwise

How do you think these stake out poles would work on a small 2man boat?  mine pictured below. these are new to me but these are being used as an anchor, no? 

They work great.  We've even used them on my buddy's 20' bass boat when we "pole" into a slop flat.  Anyone that has fished Oneida Lake in mid summer knows what I mean - Big Bay, hint, hint.

I use a Stick-It Anchor Pin. Good weight to it that
it is easy to sink into mud and such.

However, I've suggested this before here on the 
forum, a golf ball retriever mod: