Does anyone have any experience with or thoughts on the manual stake out poles like the ones Stay put shallow water anchor sells?  It is basically a bracket that goes on the bow or stern and a 3/4 inch dia pole (8 to 12 foot) that passes down through the bracket into the bottom of the lake.

I've use one on Bass Trek...Pelican 8' pole, cobbled together bracket that's bolted to the stern (cost me about $15 in parts)

 

It's use is limited on my main lake - the shallow areas I could anchor this way aren't the best fishing spots, but a couple of the other lakes it's really handy to have.

Some people call em Marsh Anchors or Cajun Anchors

Cajun's call em Throw Down Poles!

 

You can drill a hole & attach a shackle.

Or weld a nut on top

Tie one end of the rope to the pole the other to your boat, when you wanna anchor simply throw it down kinda hard & you're anchored.

I have a stick it but really only use it when anchored up catfishing. It works on my 20ft aluminum boat fine but I only use it to to keep the stern in place while running a anchor off the bow.

Guides have been using stake out poles for decades.  We use them when shiner fishing to keep the boat from swinging with the wind.  They are standard equipment on most salt water flats boats.  Power poles were invented to give you something else you think you need and to make others think you know what you're doing.   Years ago, we pasted tackle decals all over our boats or sewed them into our shirts.  Some even had their names emblazoned on the sides of their boats. That way you can tell the pros from the wannabes at the boat ramp!  

Thanks for the responses.  I'm considering getting one of these  for my 16' alum boat this spring. I think it would see limited use but could be very handy in some situations. I'm listing MN fisher as the solution, he confirmed what I was thinking.

The stayput version has a handle available that could be used as a push pole, paddle, boat hook.  I usually carry a long paddle that I use as a push pole so I could get double use out of a stake out stick.

I use Stick It poles .They work great, and wayyyyyyy cheaper than Powerpoles.