I have a 201 Pro XL and Im planning on buying either a hummingbird 1198 si hd or 2 power poles, which would be more useful year round. I also have heard a few things about 10 ft. power poles, Is there any information on them or when they come out?

I'd get the Power Poles. Seems I have a need to use them every time I go out.

Here's a video on the 10' poles:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/powerpole-blade-video.html

I bought a new boat last year with both. I use the SI every outing. I rarely use the Power Poles.

It depends on how you fish. If you fish shallow most of the time(8' or less)I go with the power pole other wise it would be the hummingbird.

I have a 201 Pro XL and Im planning on buying either a hummingbird 1198 si hd or 2 power poles, which would be more useful year round. I also have heard a few things about 10 ft. power poles, Is there any information on them or when they come out?

If you don't find the fish, the power poles are useless.

I'd get a minnkota t motor with spot lock and save a little more and get the graph! Spot lock will hold you better in 11 fow that any power pole ever dreamed about!

Jeff

I recently fished in a boat with two power poles and they get in the way if you are fishing in the back of the boat. My partner would partially lower them to fish but if a big fish had been hooked I'm not sure what would have happened. Big fish don't usually come straight to the boat. We were mostly pitching so we made it work. My partner is a touring pro so he normally fishes alone so for him it works but us regular fishermen I'm not so sure. It would probably require both men to fish the front deck..............which some like some don't. But they look cool.......Al

PS-Came back to add. He also had side imaging and he used it a great deal, however it has a drawback as well. Getting the unit properly setup and learning to recognize what you are seeing. Long learning curve requiring a lot of patience that I'm not sure I have. However he used it a lot and it works well for him. I like to fish not play with electronics.............Al

Get the hummingbird first.

I recently fished in a boat with two power poles and they get in the way if you are fishing in the back of the boat. My partner would partially lower them to fish but if a big fish had been hooked I'm not sure what would have happened. Big fish don't usually come straight to the boat. We were mostly pitching so we made it work. My partner is a touring pro so he normally fishes alone so for him it works but us regular fishermen I'm not so sure. It would probably require both men to fish the front deck..............which some like some don't. But they look cool.......Al

PS-Came back to add. He also had side imaging and he used it a great deal, however it has a drawback as well. Getting the unit properly setup and learning to recognize what you are seeing. Long learning curve requiring a lot of patience that I'm not sure I have. However he used it a lot and it works well for him. I like to fish not play with electronics.............Al

Al it is not a long learning curve if you put in the effort to learn how it works. There are web sites that are dedicated to that technology with all the help anyone could want to assist in that process. It ain't rocket science, just a different way of looking at things. Not much different that trying to learn a fishing presentation you are not familiar with.

Can someone give me a link to some info and how to on the 1198 I was on a site trying to figure it out the other night and cant remember where it was. Also thanks for all the advice I may check out the trolling motor with spot lock.

Power Poles/Talons are great for leaning on in choppy water when you need to relieve yourself.

One Power Pole and an 898?

I fish really windy Lake Champlain and the Power Pole is really helpful flipping beds and working the shallows for sure. I've been out on days when a 101lb TM will not keep us from getting blown over a weed bed we wanted to work. Up here SI electronics help find where melt runoff debries settles (trees, oil tanks, etc.) since these things get shifted year after year. However for the most part a good standard unit with GPS is just as helpful, gets you to your spot, you can see what's below you, and you have the topo/contour map you can find the humps/ledges, etc. This is just what I would do.

Can someone give me a link to some info and how to on the 1198 I was on a site trying to figure it out the other night and cant remember where it was. Also thanks for all the advice I may check out the trolling motor with spot lock.

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If you know nothing about technology, there are some YouTube videos to help your.

Humminbird TV is one. http://www.youtube.com/user/HumminbirdTV

Check out the subjects on the right side of the site.

There are 4 sizes of Side Imaging units, the 1198 has the largest display and they all work pretty much the same.

I have the 1198c SI and the 798ci SI-that is the largest and smallest.

I'll PM you with additional information.

As far as the TM, MinnKota iPilot has the spot lock feature. BUT if you are used to the quick response of cable steer you may not like the electronic steer. I have a Powerdrive V2 iPilot on my tin boat. IMO for river fishing or fishing current, it's the best thing since sliced bread. Also for deep water fishing if you want to stay within casting distance of a hump, reef, or some other type of structure. If you're bed fishing the shallows the PowerPole will keep you anchored whereas the iPilot keeps you within a 5ft radius.

Al it is not a long learning curve if you put in the effort to learn how it works. There are web sites that are dedicated to that technology with all the help anyone could want to assist in that process. It ain't rocket science, just a different way of looking at things. Not much different that trying to learn a fishing presentation you are not familiar with.

Wayne, I'm sure you are correct. There are too many fishermen already using them for them to be overly difficult. I'm just not an electronic fisherman, I probably use 10 percent of my GPS's capability. Other opinions as well as the fact that there are dedicated web sites for side imaging indicates, to me, that it might be more than I bargained for. I just wanted him to understand it's not a turn on and use product................Al