Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Talon/pole on a classic?
catdude28.
After a few days this season in the wind, including last week in a rather brisk 25knot breeze that practically planed-off the boat, im considering a talon or power pole. Realistically one, not two. I hear various comments about weight,room for pumps, poor hole shot, etc. i have an 03 classic with a 200 yamaha ox66 on a slidemastr jackplate, three batteries and dual 20 gallon tanks and an onboard charger…I have a hard time believing theres room for a hydraulic pump in the bilge. Is that correct? If a talon is my option, how do they attach best? Would the weight be an issue on this rig? If I went with a 10 or 12 model how high up do they stick above the engine cowling? Can you really use these in 10-12 deep water? And, can a talon or powerpole actually hold me in a 15 or 20-knot wind? How do they deal with waves? Ive never been in a boat with them, so Im unsure of their actual performance. Are they hard to install, do I need to have it done? Any tips, ideas, comments, things I should take into account or snide remarks would be welcomed! Thanks in advance,Dave
I have a 2013 P2, with a 200 Mercury Pro XS / 8″ Slidemaster Jackplate setup, that I recently installed a 12 Talon on this past summer and it was relatively easy to install using the Jackplate mount bracket.I went with the Talon because I liked the how it projected the rod anchor straight down versus the way the Power poles operate, plus i didnt really care for the hydraulics in the bilge area.I checked out installation videos on U-Tube before my purchase, then before and periodically during the install (brackets came in 2-3 weeks earlier than the Talon), plus the instructions were simple to understand.The Talon sits about 12″ higher than the motor, but with the tilt bracket, I can easily lower it to back the boat into my garage.I havent noticed any change in my hole shot and I have tried to used it in 10-11″ of water on a hump in open water. It held initially when the lake was calm, but as the wind and other boat wakes picked up it did not hold. Im guessing it may have something to do with the lake bottom and how soft or hard it was. The built in wave action feature was working, but after a while I guessing it came loose from the soft bottom.So far I have been happy with it, for the few times I have used it.
Thanks, great feedback! I imagine the wave feature has a certain amount of travel, and bigger waves will pull it out of the bottom? Id love to get a sense from some folks where the line is between it holding and not holding. Just to confirm, in calmer water a 10 pole WILL work in 10 feet of water, correct? Or do you need more pole than depth to function well?this is great, keep it coming please.
And, does the jackplate mount go between the jack and the hull, or does it mount on the side of the jackplate? Is that the mount of choice?
We suggest the side mount universal mount and we further suggest you use the help line for MinnKota and get their advice.
Macintosh wrote: Just to confirm, in calmer water a 10 pole WILL work in 10 feet of water, correct? Or do you need more pole than depth to function well?this is great, keep it coming please.Keep in mind, what your depthfinder reads as 10 is really closer to 11 assume you need 6″ of bottom (minimum) for the pole to penetrate. A 10 pole will hold in about 8.5 (on the depthfinder) in calm conditions. Last edited by fishndav on October 7th, 2015, 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The 10 Talon will extend to hold in 10 water, as the 12 in 12 water. As already mentioned, the best way to mount is with the universal JP bracket on the side of the JP. These Talons are 3 stage designed, so they are shorter than a comparable power pole. I have some pics at http://www.jonestrollingmotor.com/talon … 20deal.htm that shows them on a Ranger and Triton — dont have the pics on a Basscat – sorry. If I can help, give me a call.JohnJones Trolling Motor Services870 773 3474Motorguide/MinnKota/PowerPole/Lowrance/Humminbird
Thanks all! Id still love to hear real-world experience from anyone about how well they hold in a particularly stiff breeze, or if they hold on bedrock…Id call Minn Kota but my experience has been that while they are generally fantastic at servicing warranty issues I get less than stellar information from them–Id prefer to hear from users what their experience has been, and if I call anyone for this itll be John (above)! That said, above info is fantastic, thanks very much.
You might be able to contact Jamey Caldwell through his website or facebook if you are on there. He has been using Talons on his boat for several years and surely could give you the real world info you are wanting. Talons are probably going to be the way I go when Im able to make the purchase. Simply for the option to flip them down for parking in my low roofed carport and also ease of removal if not needed for a particular trip.Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
2015 P2, 200 Pro XS, three batteries, 36 gallon tank, 8 inch Slidemaster, and one 8 Talon. Holeshot is so great with this boat that there was no noticeable difference after installing the Talon. I mounted it port side for better balance as I often fish alone. I do not want a pump or hydraulic lines in my battery compartment so choice was easy for me. Installed with the universal bracket on the side of the jackplate, and was easy to do by myself. I use it mostly when I am fishing docks, and for that purpose it serves me very well. Because I fish alone a lot, it makes it easier to hold the boat at the dock after I launch also as I dont have to bother with a stern bumper and rope. Next rig will have a longer Talon, but this one I have had for four years and was on my previous Cats and has served me well, with no mechanical issues.
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