PVC Marsh Stake

[Shankapotomus]

I am thinking of replacing my "broom handle" marsh stake with a PVC model so I can get a little more length.

Can anyone offer advice on what size / lengths have worked well? Do you plug the ends with something so it floats?

[derrelt]

I use a paint roller extender pole. It is 4 ft long alum and can be extended to about 10 ft. I put a $1.99 float from Academy on the loop at the end that I connect to my trolley. Works well for me.

[Branch_Office]

Shank, the one we have used in the stinkpot is a 2", solid cap on one end with a hole drilled thru it to put rope thru and the other end we cut on a slant and filled either with wood plug or water putty. Works fine and floats.

For the yak I use one I ordered from Austin Kayaks (I think) that also floats but is solid pvc with a handle on top for rope or hook..was about $40. I also put a fish measuring sticker / ruler on it from Academy that cost about $2 just as an additional back up. Lost my other good one at PP7 when rope hook came off as I speard it down in about 10' of water. Haven't gone back to look for it since the fishing closed.

[Glwlsu]

Here's mine think it cost maybe $4 works great. really haven't used it since bought the Hobie

[all_in]

+1 on the painters pole. The one I use telescopes to 8 feet, fits through a the large caribeaner on my trolly, is made of plastic and fiberglass (no rust) and only cost 11.00 from Lowes.

[ecb]

I made mine out of 3/4" pvc, using a tee and 3 end caps, I tie parachute cord to the pole and clip the other end to my anchor trolley.

[Yak-a-Lou]

For a long time I did the same thing as ECB except I clip onto the pole with a Baker Clip Anchor that is sometimes attached to the trolley and sometimes attached... wherever.

Recently bought an aluminum Cajun anchor that I found for sale at a gas station in Sorrento for $28 (lowest price I've seen). I expect that it will resolve the issues I've had with hard sandy bottoms. We'll see.

[revredfish]

2ft cajun anchor does the trick for me and doesn't stick out of the water

[Shankapotomus]

Several ideas that i had not thought of.

I like the painters pole idea because of the optional lengths. I will have to check that out.

[Shankapotomus]

I made mine out of 3/4" pvc, using a tee and 3 end caps, I tie parachute cord to the pole and clip the other end to my anchor trolley.

ECB,

About how long did you make it? Seems like 3/4" Schedule 40 would be a bit flimsy?

[MDR]

I also use the paint roller pole. I like being able to extend it when needed. Not so great on hard bottoms, but I am seldom in that. I also use the Academy float. Learned that after losing one when I went to chase a red.
I started off with the pvc but quickly changed after dragging a bunch of mud yuck onto the yak.

[ecb]

ECB,

About how long did you make it? Seems like 3/4" Schedule 40 would be a bit flimsy?

actually its fairly stiff, I bought a 10' piece and cut it in half, it ends up right around 5', sometimes I wish it were a couple of feet longer, but it works even if you have to shove it underwater, just make sure you have it attached well. it is heavier than those fancier models but infinitely cheaper, even cheaper was the broom handle I drilled a hole in but the wood started splitting fairly quick, and it was too short as well.

[Battery Doctor]

I use a 5 foot homemade 1/2" stainless steel round bar. Sharpened on one end and bent in a 2" ring for rope on the other. Heavy, durable, lasting, rust proof, can chuck it like a spear and works on practically any type of bottom.

[Psycho Joe]

I bought a 10' piece and cut it in half, it ends up right around 5'

Why does this sound funny to me??

[ecb]

Why does this sound funny to me??

I cut off 2 small pieces to use between the tee and the end caps, the tee and end cap add length back, therefore the "around 5 ft"

[Surfmonkey]

I cut off 2 small pieces to use between the tee and the end caps, the tee and end cap add length back, therefore the "around 5 ft"

Now, that sounds better :)

[barhopper]

:lol:

[RedFinn]

+1 painters ploe harbor frieght about $10 bucks aluminum,no rust :)

[Fishnted]

I use schedule 40 and has worked well for me.Be sure to cut the end at about a 45 or 90 degree angle and plug the end with a piece of wood and Marine Goop.I also painted the T-top section florecent orange just so other boaters could see me. Hope this helps.

[Yellow Submarine]

I've been looking for a patch of bamboo to select the right thickness and cut to length..

[Yak-a-Lou]

+1 painters ploe harbor frieght about $10 bucks aluminum,no rust :)

I see where several of you guys have been using the painters pole. I had thought about it many times but always feared that it would corrode inside where the two pieces lock together. Glad to hear that such is not the case.

Question: What, if anything, are y'all screwing on to the end of it to give a sharp point?

[Shankapotomus]

I've been looking for a patch of bamboo to select the right thickness and cut to length..

Now that is an interesting thought. Let me know if you find such a bamboo patch, i bet that would work well.

[downoffthemountain]

My landlord gave me a canoe this spring. Since then, I've made maybe 6 trips out into bayou and out to the mouth of 3 Bayous (or Bayou Liberty depending on who you ask) where it feeds into Lake Ponchartrain. So far, my catch has been limited to 3 bass in the 12" range and 1 perch. One of my biggest challenges has been getting blown around so much I can't actually work the targeted areas. I'd been puzzling over what to use for a marsh stake. The bamboo suggestion finally turned the light bulb on - I've got a really nice stand, just the right size in my back yard. In the 20 minutes since I read the last post, I've cut a piece down, trimmed it,rigged it & its ready to go. I'm hoping to get into some redfish in ponds just off the lake. I'll report back tomorrow - on both the fishing and the bamboo.

[stimpy56]

I made a Cajun Anchor with a solid 3 foot rod from home depot, I just grinded one end down to somewhat of a point. I added a SS shackle and it cost less than $20. worked great today out in Lake Catherine. I like it because there is nothing above the waterline to interfere with my casting.

[downoffthemountain]

I used the bamboo as a marsh stake and it worked perfectly. It's about 10' long and pointed at the heavy end - probably 1 1/2" in diameter and tapers to about 7/8" at the upper end. It's a solid and totally reliable anchor point and if you twist it as you pull it out of the mud, it comes out almost perfectly clean of mud, so you aren't adding any unecessary muck to your boat when you stowe it. This was my first use of the trolley system I installed - full length on one side. It worked very well. My only modification at this point is to add a full length version to the other side as well. When you suddenly realize a place to set up, a single side arrangement can be sometimes found to be on the wrong side. The clip and ring system I devised to attach the bamboo stake to the trolley worked very well also. I'll take some pictures and try to post them tomorrow after I've added the trolley to the 2nd side. As for the fishing itself - a big gar broke the line on a bait fish under a bobber and I missed a strike right at the boat by a really nice bass. Not a sign of redfish. All in all, still a nice morning to be on the water.

[bigredbobber]

that's the unexpected surprise of paddle fishing. The fish forget you are there and you can get a blow-up right next to you just as you're about to pull the bait out of the water for another cast. You never know.

[downoffthemountain]

Here are the pics of my anchor trolley system and bamboo marsh stake. It's about 10'. The deepest water I tried was about 5' and it worked fine. That's a long pole but in a 16' canoe, it fits fine. The picture that won't load shows the stake slips through a ring identical to the one tied to the canoe. By using a ring on a connecting line run through a piece of pipe insulation it floats and allows me to use the full length of the bamboo. The clip attachment at the canoe end allows for a quick release if necessary. I also included a picture of the camp chair I'm using for a back rest. That was a nice addition as well.

[Branch_Office]

Nice job... thanks for the pics.

[Coomz]

Here's my PVC stake out/ push pole. It's about 9' long. I made it out of 3/4 in pipe. I have a stopper on the bottom with a 1" T above it. On the 1" T i drilled a whole through it and added a SS bolt. To the bolt i attached a carabiner, which attaches to my line. The 1" T helps to keep my line from getting tangle. It leaves my line to move 360 degrees and up and down freely. On the end of the pole I inserted a wooden pole. I sharpened the point on the wooden to make it a spear. On the other end, I made it adjustable by inserting threaded 3/4" attachments. This threaded 3/4" attachments lets me add on another piece if I wanted too. I have other pieces that I can just twist the handle off and twist it on that can make it as long as I want. On my outback I have a anchor trolley kit and I attach the pole straight to the O ring. With the pole and the O ring I can adjust my position very quickly by tying an overhand knot and attaching that knot straight to the O ring. I use my pole whenever I go fishing in the marsh. The spear end is also a good weapon in case something comes to close to the yak.

[Coomz]

here's some more pics

[Cobia 1]

Use the 3/4 pvc and epoxy oak dowells inside. Cut botton @ 22 degree angle and make a t-handle on top. Seal bottom with epoxy. Works well as a push pole also!

[GeauxRyan]

Went and picked up a 5' steel painters pole yesterday from Home Depot for $6. Its super light and just what I need. Any ideas of how I might create tip on the end?

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhm/R-202036540/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[Branch_Office]

You remove the black plastic screw tip and possibly put something else in there and secure it with some stainless screws. The question would be what to use for that point and I am drawing a blank right now other than a wood dowel and sharpen it and insert into the end with the screw idea.

[GeauxRyan]

The plastic tip is on the top part of the pole, which already has a hole in it for a rope. The other end is a screw end, I might just try to grind it down to a point and hope its not hollow. We'll see how long it lasts, since its not stainless or aluminum, in the salt water. I also rigged up a couple LED lights that I'll post on here later.

[Kurt_Loup]

I can make you an aluminum tip. Send me a pm if you are interested.