powerpole vs spot lock

I agree with fork on this one. I have had a 12’ talon on my rig for a few years now and I’ll never own a boat without one again ( at least my big boat, it’s maybe a bit much for the 12’ tinny 😏).
There’s days where I don’t even use it at all but there’s lots of days where it’s a lifesaver. So many times I’ve caught a bass off a dock or weedbed, and just taloned down and re-rigged, then hammered a few more fish off the same spot without moving or making a sound. Tough to do that as silently with spot lock when your in super shallow water or the wind is howling.
I’ve used it quite a bit even on a rocky shoal, when the smallies are relating deeper to the shoal. I’ll just hold on top of the shoal and cast deeper, my dad and I did that this summer on one lake for almost an hour catching smallies on nearly every cast, and I didn’t once have to worry about controlling the boat or spooking any fish with too much noise.
They’re also a great assistant when your launching at a ramp that doesn’t have a dock, just pull in shallow and drop it and your good to go park.

I often wonder does 1 talon keep the boat from moving left to right in high winds, ospr are 2 talons required for more stability, I’m considering on adding 1 to my boat before next season ? This is very informative, thanks everyone.

One definitely moves your boat but you will get used to knowing where to position it to anticipate the winds blowing the bow to where you want to fish. Two would keep you more grounded I'm sure but to be honest for the money and work to put it on I honestly don't think it's needed.

So maybe with the 1 talon and trolling motor spot lock would probably keep you in position even on windy days.

One works fine. Even in heavy wind, if you factor the swing of the bow, when you drop the talon the bow will swing right into the spot you need it to be. It’ll sway back and forth a little bit, but not enough to be a hassle. Sometimes if the wind is blowing hard away from the spot I want to hit ( like hard offshore and I’m fishing a spot real close to shore), I’ll drop the talon and let the bow swing away from the spot, then just jump to the back deck and cast from there. Two talons would help a bit with sway but for the extra $ I don’t think for me it’d be worth it.

With that much effort you're better off paying someone to just drive your trolling motor and keep you steady for you while you fish LOL just one towel on will be enough

Haha I do the same thing

I use the minn kota terrova spot lock - the best thing since slice bread. I can be on lake erie in 80' of water and hold on top of a school perch in a head wind and whats more the terrova has a alarm to let you know if you moved off your spot. The old days of trying to hold on perch after spotting them on sonar with an anchor are gone if your into tech. As far as power poles - too pricey only good for shallow water and you really need two to hold tight. I can achieve the same effect with spot lock or simply lower my anchor down and hold tightly right there. The trick is having a good anchor. I can honestly say I have not used my anchor in some time. Also with spot lock you need a 24-volt system to handle the battery load. I must admit I was lost without it which is ashame. l power pole or

I have the ultra, which I love. This thread has opened my eyes tho. I never fish in swallow weedy areas. I fish deep. I have used spot lock on simcoe to vertical jig in the summer for whitties with really good success. You can spot lock above a deep hole in a river with a heavy current and drop your line back for eyes or whatever. Also perch fish, if the school moves a bit you just have to hit the direction button in that direction and you move a couple feet over. I will never go back to an anchor again.