Power poles are really an essential piece of fishing kit. You wouldn’t take a manual out for a drive if the parking brake wasn’t working, would you? If you are a real fisherman, you’ve seen these things grow in popularity over the last several years.
Boats are kinda the same in that way. Unless you “park” it somehow, it’s going to just float away.
But the beauty of a power pole is that you can just park your boat anywhere, right away, without having to weigh your boat down with a heavy anchor or physically get out of your boat to anchor it to something. If you’ve ever fought with a stuck boat anchor, or tangled ball of rope when you’re trying to drop anchor, power poles fix this.
The best shallow water anchors out there are basically the popular branded ones by JL Marine called “power-poles,” and people often just call any mechanized shallow water anchor a power pole at this point.
We found the Minn Kota ones to be less well-built than the JL Marine Power-Poles, but we’ve added them as worthy mentions because they do come in more extensive length options.
Click to jump straight to each topic.
The Best Shallow Water Anchors Reviewed
These recommendations are going to depend on the size, weight of your vessel, so bear that in mind when looking through these power pole and shallow water anchor reviews.
Comparison Table of the Best Power Poles and Best Shallow Water Anchors on the Market
| Editor’s Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best Power-Pole – Our Pick | Power-Pole CM2.0 Blade |
| Lower Budget Alternative | Power-Pole CM2.0 Sportsman II |
| Best Power-Pole for Boats Under 1,500 lbs | Power-Pole Micro Anchor |
| Best Sand Anchor for Small Boats | SandShark Ultimate (XL) |
| Best Stake Out Pole for Kayaks | YakAttack ParkNPole |
| Worthy Mention (15 ft Anchor Depth) | Minn Kota Talon 15 ft Shallow Water Anchor |
| Worthy Mention (12 ft Anchor Depth) | Minn Kota Talon 12 ft Shallow Water Anchor |
Best Power-Pole: Power-Pole CM2.0 Blade
Our Top Pick
This is the fastest deploying and strongest holding anchor system on the market, along with an unconditional lifetime warranty on the Everflex spike.
It’s safe to say, you’re pretty much set if you have one of these.
It’s also constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum to weigh as little as possible, and it’s available in 8 ft and 10 ft anchor versions.
This power-pole belongs to the CM2.0 new phase of power-pole designs to come from JL Marine. And we love it. Everything about it says quality.
Take the soft close system for example. You’d expect to hear at least something when it closes, but no, it doesn’t make any audible noise at all.
It does it by slowing down right before it finishes closing, and easing in so that it closes really gently.
Anyway, something really handy about the CM 2.0 Blade is that it has drive off protection, so you won’t damage your Power-Pole if you forget to disengage it before moving off.
It works by having a hydraulic system that disengages automatically when you start moving. Pretty neat, huh?
You control it with your smartphone the free C-Monster app. It’s available on both Android and iOS, of course.
With the app, you can customize your anchor settings to match your fishing style.
The Power-Pole CM2.0 Blade is available in blue, black, white or red.
What We Like:
- Unconditional Lifetime Warranty on the Everflex Spike – That’s how confident JL Marine Systems are in their product and its drive off protection.
- Drive Off Protection – Peace of mind that you won’t break it even in an emergency drive-off.
- Incredibly Strong – This is the strongest and fastest power-pole on the market. It’s also soft-closing too, and on the whole very quiet to operate.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Lower Budget Alternative: Power-Pole CM2.0 Sportsman II
Lower Budget Alternative Top Pick
A high-performance power pole for when you’d rather save money than get the absolute fastest and smoothest one you can.
This is just as strong as the CM 2.0 Blade
This one also has the same unconditional warranty on the Everflex spike as our top pick.
The Sportsman II is another CM2.0 power pole from JL Marine that fulfills the same purpose as the Blade model, except it’s for a much cheaper price point.
That makes it perfect for those of you who are looking for a budget friendly option, but one that’s actually extremely good, and not just some glorified stakeout stick.
It’s able to anchor boats in shallow water up to 8 ft deep with just as much rooting-force as the more costly Blade model, except the difference is in its max speed, along with not having ported arms and a few other differences in its construction.
For the speed difference we’re talking about here, this one can anchor from 0-8ft in 5.58 seconds, while the Blade can anchor that same distance in 4.025 seconds.
Not only that, the Blade can go 10 feet deep, while this one is only available as an 8 ft depth anchor.
Essentially, this is the one to go for if you’re already thinking that investing in a power pole is a bit costly for you.
You get the best bang for your buck with this one. To butcher that phrase: you get all of the bang that really matters, for much less of “the buck.”
What We Like:
- All of the Power, at a Lower Price – The same base functionality as the best model of the Power-Pole. Both versions can easily anchor boats weighing up to 4,500 lbs.
- Extremely Quiet Pump – This model uses the quietest pump that JL Marine have to offer.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Power-Pole for Boats Under 1,500 lbs: Power-Pole Micro Anchor
Best Power-Pole for Boats Under 1,500 lbs
A smaller anchor at a smaller price.
This is a quality option for hands-free anchoring smaller boats in shallow water, but you’ll need to get the Power-Pole Micro Anchor Spike separately if you don’t have a 3/4 inch stake out pole handy.
The Power-Pole Micro Anchor uses Bluetooth connectivity to allow you to control the anchor from your smartphone via Power-Pole’s free app.
It’s easily removable so you can move it to a another kayak or small craft whenever you like.
Really, the whole design of this shallow water anchor is focused on “ease of use.”
It’s a simple, but effective design that basically turns any 3/4 inch stake out pole you already have into a hands-free power pole.
However, because of that, it’s only suited to small vessels like small fishing boats and kayaks. It doesn’t have the “power” that a power pole usually has.
Still though, it’s one pretty darn cheap power pole from the same company that makes the super-strong dedicated ones that they’re famous for.
What We Like:
- Works with Any 3/4 Inch Stake Out Pole – Save yourself even more money if you’re basically thinking of upgrading your current stakeout pole into a power pole.
- A Money-saving Solution for Anchoring Small Boats – This costs significantly less than a full-power Power-Pole, and it’ll do the job just fine if you have a small vessel like a kayak or small fishing boat that you want to anchor in shallow water hands-free and effortlessly.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
And remember, if you don’t have a 3/4 inch stake out pole already, you’ll need one like the Power-Pole Micro Anchor Spike, which is the stake out pole officially intended for use with the Micro Anchor.
Best Budget Sand Anchor for Small Boats: SandShark Ultimate (XL)
Best Budget Sand Anchor for Small Boats
Perfect for shores, shallow water, sandbars and beaches.
Sure, the SandShark Ultimate isn’t a power pole, but it’s an effective shallow water anchor to say the least.
The premium screw auger is really what makes this one shine.
That’s how you can anchor your boat powerfully with one of these, even though it isn’t an actual power pole.
You simply get a solid hold with this shallow water anchor that you couldn’t ever get with a traditional stake out pole design.
What’s more, is that it’s even foldable down into a nice and compact state for easy storage, as you can see below.
It’s a simple and easy to use design, and you’ll never be left feeling like you wished you got something that can get a better hold.
The only downsides of going for this shallow water anchoring solution is that it’s just for sand, and it’s manually operated by hand, since it’s not a hands-free power pole.
What We Like:
- Excellent Hold on Sand and Shallows – For a manual shallow water anchor, you can’t really beat the premium auger on this one.
- Strong Construction – This one is made from strong, high quality stainless steel along with anodized aluminium
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Stake Out Pole for Kayaks: YakAttack ParkNPole
Best Stakeout Pole for Kayaks
Available 7′, 8′ or 6′ long, and made of wear-resistant nylon, this trusty lightweight stake out pole is a great companion for fishing in shallow waters.
The ParkNPole is made from formed fiberglass and UV stabilized, wear-resistant nylon.
It works best in sand or silt bottom rivers, and it’ll hold itself perfectly fine in swift waters.
The tip’s also durable, which is something that’s really important in a stake out pole.
Too often you’ll get a stake out pole where the tip snaps off at some point and you’re left with a hollow tube that takes up dirt into it.
If you’re looking for a stake out pole that’s also a better length for propulsion, then check out the 8 ft long version that’s more intended as a push pole.
What We Like:
- Strong, Durable Materials – This is a pole that’ll last a long time, not one that’ll break and leave your kayak drifting away.
- Firm Hold in Sand and Silt Bottomed Rivers – A good grip to keep you in place means it’s also easy to use. No messing around with trying to get it in the right position. It just works.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Other Worthy Mentions
Minn Kota Talon 15 ft Shallow Water Anchor
This one boasts an incredible 15 ft anchoring distance.
If you really need to anchor at those depths, then this power-pole alternative lets you do that.
Minn Kota Talon 12 ft Shallow Water Anchor
This is an alternative to the 15 ft version if you think 15 ft is overkill.
Honestly, 15 ft is very long. If you want to anchor in deeper waters, then this one is a nice choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the power pole warranty?
Two years. The Everflex spikes on Power-Poles come with an unconditional lifetime warranty too.
What does a power pole do?
It’s a kind of shallow water anchor that deploys quickly and silently down into the water to hold your boat firmly in place.
How much does it cost to install a power pole anchor?
The install will you cost roughly $150 for your local shop to install one unless your boat has a particularly difficult setup requirement.
If you’re looking to bolt your power pole to the transom or to the side of a hydraulic jack plate, then that’s the best scenario you can get, so it shouldn’t cost you more than that $150 estimate.
What is a shallow water anchor?
It’s basically a sturdy metal spike that you push into the bottom of the river or lake you want to anchor in, and you use that pole as the anchor.
These kinds of anchors, including power poles which hold much more strongly, and are controlled by your smartphone, don’t damage the riverbed unlike a traditional anchor.
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