btmoon4 Posted September 7, 2016 Report Share Posted September 7, 2016 Would love to hear everyone's preference or recommendation for push pole. I have a 2014 HPX-V 18' with a 115. I had a CarbonMarine with my old skiff. Enjoyed it and their customer service is top-notch but just wanted to hear from the choir before pulling the trigger again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I have a loomis carbon fiber 22fter on my LT Hewes. Been around for 19 yrs and is still good to go. It depends how much you will use ,since carbon fibers are much lighter and more expensive. The pole came with the boat so I just enjoyed it when it is used which isn't that often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conocean Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 After having some experience with 21-24' poles built by Moonlighter, Biscayne Rod, Carbon Marine & Loomis on friend's boats, my preference is a one piece 22' Stiffy Hybrid. I've been using that pole for the past 10 years on 3 different skiffs (17MA, HPXT, 18HPXV). It's light enough for me and I like the high grip finish; strong & durable for staking out in heavy current. And they're only about $700+/-. I think most of the poles built today are high quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce J Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I've been using the Stiffy Hybrid pole for years too and really like them. If you're in Texas by any chance, you can get a fantastic deal on them by going to their site in Corpus Christi and buying a "factory second" from them directly for around $500 as I recall. I've done this twice and don't think there's anything "second" about them. I think it's just his way of giving a discount outside of the retail dealer's commission for those willing to make the visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Troy Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I second and third the Stiffy. I got a factory second from Captain Jim on here and I'm still looking for the supposed blemish. I have had it six years and it still is holding up great. I broke my 3 piece Loomis twice and after time it started shedding and would eat you up as bad as an old spike on a Power Pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I have a Biscayne 24', mainly because they're fairly close to me so if I have an issue I can drive there and have it resolved. Never heard anything bad about Stiffy and I know their "guide series" poles are super light, I loved mine until it was stolen. I had a very bad experience with Carbon Marine (took about 5 months to get a push pole replaced, the owner of Carbon Marine, Joe Welbourne, stopped by my house and personally confirmed it was a warranty issue and he would replace it... still took forever) Initially the pole developed a leak, about three months into the back-and-forth with Joe (2 months after he was over my house) the pole separated off Cape Sable and I lost about 11' of it. This is when I went with Biscayne over Stiffy in Texas. Not saying anything bad about Stiffy's customer service having never dealt with them but my Carbon Marine experience really sealed the deal for me and drove me to Biscayne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshfly Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 Try a Stiffy Hybrid before you buy. They tear up shirts like crazy due to the direction of the wraps and how it rubs on your shirt bottom when you push. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbum321 Posted September 8, 2016 Report Share Posted September 8, 2016 I have no issues with my stiffy hybrid as well not at all rough. not super light but works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshfly Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 There is a similar thread going on over at microskiff. It seems that the newer Hybrids have this rough edge to the wraps that is on my fairly new pole. Seriously, try before you buy. Also, apparently, the guide and graphite Stiffy's do not have the same roughness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbum321 Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 has anyone tried the MHX pole? farely light and inexpensive. I have not put my hands on one except for at mudhole. seen 1 review somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshfly Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 Another note, I had a Biscayne on my East Cape Caimen and I have a Stiffy Hybrid on my HPX-V 18. The Stiffy is much stiffer and that makes it much easier to pole with but also much easier to break if you hog on it in the mud. Cheaper poles will normally be more flexible and that wastes a lot of energy poling a big skiff like an HPX. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conocean Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 All good points, Marshfly! Stiffy Hybrid will definitely beat up a fancy fishing shirt; their higher end models, not so much. However, rarely ever do I find myself rubbing the pole against my shirt. You will expend less energy with a stiffer pole, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASB Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 I used Stiffy Hybrids for years and a couple years ago I upgraded to the stiffy guide extreme. I would never use anything else. The Hybrid feels like a telephone pole after using the extreme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Tyler Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 X2 Stiffy Xtreme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce J Posted September 9, 2016 Report Share Posted September 9, 2016 Those "tearing up the shirt" comments are surprising. I've used Stiffy Hybrids for probably about 10-12 years now and have never noticed that at all. But as someone said, maybe they changed the finish on them sometime recently. My current one was new in 2010 and my shirts have survived without incident! I'm sure the Xtremes are nice too, but I think they were about 3x the price of the Stiffy last time I looked. Horses for Courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobVan Posted September 12, 2016 Report Share Posted September 12, 2016 Another Stiffy Hybrid fan. Going on about 8 years and two boats and it still looks and performs great. I also was able to go over to Danny's shop and pull a "factory second" out of the rafters for a significant discount. I cannot find any blemish so don't know why it would be considered a second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Yellow 1806V Posted September 13, 2016 Report Share Posted September 13, 2016 Anybody use a super stick telescopic? I don't spend a lot of time poling but there are some areas that I fish a good bit that is thick with grass and too skinny for the tm. Would like a telescopic that way I can store it easier. Boat is a pathfinder 1806V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodwalker78 Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 I have a 22ft Stiffy hybrid on my HPXS, and it's as light as a feather, in my opinion. Of course using nothing but wood and heavy glass poles in Key West since the 60's, any newer pole would be light to me! I'm very happy with the hybrid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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