I am going to get one this week before the trip to Fort Fisher next weekend but also want to use it in local lakes. Did anyone get the 8' model and regret it? I'm thinking the longer it is, the more places I can use it, but I suppose there's a limit to how high out of the water you want it in real shallow water. I'll be using it on an MR 14 with an anchor trolley.

I have a 5.5 and wish I had the longer pole. I also have an anchor and would much rather use the pole.

Length depends on where you are going to be fishing and the type of bottom. Longer is better. Some put a warning flag on theirs and put it in a rod holder to warn on coming boats. Don't forget some kind of lease and a pool noodle for a float. A quick release (also for anchor) is advisable so you can enjoy the ride when you hook up with a 4 footer. Also many of us have made our own from green garden poles, pvc or other materials from the box stores.

stickets are great on mud or sandy bottoms in shalllow water. i have an 8ft its a hard to handle at times but the extra length lets me use it as a push pole. they are expensive but it will probably never break. i also herd ofguy sharpening the ends and using it to gigg flounder

If money is a concern (it always is for me), consider this.... When I asked a guy at a well-known store about an anchor, he suggested one of three types; 2 of which would "work best". (all 3 seemed expensive for a chunk of metal I was going to throw in the water). However, thanks to this message board, someone suggested using a window-sash weight for an anchor. I got on craigslist, found 2 6-pound weights for less than 1/3 of what an anchor would cost at the store. Long story short, I've used it almost every time I go out and have had no problems at all. With the savings, buy some extra PVC for other mods. Good luck!

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"Wrinkles only go where smiles have been"

Be sure to get someone to show you how to rig your anchor so that if it gets stuck you can recover it. Basically you run the line from the bottom of the anchor and just zip-tie it to the top with a light zip-tie. This way if you get it stuck you can pull tight enough to pop the zip-tie and then you'll be pulling from the bottom of the anchor. I use to use a big zip-tie on my claw anchor in the canoe...after sinking the canoe twice from the beefy zip-tie breaking away when I really winched down on it, I finally figured out to use a lighter zip-tie. I used to use a brick on a rope but I ran into some areas in rivers where I couldn't get a grip. I like the window weight anchor idea, that is huge. I will be adding that to my anchor quiver. There are just some times when you need a claw in a strong river. I think mark taught me this when I ran into him at Get Outdoors.

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Brian Mendenhall
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Mad River Synergy
Mad River Explorer 16

I got the 7' Stick It a year and a half ago, I think I have used my anchor twice since. I love knowing right where I am going to be when I anchor up, no current or wind drift to deal with other than what the anchor trolley gives. I love mine and it is well worth its money,way more durable and much stiffer than PVC.
Cheers.

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Have fun, will travel-Hobie outback.