DIY shallow water anchor or micro spike?

I have been debating on a shallow water anchor setup for a bit.

Cheapest would be the micro spike at 599 plus 99 for the pole. Very light and easy to mount on the back of the boat.

Also been debating on doing a manual DIY rod setup. I find it nuts panther sells a bracket sans pole for 180 bucks at cabelas.

Anywho... anyone else do this? I have been reading along on the net and pretty much 3 main articles come up.

Fiberglass rods can be ordered in very cheap and in my head i have a very simple mount design i can make for 20 bucks or less each. Bringing my total for 2 sticks and 2 home made mounts to under 100 bucks. The hassle is driving the stick down and pulling it up manually vs electronically.

So... just checking to see who's made their own and any pointers. I should be constructing mine very soon and I'll post pics.

First item is the fiberglass sticks. Silly cheap off amazon.

10.xx each with 8.xx shipping. I added 4 to the cart and shipping was 12.xx. so that means i can get each stick shipped (if i bought 4) for about 13 to 14 dollars each. Or under 20 dollars per stick if i ordered 1.

So the sticks seem to be very cheap.

Mount will be next.

A pic i saw for a silly simple mount would be a piece of wire and then a closed ring. Attach it to the cleats on your boat and just slip the spike/pole thru it. Not as secure as a 180 dollar bracket but it would cost next to nothing to have 2 poles and 2 very simple mounts on the boat. I'll try to find a pic of the rope and ring.

The simple "mount"

Attachment 227203

Don't have one myself but one I saw that interested me was, a length of gray plastic conduit with a section of Ground rod inserted into the end to make the spike. A PVC T glued on the top end. You could mount a ring eye on boat to slide it through and push down or like the flats fishermen in Florida just throw it down hard in bottom and tie off to it. With a loop below the T use boat to pull out.

I built two manuals for my pontoon. I took the guts out of two trailer jacks. Mounted them on the boat, then put the rods through the trailer jack shells. Now they stow horizontally. Pull the jack pin and they deploy vertically. Not as easy as electric, but a heck of a lot cheaper.
Btw, if I had the money, l'd buy the electric.

I forgot my dad went to the cargo largo auction and won a lot of grounding rods. Had some 1/2 and 3/4 rods in there. I took 2 rods and will see if those will work in holding the boat. Will try it out this weekend if i get a chance to go.

In the wind that simple ring won't keep the pole upright, the boat could pull it over. You'll need something to stabilized the pole above the ring a good 1-2' to keep it from tilting when the boat wants to move. I run into this problem in my kayak so I figure it will also be a bigger issue with a bigger wind catcher pulling.

what gordon said, your going to get a lot of pressure on them rods, and them ground rods are gonna bend.

MAX-GAIN SYSTEMS, INC. : Shallow Water Anchors - Fiberglass rods to MAKE YOUR OWN!

Ive been considering building one of these

Looks like i should just get the power pole. I know where i can get a new one for cheap right now.

I tried the o ring on a rope and it did not work for me. ordered the panther system and returned it except for the pole bc it got cross threaded. panther refunded my money and told me to keep the pole which is great bc it's good for taking down my bird feeder. I just use quick cleats and a 15 pound anchor and it's decent

In the catfish world we call these "mud poles". I quit using them a few years ago because they tend to bring a lot of mud and water onboard. They don't work in rocks. They are a pain to stick down good enough to hold in the wind or current, then they are an even bigger pain in the neck to get unstuck. Don't get me wrong, they work good but a heavy anchor (I lose a lot of anchors on the river, so I use a big arse rock) out the back of the boat seems easier to me. Someday I will own a power pole,but for now I'll keep looking for the right rock.

I think i decided. I am going to go get the micro anchor. Bormally 599. Found a new one for 350.

Thanks again for the suggestions. I ended up picking up the unit and will install it tomorrow. Might even get to try it out this weekend.

Lil baby. That was nice of panther to tell you to keep the pole. I guess you could still use it. You just cant break it down. Seems like a heavy stick to take the bird feeder down with.

I dont know about the DIY manual shallow water acnchors. I got the micro power pole and wonder how i lived without it. I use it a lot. The time i use it most is to let my dog out to go to the bathroom. Thats not to say it hasnt stoppped my boat from hitting the rocks on a windy several times. I use it pretty often in tandem with my XI5 trolling motor when fishing shallow water to keep the boat still and at a specific angle. I love mine.....

I bought the micro pole also. Havent hooked it up but it seems like it will work for what i want it for. What kind of boat are you using yours with?

I currently have 2016 tracker tx190its an 18 foot mod v style bass boat. I used it on my last boat a tracker v 16 side console. Works great on both boats

Rocks the original anchor. Lol. Have used several of them. At least when the dikes are out there is never a shortage of "anchors". I think it would be difficult for any stick anchoring system to work on the Missouri. To much current and to deep. Sometimes it is hard to get an anchor to hold. I could see how,they would be good in a lake though.

I still have my anchor on a rope. Actually trying something different. Will post some pics tomorrow if it works.

I also havent brought my boat to the mo river. Just stick to lakes for now.


Good to know the micro works on a bigger boat also. I have a 16.5 lowe deep v.

I have had the Micro for 2 years now and love it! Buy it....you will not regret it! Awesome service from the company as well.