Bobba Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 As I normally have to trolley or carry my equipment I have been looking at alternatives to lofting pole sets. Something which is reasonably lightweight, not too cumbersome, but sturdy enough for the job. I have seen the alloy 3 or 4 section telescopic poles for window cleaning. These can extend to 6 metre (3 section) or 8 metres (4 section). Has anybody experience with these poles and their suitability as lofting poles? All constructive thoughts welcomed. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longstrider Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 (edited) I use one of those telescopic poles they sell for flying flags and wind-twirlers from at fairs. It's basically just a cheap fishing pole type of thing. Buy one at least a metre longer than you need because the top section is really thin and useless for our task. Just slide it out and bin it. You have to get the knack of wedging the sections together tight enough to do the job, but not so tight you can't get them apart again, but at around £30 for a 10m pole ( so 9m of useable pole for us) that telescopes down to around 1m in length and doesn't weigh too much I reckon they're a great bit of kit Check out ' telescopic flag pole 10m ' on flea-bay. Edited January 17, 2015 by Longstrider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Window cleaning extending pole works OK for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks for the comments. Interesting alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rich1985 Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Just a thought, has any one had any luck with drain rods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Only for rodding drains. Possibly they are a little too flexible unless you can get the tree branches to take the weight and 'feed' the rods up through the tree. Problem with that is though, the deeks would keep fouling the branches too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andylea Posted January 18, 2015 Report Share Posted January 18, 2015 Drain rods are ok for 3/4mts after that they bend to easily especially in the wind,if you what to get yours decoys up really high use a 10 ounce lead weight with butchers sting tied on,under arm swing has high as you can get it,pull the lead back nice and slow until it drops nice over a branch and lower it down,tie (the lead end)to the top of the decoy and the other end to the underside pull the decoy up through the tree until you are happy with the position and tie off to a branch to keep it stable.2/3 of them decoys up high will pull birds really well.doing it this way can be time consuming try to set your strings the day before,needs a bit of practice put is well worth it,couple of tips avoid doing this on windy days you'll have a nightmare,and on wet days the string does'nt run to well.when the birds have had a lot of pressure and there not decoying with the magnet ect this can pay dividends, give it a go happy shooting.Andy from Lancashire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djgeoff Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 i use one of these, it came from bt engineer used for overhead cable height clearance measuring pole http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/uploads/monthly_01_2015/post-21509-0-59159900-1420575139.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogy5412 Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) look out 4 an old 14m pole stronger ones are the cheaper but weigh a bit more , round £40 try dragon fishing tackle good luck . sell them new a bit more Edited January 19, 2015 by ogy5412 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 A fishing weight thrown over a branch. Hoist up a decoy with line attached to top and bottom. No poles needed. Not much to carry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobba Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Drain rods are ok for 3/4mts after that they bend to easily especially in the wind,if you what to get yours decoys up really high use a 10 ounce lead weight with butchers sting tied on,under arm swing has high as you can get it,pull the lead back nice and slow until it drops nice over a branch and lower it down,tie (the lead end)to the top of the decoy and the other end to the underside pull the decoy up through the tree until you are happy with the position and tie off to a branch to keep it stable.2/3 of them decoys up high will pull birds really well.doing it this way can be time consuming try to set your strings the day before,needs a bit of practice put is well worth it,couple of tips avoid doing this on windy days you'll have a nightmare,and on wet days the string does'nt run to well.when the birds have had a lot of pressure and there not decoying with the magnet ect this can pay dividends, give it a go happy shooting.Andy from Lancashire Before deciding on poles I gave this a try using a catapult to launch the lead. It wasn't windy, nor rainy. I was like an act from Fred Karno's circus. First shot cleared the required branch, ricocheted off the one behind it and tangled!! String still in tree cut off as high as I could reach. Second shot was succesful but in pulling up the two decoys they tangled in the branches!! They're still there!! I know practice makes perfect but it makes me give up the will to live. Telescopic poles it is then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpaulc Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I use trees that are climbable, although I appreciate many would not be so keen on this method. I'll be giving the string and weight method a go though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I used to use the catapult way , fire over the selected branch, temporarily tie off the lead end , attach the decoys spaced apart as fancied then wedge a length of broken branch 45cm + horizontaly into the peg hole in each decoy as though sitting on that branch, hoist the decoys up and tie off close to but not on branches , the birds should look as though sitting on a branch if done correctly when view'd from a distance, keep both lines taught angled away from the tree and tied off securely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reder Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I use alloy poles to put my live pigeons on top in France , very heavy, looking for some light stuffs , will try the carbon one !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reder Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Ogy 5412 , which rod are you using ? Djgeoff ,where do you find it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazybones Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 I got 4 extending washing line poles from tesco cut & bent one end to stick through bottom of decoy, the other 3 can then be attached together they are very strong not to flexible ,lightweight to carry had some fun putting up decoys quite high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reder Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Just received one 10 m telescopic pole from Lifebreeze/ UK , really light !! just need now to fit the wine glass at the end and let,s try , but not today it s too windy !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I whipped the attachment on with strong fishing braid and glued it in place with epoxy resin (this is on the tip of the pole- can either attach the funnel or hanger with two birds on) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Just received one 10 m telescopic pole from Lifebreeze/ UK , really light !! just need now to fit the wine glass at the end and let,s try , but not today it s too windy !!! Good luck, take some pictures to show us how you make it work please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundodger Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) I sometimes the fishing method as discussed on here and I also a old fishing pole 13m in length to put my seeks in the tree. It is. A very easy method and very light and the pieces slot into one and other. You need to make some hangers first. Edited February 1, 2015 by Sundodger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reder Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 I used here in Oxfordshire for the first time , does the job but limited to 7/ 8 meters , I will try to find stronger poles to reach the hight branches !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogy5412 Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 Ogy 5412 , which rod are you using ? Djgeoff ,where do you find it ? sorry mate just been reading this, bit late to reply hope your sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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