OOM's Product of the Decade
Topic:
Onshore-Offshore’s
Product Of The Decade…
THE POWER POLE!
In my ten years of publishing Onshore-Offshore Magazine, there is one product that stands out as the best invention to revolutionize inshore fishing. Not only is it a great invention, it is one of the best success stories I have ever heard. Onshore-Offshore is pleased to name John Oliverio’s Power Pole as our Product of the decade.
My first meeting with John took place in a small warehouse in Brandon in 2001. I knew right away that I liked John when we met, but I just wasn’t too sure of his product. 
At that time I was new to the art of true inshore fishing, so who was I to judge his idea? Once I saw his invention, I have to admit, I kind of scratched my head and wondered, why is this guy developing a product costing $1500.00 to anchor a boat? I sort of wanted to ask him if he ever heard of a simple $20 bell anchor, but of course I didn’t. I recognize that inventors have to be visionary and ahead of the rest of us and I could tell that John had a vision. I told him how cool the product was, asked him to advertise and that he did.
It wasn’t long before I found myself on a boat doing a photo shoot and the boat had a Power Pole. As the day went on and we fished, I couldn’t take my eyes of John’s product and it was then I realized that John is a genius. I sure wished that I had thought of this? At every stop we would troll around and spot fish and then with the press of a button we silently stopped precisely on our desired spot. It was Pure Perfection!
As time went on and I started traveling, I begun to see a Power Poles on a boat here and there. With every sighting I would tell my friends, “look! A Power Pole! John’s idea is catching on!” Then it seemed like overnight, although I am sure for John it wasn’t, every boat on the water sported a Power Pole on the transom.
In the past I often asked John when did it really take off? John stated, “It took some time, but the real explosion was when they became popular with the Bass tournament guys plus the introduction of the professional redfish tournaments.” If you fish in any redfish tournaments or bass tournaments, boat positioning and handling with precision and silence is a must to be competitive. When all the pros had one on the back of their boats, the consumer’s followed. If you love to fish the flats, then you know that a Power Pole is a must. With a remote control around your neck 
a simple press of the button anchors your boat and you never even have to take your eyes off the fish.
From time to time I stop by John’s home office and Power Pole headquarters. They no longer operate in a small warehouse garage, they now have a big beautiful office and factory off Palm River Road and they employ 24 people. When I was in his office, I noticed a Lego that resembled a Power Pole on his desk. I asked him what is up with this Lego? John answered, “That is the first idea of the Power Pole.” So I said “wow you got your idea from your son’s Lego!” John replied, “No, it was my Lego, I didn’t have a son then.” Also while visiting John in his office, I get to see some of the original pieces of the very first Power Pole. Sometimes John will unveil a new and improved version of the Power Poles, soon to hit the market. Just recently I was fortunate to see the signature series, Blade Power Pole! This new product is mentioned here first and soon to be showcased this year at the ICAST Show in Las Vegas. The Blade is a stronger, much thinner model of the current Power Pole. Once again, John is never resting that little Lego machine in his brain. That’s why Power Pole will probably be the number one product of the next decade as well.
Today I have not just one Power Pole on my Dorado 23’, but two. I find that two Power Poles really holds my nose still when engaging a school of fish. For a boat with higher gunnels, two poles are also a must when there is a little wind.
When choosing our product of the decade, I didn’t even hesitate regarding what is number one for me. For over six years of guiding I have had a Power Pole on my boat.
Without exception, every single client I take out remark about how awesome of an invention the Power Pole is,
and I agree.
THE POWER POLE!
In my ten years of publishing Onshore-Offshore Magazine, there is one product that stands out as the best invention to revolutionize inshore fishing. Not only is it a great invention, it is one of the best success stories I have ever heard. Onshore-Offshore is pleased to name John Oliverio’s Power Pole as our Product of the decade.
My first meeting with John took place in a small warehouse in Brandon in 2001. I knew right away that I liked John when we met, but I just wasn’t too sure of his product. At that time I was new to the art of true inshore fishing, so who was I to judge his idea? Once I saw his invention, I have to admit, I kind of scratched my head and wondered, why is this guy developing a product costing $1500.00 to anchor a boat? I sort of wanted to ask him if he ever heard of a simple $20 bell anchor, but of course I didn’t. I recognize that inventors have to be visionary and ahead of the rest of us and I could tell that John had a vision. I told him how cool the product was, asked him to advertise and that he did.
It wasn’t long before I found myself on a boat doing a photo shoot and the boat had a Power Pole. As the day went on and we fished, I couldn’t take my eyes of John’s product and it was then I realized that John is a genius. I sure wished that I had thought of this? At every stop we would troll around and spot fish and then with the press of a button we silently stopped precisely on our desired spot. It was Pure Perfection!As time went on and I started traveling, I begun to see a Power Poles on a boat here and there. With every sighting I would tell my friends, “look! A Power Pole! John’s idea is catching on!” Then it seemed like overnight, although I am sure for John it wasn’t, every boat on the water sported a Power Pole on the transom.
In the past I often asked John when did it really take off? John stated, “It took some time, but the real explosion was when they became popular with the Bass tournament guys plus the introduction of the professional redfish tournaments.” If you fish in any redfish tournaments or bass tournaments, boat positioning and handling with precision and silence is a must to be competitive. When all the pros had one on the back of their boats, the consumer’s followed. If you love to fish the flats, then you know that a Power Pole is a must. With a remote control around your neck a simple press of the button anchors your boat and you never even have to take your eyes off the fish.From time to time I stop by John’s home office and Power Pole headquarters. They no longer operate in a small warehouse garage, they now have a big beautiful office and factory off Palm River Road and they employ 24 people. When I was in his office, I noticed a Lego that resembled a Power Pole on his desk. I asked him what is up with this Lego? John answered, “That is the first idea of the Power Pole.” So I said “wow you got your idea from your son’s Lego!” John replied, “No, it was my Lego, I didn’t have a son then.” Also while visiting John in his office, I get to see some of the original pieces of the very first Power Pole. Sometimes John will unveil a new and improved version of the Power Poles, soon to hit the market. Just recently I was fortunate to see the signature series, Blade Power Pole! This new product is mentioned here first and soon to be showcased this year at the ICAST Show in Las Vegas. The Blade is a stronger, much thinner model of the current Power Pole. Once again, John is never resting that little Lego machine in his brain. That’s why Power Pole will probably be the number one product of the next decade as well.
Today I have not just one Power Pole on my Dorado 23’, but two. I find that two Power Poles really holds my nose still when engaging a school of fish. For a boat with higher gunnels, two poles are also a must when there is a little wind.
When choosing our product of the decade, I didn’t even hesitate regarding what is number one for me. For over six years of guiding I have had a Power Pole on my boat.
Without exception, every single client I take out remark about how awesome of an invention the Power Pole is,
and I agree.
