Kayak Anchor

[kenuloza]

Going to be installing an achor system on my Kayak. I normally fish behind OC and was wondering what size anchor to use (1.5lb or 3lb).

Any of you guys use an anchor while kayak fishing?

[JP Canning]

they have folding anchors, I would go with the 3 pounderhttp://images.westmarine.com/thumb/005_153_003_004.jpg (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&classNum=450&subdeptNum=11206&storeNum=5&productId=15375)

[insomniac]

You may want to consider a small Cajun Anchor. Cajun anchors are very easy to use and you need very little scope. A 3' cajun would be fine.

http://www.cajunanchor.com/index.cfm

[MOhawk]

I have a Manta anchor from West Marine. It is like the Bruce anchor(plough). It weighs 2.2#. I have not used it yet because I bought it in December. On another web site it was highly recommended. They were using it in Lousiana and Florida. I have mine set up as a trip anchor. I have a small shackle at the botom of the anchor (there is a hole already there)which the anchor line is tied to. I then run the line along side the anchor shaft and attach a very small plastic electrical tie on the line to the hole where you would normaly tie the anchor. At West Marine they are about $11 - $12.

[barrell]

I have been kayak fishing for about 18 years and never used an anchor. We sell the folding ones at the shop if you realy need one. Generaly they are dangerous and a pain in the butt when in the kayak. Dangerous because an anchor line in a strong tide can collect alot of grass. At a certain point your bow will suddenly plunge under water with no warning.
Its best to learn how to think like a fish and see where the current does not exist or where in some cases it actualy rips backwards against the tide. Eelball is the best ive seen at this. Take him to any bridge and he quikly will find a little pocket he can lay in out of the tide but cast into the strong current where the bass are sometimes only a few feet away.
If your are trying to stay against a deep bank simply bring a sharpened half of broomstck along with a short line atached to your yak. Just stab it into the mud and you wont go anywhere until you pull it out. In a large shallow bay there is a technique very popular on florida flats. You take a long pole and drive it through one of your scuppers into the bottom. I have a hobie but I spent many miserable years paddling. The hobies foot drive deleats any tide and hold you in position while you fish. I do have a dull shark hook onboard with a short piece of cord tied off on the yak. When under a bridge I just pull up to a piling and lay the hook against the wood as the tide makes it dig in. I now am anchored but can quikly pull the hook off the wood and Im free.

[Bgsdad]

Dangerous because an anchor line in a strong tide can collect alot of grass. At a certain point your bow will suddenly plunge under water with no warning.


Barrel knows what he's talking about here! I never had much luck around bridges with the grappeling anchor so I switched to heavier anchor. The 1st time I used it in a strong current the water was breaking over the bow & I could not pull it up against the current. Just as I went to cut the rope it broke free. Now I tie up to bridges & use a snap for quick relase.

[kenuloza]

Thanks for the replies. Last year was the first full year that I have been kayak fishing. I have an area behind OC that i stuck with all year because I wanted to get familiar with one area as opposed to spending a little time at different places. I dont fish near bridges, and I was not planing of anchoring up in the inter coastal.
Do you still believe that the anchor would be dangerous in the small creeks off of the inter coastal?

Give me about two years and I will be getting the Hobie Pedal drive. It appears to be the perfect back bay yak, but I dont have the money at this time (wife just had a baby, and I bought a new truck). Im just trying to do the best with the yak that I have.
Maybe this spring I can meet up and fish with you guys.
Thanks again for the advice

[barrell]

No you should be fine anchoring out of the current. But the point of my response above is in most situations you dont need one. You can use the wind and tide to your advantage to cover more of the good ground. Dont be influenced by theese websites you go to that are trying to sell you everything under the sun, telling you you need this stuff. You only need what you need for your style of yak fishing. After a year now you should start to realize what you need and where to bolt it on.