What do yall guys do as far as achoring. Should I buy a kayak with a anchor trolley and metal anchor or is there a better way. Thanks.
Anchor trolley with a 1.5 lb plow anchor is what i use. Works great unless the tide is CRAZY. Stake out pole would be nice, but ive yet to make one.
All fishermen are liers except me and you and I’m not sure about you.
Anchor trolley is to assist with putting the anchor line at the bow or stern without having to reach from the cockpit area. Shallow water I usually use the stakeout pole for anchoring, along with the trolley.
Elgeebee has it right. I have an anchor trolley (home made) to run either an anchor or a stake out pole to the bow or stern. Depending on where I am and what I am fishing for, I run with a combination of anchors.
For the shallows I have a pole anchor. I will hook it either to the carrying strap midship, or to the trolley and run it either forward or aft.
I also have a claw anchor that I will run forward or aft through the trolley.
Lastly, I have an 8# vinyl coated dumbbell that I will drop over the side to anchor in deeper water. I will sometimes run it through the trolley as well.
Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140
Thanks for the replies. Looks like my best bet is to go with an anchor and trolley plus a stake out pole. Is it easier to make a stake out pole or can you buy them.
I use an anchor pole/pin in shallow water. For deeper water, an anchor. Get you one of the folding (grappling hook style) anchors. The work fine on a yak and take up less room when folded. An anchor trolley is good to have. Made my own stake out pole.
“Apathy is the Glove in Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
I made mine. I bought some schedule 40 PVC pipe (1"). I cut it at an angle on one end and mounted a tee on the other. The tee end, use about a 1" piece of the pipe to glue into the tee and then glue an end cap on each side.
At the foot, I used a 1" dowel rod to fill the pipe to make it rigid and stronger. I coated it with epoxy and filled the end with epoxy to keep water out.
I put a 1/4" corded loop at the tee and use a carabineer to hook to the anchor line or boat.
Hopefully that all makes sense. Oh, I made mine 7’ long.
I also mounted a 2" coupling on the back of the boat to use as a keeper for the pole when not in use.
Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140
I use a folding anchor and anchor trolly. The stakeout pole would be nice in shallow water but I’m rarely certain I’ll only be in shallow water and I don’t want to carry both. The less stuff I need to carry the better. The anchor will work in shallow and deep. If I’m moving around in short increments (repositioning or just a short jog down the shoreline for instance) I’ll often just pull the anchor up to the rear of the anchor trolly and let it dangle at the waterline as I move. That way it’s just a quick release from the jam cleat to let it down to the bottom. Even easier than an anchor pole.
I also started out with a 1.5lb anchor but have since changed to a 3lb. Too often the wind/tide overpowered the 1.5.
Also, you’ll want to rig a folding anchor with a breakaway system of some kind. I use light cable ties to the top loop. If you google “breakaway anchor” you’ll see what I mean if you don’t already know.
I only use an anchor pin (stake out pole). I ordered UV protective 8’ pointed fiberglass fence posts from a farm supply company in Iowa. It’s the same exact material used by the companies that sell stake-out poles. I paid about $8-10 each for them. Shipping costs about $25 regardless of how many are ordered. I added a bicycle handlebar grip to the top and a leash made out of shock cord. I built 3 of them for about $25 each. And, they are as nice as any I’ve seen on the market.
I recently bought a Cajun Marsh Anchor for a kayak, it’a 3’ pole of 3/4" stainless steel, I attach it to my trolley and so far it’s been great, unless I’m in really deep water. Previously I was using a small folding kayak anchor and I found that if I was in swift current it would easily pop up depending on the substrate and I’d go for a ride… not much fun while fighting a fish. In most water I just drop it vertically and it works good. If it’s deeper water I’ll throw it down a little harder, it’s pretty quiet (in comparison to the folding anchor).
The trolley is 100% necessary though, it’s been a huge game changer. My kayak doesn’t have any scupper holes so a push pole/anchor isn’t a viable option but they are nice as well.
Anchor Trolley is a must have
Stick It Anchor pins work great for shallow water I use a 51/2ft
http://www.stickitanchorpins.com/
For deeper water a mushroom anchor works well ? I do mine with a breakaway Tie wrap ? this way if and it will get hooked up on the bottom you don?t lose your anchor
Capt Dave
Good Picture Capt Dave! That’s what I was trying to say. The chain/rode helps the anchor work better but I don’t want the extra weight so I just use a light rope. You also want to use pretty light duty zip ties or you’ll have a devil of a time breaking free from a kayak. Be careful, it’s easy to accidentally flip trying to break an anchor free.
I custom make shallow water anchor pins here in the lowcountry. 3/4 inch solid fiberglass. Straight grip end or T bar. Any size up to 12 ft
PM or email at shrimppoles@yahoo.com
A few pictures on craigslist.