Afternoon, folks…
I’m a fairly experienced fisherman who, thanks to a gift from the little lady, is new to the world of fishing from a kayak. I’ve fished for years in both fresh and salt, but have generally done so from the shore or thanks to the generosity of someone who has a boat.
I feel like I’ve got a pretty good handle on my own yak, as I’ve been tooling around in local lakes to get a good feel of how it rides and the feeling of catching a fish or two in it. However, fishing a yak in the salt will be a different experience for me.
Obviously, I have a question: If I plan to use an anchor, what’s the best way to go about it for someone of my relative lack of experience? Or do I even need to use it? I’ll be fishing mainly in small creeks and along the banks of small islands that have structure in the form of docks, oysters, and sand bars. Fairly shallow water that moves pretty good.
Thanks for your help…
Most of us use a stake out pole for shallower water but for an anchor I have a 5lb neoprene covered dumbell tied off. I have anchor trolleys that run form my bow and stern to the handle on the side so I can control where it sits me but you can normally get away wiht bungees and carabiners wiht some para-cord to make a “no-Drill” trolley. Let us knwo what kayak you have and we’ll help ya get a trolley rigged up. As for the anchor, you can also take a tide laundry soap bottle wiht you, fill it up when ya need an anchor, drop it down, when you’re done, empty it out and now you aren’t toting around the weight. If ya lose it, no biggie. Welcome to the Brotherhood 
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
I’m with NJ…if you are gonna be using it in small creeks and shallow water I probably wouldn’t worry about an anchor. I took mine on a trip recently and never used it just because of circumstances. I never really had a good place to use it. I watched TooBusy use a stake out pole and immediately made one when I got home. you can make them as short or as long as you’d like but I’d suggest longer than shorter and make it light. I have a trolley on my yak that can be used to position yourself on the pole or anchorline whichever you decide to use. another thing about poles, find a way to allow you tie off rope to drop down and not a fixed tie off point on the pole. this allows your rope to slide down and not pull too high on the pole and pull it free in high current/wind. I did put some stops on mine so it can’t come off the bottome or top. for lake fishing I do carry a 3.5 lb fold out anchor. the only problem I’ve had was on a slick mud bottom in the red clay lakes around where I’m from. sometimes it’s hard to get it to hook. otherwise it holds fine. I think situation dictates necessity. Welcome to CF and kayak fishing. Nice to have ya.
Thanks for the hearty welcome, guys. I’m already loving the freedom I feel when I’m out on the lake - it’s amazing that I can actually get to where I think (and hope) the fish will be, and can tool around following bait to see what happens. And the fact that the lady bought the yak for me for just this reason makes it all the more special.
I’ve got the 10’ Manatee from LL Lean - it’s easy for a newbie like me to get around pretty good. It’s a little small, but it certainly gets the job done for now. I’ve got all the basic extras to get me by (I think), and will probably only head out for a couple hours at a time (if that) my first couple times out. I won’t be able to fish the salt as much as some other guys, since I visit the in-laws and other family in the area around Port Royal Sound a few times a year, but the input is taken staight to heart.
I’m certainly OK without using an anchor if it’s not necessary. As for stake poles is there a good place to read up a little more about them - what they look like, how to make them, how to use them, etc.?
In the meantime, if I were to get out and want to set up shop in one spot, say back in one of the creeks, would you suggest just nestling up in the grass to keep myself in place?
absolutely! don’t hesitate to tail into the grass…just be kind and considerate and try not to tear it up. check out youtube for videos on stakeout poles etc and how they work. I recently got linked to an aluminum pole that was awesome but a little pricey. I’ll see if I can find it and link it to here.
i used a broom handle for my stake pole. drill a hole at the end and run some rope through it and attach to the yak.
Tarpon 120
I purchased a stick it today from Haddrell’s, best money I have spent for my kayak yet …
quote:
Originally posted by CHSbound
absolutely! don’t hesitate to tail into the grass…just be kind and considerate and try not to tear it up. check out youtube for videos on stakeout poles etc and how they work. I recently got linked to an aluminum pole that was awesome but a little pricey. I’ll see if I can find it and link it to here.
Sounds good!
I actually decided to do some searching online ad found some really good info on how to make your own. I ended up going to Home Depot and got an 8’ garden stake (I cut a little over a foot off of it), tied about 4" of floating nylon rope to the top, and capped it off wth a generous amount of electrical tape (kind of like on a hockey stick) to keep the rope from sliding up or down. I then took a stainless steel clip that I’ll use to clip to the rope that will also be clipped to the yak.
I’ll follow up with an update on how it turned out - I should get out a few times in the next weeks or so. Wish me luck!
I make my stake out pole out of 1/2" electrical conduit. Pound one end and rig a handle on the other. Costs me about 3 ducks per pole. Work great and it’s cheap.
TB2
TimBuck2
Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5
Jimmy Buffett can have Margaritaville, I’m going to Redfishville!
How many chickens per pole would that be?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I took an old coffee can and laid the tag end of my rope in it and then filled the can with cement. When it dried i had a good cheap weight.
Red X Anglers, If you dont know about us ask.
I have two 4 foot pieces of 1/2" PVC pipe for my stakeout pole. I have a union that I use to connect the two for deeper water. If it is really shallow I just use 1 of the pieces. Either way I just put it through the carabineer clip on my trolley. Works great. It also works good through the scupper holes.
Good Luck
Tarpon 100