downrigger as an anchor set-up

I was thinking of us a Scotty Lake Troller downrigger as an anchor set-up. Instead of attaching a ball you just attach an anchor. Easy down and easy up plus you could use it with an anchor trolley for positioning. What about a drift anchor set-up?

Good, bad idea? Any thoughts welcome.

Welcome Sarge,

I suppose you could use that small downrigger as an anchor setup, but I'd stick to using it on lakes.  As for using it as a drift anchor or in rivers in general, you want to have a quick exit strategy (i.e. the ability to get off anchor quickly in the current).   Having to reel the anchor up isn't quick enough, esp if you're already in trouble.  I suppose you could keep a knife on hand and cut the line, but that doesn't seem like an ideal method to me.

Brian

I'd avoid using the DR in a current situation, too.

There's some good articles and posts about anchoring. Start here- http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/page,26.html

Thanks for the welcome bsteves! Pisco Sicko, I'll definitely read those articles, thank you.

Do you think you could just toss the whole thing in the water with a float to ditch it? Kinda like you guys do with those winders, ya know? It was just a thought to use the DR, I fugured it might be a convenient way to utilize the winder and free spool abilities. Plus there's a large variety of mounts for them on the market. They can also hold a large amount of anchor line!

Thanks for the welcome bsteves! Pisco Sicko, I'll definitely read those articles, thank you.

Do you think you could just toss the whole thing in the water with a float to ditch it? Kinda like you guys do with those winders, ya know? It was just a thought to use the DR, I fugured it might be a convenient way to utilize the winder and free spool abilities. Plus there's a large variety of mounts for them on the market. They can also hold a large amount of anchor line!

Maybe.

There are three issues I can think of, off the top of my head:

-Anchoring in current works best if lead from bow or stern, so as not to get sideways to the current. We usually have our anchor line running through some kind of loop at the boat end. So, either your DR has to be able to fit through the loop, or be at the end(s) of your boat. How quickly can you get to it to release it?

-Whatever release system you use should be near instantaneous. Jam cleats or a slip knot is what I use. I would avoid any scenario that requires fumbling with fasteners. One single, fast maneuver is best.

-In current, I've had crab floats pulled under, from the drag on the line. Your floatation for your DR will need to be several times what is needed to float it in still water. That might be awfully bulky. I use a wooden reel (homebuilt and floats) plus a crab float to keep my anchor line on the surface.


Hope this helps you think through this process. Not to say that what you're contemplating couldn't work, but the anchor systems we're using are cheap enough (much cheaper than a DR), that I would recommend having separate gear for anchoring.

Well my cash flow is very low right now so it sounds like I'll be using the cheap anchor method. Do you recommend using a bow AND stern anchor or just one or the other?

For current situations, just one anchor.

On still water, bow and stern can nice to avoid a lot of swinging.

OK, great! Thanks for all your help

For current situations, just one anchor.

On still water, bow and stern can nice to avoid a lot of swinging.

This could be as simple as a pair of 6 oz pyramids, based on how well just one held me on the Willamette during slack tide when I went sturg fishing with BSteve's. 

Yeah, I can see the logic in that. I've heard that the 4lb claw or "Bruce" style anchors are great for fast current situations because they dig in so quickly. Do you guys use these at all? On teamoceankayak.com's rigging page there's a Prowler 13 rigged with this anchor. I think the whole team uses them actually.

Most of us use grapple anchors or pyramids. I also wouldn't recommend using a downrigger for an anchor. Having used one on the kayak for a long time I know it'd get ruined pretty fast. They're just not made to have so much stress put on them. Everyone else's suggestions are really sound. Plus, keeping it simple pays off in the end.

Z