Whiskey Gulch one tide fished is all you need!

After watching the Zodiac's and those double enders fill up I have been thinking about an anchor system with a quick release. Maybe a sharp handy knife with a thin cord attached to the anchor buoy. A good anchor rope but maybe some parachute cord size from the boat to the buoy with carabiner.  Also fishing together with chum bags seem to help a bunch also. Just thinking out loud.

I'm thinking about a some type of slip in guide up front than just a simple slip knot at he handle near me.  In most situations where I'd even consider anchoring, I think even just a small buoy I can place under my leg would be sufficient.

I have had an anchoring system ready to go for the past year and I just don't use it because I can fish without and still get decent results.  Hauling up 100ft of more of line isn't all that appealing to me.  But I definitely want it for the times I have guests or my kids.  After watching my kid struggle a bit with the technique and watching him get blanked on 2 out of 3 trips where I caught multiple fish, there has to be more to it than just what I am considering.

There is a reason why EVERY guide in the Inlet anchors.

Put totally simply - if you don't anchor you can't know for a fact you are holding position at the upstream end of your scent trail.  I have tried to hold position without anchoring, and sometimes do pretty well, but really I wander a bit. 

 I have anchored off that area from Ninilchik to A-Point, in my power boat but never in my Kayak.   Two main reasons - more junk to carry on board; more chance of complications/problems if something goes wrong.   I have seen some big logs or kelp mats sneak up on me, but never had one ride up my anchor line like we have heard in tales of boat swampings in the inlet.

I agree with you - pulling anchor by hand, no matter how light, doesn't appeal to me but being on anchor does.  The quick release I'd have to think about for a bit, but solve-able I am sure.   

I would probably be damn sure to know where my knife was, as the slash the line from buoy to kayak would be the backup to any slipknot or mechanical release system.  I like the idea of heavy line from buoy to anchor /chain, but 550 paracord to Kayak - maybe through the stern eye to a 'biner clim near seat, and if the 'biner ever gets bound, slicing paracord under tension is not so bad.   

I'd have to think about tethering me off the yak if I was going to anchor - the caution about tides separating you quick would be a serious risk.

what would you use for a chum bucket and how much weight to get it down?

I would run a chum bag down with the anchor. Dude has been using an anchor for awhile (years?) and he is still around with. Halibut fishing in a kayak is always going to be a little riskier than a PB but well worth the fun factor. I believe I will have some type of system with me next weekend.

been using the anchor set up since last year, not an expert by any means, just some experiences i have had. The anchor set up takes up quite a bit more space on your kayak and adds a bunch of weight. I had a chum bag on my anchor chain but didn't have a quick release for it to pull off if the chum bag gets caught in something. We were anchored in the kelp beds again in 25 ft of water and the chum bag got wrapped in something (kelp or rock). Went to pull the anchor and could see the end of my 30 foot chain (going to go about 15 foot of chain now) and couldn't get it out, we cut the anchor line. Oh well, I think I will run 15 ft of chain 250 ft of anchor rope, nylon, with a bruce but maybe go with a small Danforth this time around, with the buoy. When I tie it off to my kayak it is actually going off of my stern but I have a Malibu 2xl ocean kayak, my wife ties off with our 15 foot homemade wooden kayak. When we tie off to the anchor I will tie off to my buoy before going out and take that line run it through my stern handle, under the bungies and tie off to my seat to untie (if anything goes down, emergency or have to fight a fish I can cut it with a knife). When we are ready to disconnect, I untie and let the line slide out and you are free. Paddle back and get the anchor pull up by hand and hope you didn't anchor in anything weird. Be safe and good luck, that current out there is scary, anchoring for me is about an hour before high or low slacks and I plan on only anchoring for up to 4 hours depending on the size of the tides. Be safe and err on the side of caution.