Results From the Next Adventure Kayak Fishing Tournament

when the water drops I can help you with a powerboat anchor recovery assist if you want. However after high water like this the odds of retrieving an abandoned float and anchor are very very slim.  I assume you left your anchor system with surface float where it was snagged in hopes of returning in lower water conditions to retrieve it?

when the water drops I can help you with a powerboat anchor recovery assist if you want. However after high water like this the odds of retrieving an abandoned float and anchor are very very slim.  I assume you left your anchor system with surface float where it was snagged in hopes of returning in lower water conditions to retrieve it?

That's where it was left. However, the anchor was set fairly well and the float disappeared as soon as my safety release popped free. Who knows if it is recoverable or not... I'll give it a few weeks before buying new anchor line. The anchor and spool are cheap compared to 150' of good anchor line. 

Thanks Ron,

Jay

I'll let you in on a cheap yak anchor line secret.  Go to Englund marine and pick up some of this....  comes in several sizes, I like the 6mm but the 8mm is good too (they make smaller and larger sizes, plus other colors).  Any smaller and it gets real hard on your hands, any bigger and you add extra drag.  This stuff is super strong and you get the whole spool for around  $20 bones.   

Yeah, I'll second that!  6mm is what I use on my crab traps, and if they are full of crabs (hey it's happened a time or three!) they are really heavy, heavier than an anchor would be.  If you used the round type wheel for your anchor diameter won't matter as much, but just to be safe, don't go lower because you never know when a finger will get caught in something.  Besides, 6mm is cheap, and more than strong enough.  I think I picked up 100 or 150 ft of climbing accessory cord from REI for under $20.  PP's source is probably cheaper - I was in a hurry and didn't have time to shop around.

I'll let you in on a cheap yak anchor line secret.  Go to Englund marine and pick up some of this....  comes in several sizes, I like the 6mm but the 8mm is good too (they make smaller and larger sizes, plus other colors).  Any smaller and it gets real hard on your hands, any bigger and you add extra drag.  This stuff is super strong and you get the whole spool for around  $20 bones.

Looks good and the price is right! Seems just like 6mm accessory cord I have for climbing...

I'm in the process of setting up a "mini" anchor system for my yak, pretty much just like Bsteves quick release anchor rig "how-to" article. As a matter of fact the same 3/16" braided nylon cord that is shown in the photos can be bought at Bi-Mart for .15 cents a foot. So I know sturgeon holes 90 ft deep, so I better go with 300 feet of cord!

So, my question becomes- how much current can a 'yak SAFELY be anchored in before its not just an anchor system thats pulled down and stuck under water? For this reason, I wouldn't take a 'yak on my favorite sturgeon holes on the Columbia.

Erik

I have anchored in 3-3.5 mile an hour current on the Rogue with the tank outback. Not for the faint of heart, especially when the anchor decides to give way right after you get all set and think it's gonna hold, that puckers you up real quick. It's not too bad once you get used to it. The anchor i have now doesn't hold in any more current then that so havn't tested any thing higher and don't really want to.

Anchor release is an absolute must!

One of my goals for '11 is to hook and land a Roque springer from my yak. This year I'm gonna drag my Trailer down there and fish for...we'll fish 'til i catch at least one..

I'm in the process of setting up a "mini" anchor system for my yak, pretty much just like Bsteves quick release anchor rig "how-to" article. As a matter of fact the same 3/16" braided nylon cord that is shown in the photos can be bought at Bi-Mart for .15 cents a foot. So I know sturgeon holes 90 ft deep, so I better go with 300 feet of cord!

So, my question becomes- how much current can a 'yak SAFELY be anchored in before its not just an anchor system thats pulled down and stuck under water? For this reason, I wouldn't take a 'yak on my favorite sturgeon holes on the Columbia.

Erik

About what I saw during the tournament last weekend...

I'm in the process of setting up a "mini" anchor system for my yak, pretty much just like Bsteves quick release anchor rig "how-to" article. As a matter of fact the same 3/16" braided nylon cord that is shown in the photos can be bought at Bi-Mart for .15 cents a foot. So I know sturgeon holes 90 ft deep, so I better go with 300 feet of cord!

So, my question becomes- how much current can a 'yak SAFELY be anchored in before its not just an anchor system thats pulled down and stuck under water? For this reason, I wouldn't take a 'yak on my favorite sturgeon holes on the Columbia.

Erik

It pays to paddled around for a while before dropping your anchor.  You're not going to get a good set if you drop your anchor in an area where the current is focused.  Your anchor line will will add a lot of tension on the anchor in these spots.  Find the soft spot off to one side or sometimes between the main flows.  You may have to up your fishing weight but at least you won't be pulling off anchor.

And let me re-itterate what CBY said:  An Anchor Release is an Absolute Must!

Also, don't use to heavy of a zip tie to hold the line to the top of the anchor if you are using a claw anchor. This should maybe be in DAMHIK.  I usually cut partway through the tie with a knife so it breaks easily when needed.  I forgot to during the tourney and spent 45 minutes trying to free my anchor.  That could have been valuable time spent not catching fish. 

I took DC's advice afterwards and used 20 lb test instead.

Other than that the tournament was a blast.  I hope I am still fishing it when its the 35th Annual Next Adventure Willy Dino Tournament.

-Craig

Another DAMHIK lesson from the tourney:

For all you Nikon Camera buffs out there that have always wondered if the 55 to 200mm zoom lenses float,  I am very, very, very glad to report that they do indeed float.  At least when they are in their little felt lens bag.  I don't intend to try it again without the bag, though.  I will leave that up to someone else.

-Craig

Here's a little vid from the day:



Thanks again everyone! I had a great time!

-Cheers!

That was a great video.  I love the container ship going by.

Very cool vid Rawker!

Z

There has been a horrible smell in my garage since the Next Adventure Dino Tourney.  I finally found the source:  a missed box of squid in my anchor crate.  I also finally downloaded the pictures from that day and discovered more proof of the size and scope of Spot's massive fish that slipped the hook.  Sure the bendo's big, but the real measure of the fight is in his face.  What a great day.