Anchor Trolley/ Drift Anchor for Outback

I have been reading and looking at pictures of Anchor Trolley systems and am wondering what works the best. I noticed that some are home made and some are store bought. So what would work the best with my Outback and have the best function? Is one side or the other better for installation or is it a matter or preference? The trolley would be mainly for anchoring on the Willy and for lakes.  I also have been looking at some of the Drift Anchor posts and noticed that none of them are on Hobie Outbacks or Yaks with rudder systems. Can you use an Anchor Trolley with a drift anchor since its not centered on the Yak? I am planning on fishing the Clack for Steelhead which can get a good current flow and I don't want to get side ways in a stiff current. I am sure that doing so would be very bad situation. Has anyone place a drift anchor on the stern of an Outback on a mounting plate like the one Spot made for his Trident? Am I thinking too much?
Thanks Ahead of Time.

I'm not a fan of anchor trolleys.  Don't have one on any of my yaks, never will.  Personally I think they may be great for lakes/ponds etc but there are much better options for moving water typical of NW rivers and bays. 

With some creative welding you could come up with a Insyan style drift anchor mount for the outback.  The rudder complicates it a bunch, but I think it could be done.  Whatever you do, test it in mild water before you hit the clack.  Winter flows don't leave a huge margin for error and "failure" could take on a real permanent meaning fairly quickly.

What is it that you don't like about anchor trolleys? I will not install one on my Yak if its not a good Idea. I was a whitewater kayak-er once upon a time so I have a very healthy respect for moving water. I will have to sit and look hard and long at my Yak for a idea on a drift bracket luckily I am a welder so I can build cut and rebuild in my own space.

I'm not a fan of anchor trolleys.  Don't have one on any of my yaks, never will.  Personally I think they may be great for lakes/ponds etc but there are much better options for moving water typical of NW rivers and bays. 

... I also have been looking at some of the Drift Anchor posts and noticed that none of them are on Hobie Outbacks or Yaks with rudder systems. Can you use an Anchor Trolley with a drift anchor since its not centered on the Yak? I am planning on fishing the Clack for Steelhead which can get a good current flow and I don't want to get side ways in a stiff current. I am sure that doing so would be very bad situation. Has anyone place a drift anchor on the stern of an Outback on a mounting plate like the one Spot made for his Trident? ...

Not sure a drift anchor would work in moving water such that the kayak is drifting in the same current as the drift anchor.  I think it works with a differential between wind and water motion.  I've not spent a lot of time on rivers and no time on rivers with a drift anchor.

I have used a drift anchor a few times with an anchor trolley in salt water.  It seemed to work okay.  In a wind your kayak will tend to present broadside to the wind.  Even with a rudder it can be hard to keep oneself oriented with bow or stern into the wind.  A drift anchor running off the bow or stern will point that end into the wind.

I've not had issues with my anchor trolley.  I don't anchor a lot, but did a few times this season while sturgeon fishing in fairly strong current and wind.  It is true however, that you only anchor from the bow or stern and the trolley is only a convenient way to get the anchor line to bow or stern.  Any method/technique to get the anchor line to bow and/or stern would work.

I haven't used an anchor trolley because I can't figure out how you'd drop off anchor without losing everything (River Anchor).  I suppose you could use it to push your carabiner down a bow or stern line but then you have two systems in place.

I suppose you could use it to deploy a river anchor but it adds a lot of difficulty to the process' of deploying and retrieving your anchor.  Not something you want in swift water.

-Spot-

I got an Outback a bit more than a month ago I made an anchor system similar to the bsteeves system. I have only used it once and it worked great. I also bought a drift sock but have not deployed it. I put together the system for anchoring in the Willamette and Columbia.

The intended usage model is to anchor off the bow and then if needed throw out the drift sock and tie it to one of my handles. Thus the drift sock is suboptimal in its deployment (not from the stern), but I am assuming this would be more than good enough.

The nice thing is that this did not require any drilling. Thus, I can use it for a while and decide if I like it before doing anything to make it permanent (probably will never need to do this).

To be clear I am not afraid to put holes in my kayak (I have installed 2 Scotty flush mount rod holders) but it is really nice to try something out before getting the drill out.

Thanks Pdx for your post. I have been looking both at bsteeves system and rawkfishs system. That would be for a Willy or Columbia trip. I am still up in the air about an anchor trolley. I might get my system in place and use it without the trolley and them with and see what works best for me. I am sure I can hook up a temporary trolley from my lift straps. As for a drift anchor I am talking about swift water and am going to look into welding together a mounting system for the stern of my Outback. I would want to use mountings that are allready in place so that I don't have to drill any holes. It would have to be an easy deployed and retrieved anchor like you would use on a drift boat.

I got an Outback a bit more than a month ago I made an anchor system similar to the bsteeves system. I have only used it once and it worked great. I also bought a drift sock but have not deployed it. I put together the system for anchoring in the Willamette and Columbia.

The intended usage model is to anchor off the bow and then if needed throw out the drift sock and tie it to one of my handles. Thus the drift sock is suboptimal in its deployment (not from the stern), but I am assuming this would be more than good enough.

The nice thing is that this did not require any drilling. Thus, I can use it for a while and decide if I like it before doing anything to make it permanent (probably will never need to do this).

To be clear I am not afraid to put holes in my kayak (I have installed 2 Scotty flush mount rod holders) but it is really nice to try something out before getting the drill out.

Thanks Pdx for your post. I have been looking both at bsteeves system and rawkfishs system. That would be for a Willy or Columbia trip. I am still up in the air about an anchor trolley. I might get my system in place and use it without the trolley and them with and see what works best for me. I am sure I can hook up a temporary trolley from my lift straps. As for a drift anchor I am talking about swift water and am going to look into welding together a mounting system for the stern of my Outback. I would want to use mountings that are allready in place so that I don't have to drill any holes. It would have to be an easy deployed and retrieved anchor like you would use on a drift boat.

Yes, that's probably something I should mention on the write-up I made for the anchor system I use.  Bsteves' or my anchor system is certainly not something one should try and use for the swift moving waters of small rivers.  I would also like to agree with Spot and Pelagic that using an anchor trolley system for anchoring in small, swift rivers is not really a good idea either.   You have the right idea Firebunkers - if you've got the ability to weld something up, that'd be your best bet.

What is the issue with an anchor trolley system and swift moving water?

Well I have done the Clack with a drift boat more than one and with that in mind you have to be able to lower and raise you anchor easily and quickly in full control of your movement so you don't broach in the river. It is not that big a thing in a drift boat but in a Yak that is so close to the water and has a narrower beam you could get into trouble fast. I have seen a side deployed drift rig for a drift boat but then like I said it has a very wide beam and tall gunnels. I agree with spot and rawkfish things could go bad quick, and in a swift, cold river so I would rather stay in my Yak and out of the water. Any way with the trolley on the side of your Yak and not mounted  directly on the stern it could put you sideways in the current fast. Now that being said I have never tried it with a Yak so to tell you the truth I don't know what would happen, I can just guess. From what I have read here I think Spot has the most in water experience unless I have not read all the posts concerning drift anchoring that there are to read.

What is the issue with an anchor trolley system and swift moving water?

I can certainly see a potential issue in getting sidewise in the current. 

The strongest currents I've anchored in has been off Priest Pt during an high tide change fishing for sturgeon, and on the Stilli fishing for sturgeon.  I believe I just peddled upstream to put slack in the anchor line then ran the trolley back.   I also just dumped the anchor and peddled back up to the float for the retrieve.  I never got sideways, but then the water wasn't white anywhere.