Preferred Anchor

Hey Pelagic, I saw that you said that a pyramid was the best for sand and gravel. I was curious if you felt that a 10-12lb chain had enough bite to be adequate in those conditions (sand gravel) or whether you felt it would be just for the Willamette.

Chain is not a good option for gravel and sand and similar bottom types if there is anything more than minimal current.  It has no real ability to "bite" on a smooth bottom (it drags) and won't hold like a more traditional anchor would.  It shines on bottom types such as the basalt flow bottom structure that's common from the Cedar Oak ramp down steam to Milwaukee and up near the falls in OC.  It holds by dead weight and wedging into the bottom structure, but its flexible "body" allows easy retrieval.  That said due to the kayaks low drag on anchor it might work in other locations too where it traditionally wouldn't out of a PB.

PP. Do you have a pic showing what this setup looks like?(chain anchor) Think I know but I'll play dumb. Wait, I am.....

I picked on one of these for use in gravel / sand / mud.    When drug, it is supposed to shovel and bury itself in.

Very light so when I try anchoring up for the fist time,  I will bring it along with a more conventional anchor should it not do it's job.

I picked on one of these for use in gravel / sand / mud.    When drug, it is supposed to shovel and bury itself in.

Very light so when I try anchoring up for the fist time,  I will bring it along with a more conventional anchor should it not do it's job.

Craig,

I picked one just like that and tested it out on the upper Willamette at Hebb park. It seemed to work good.

willbd

Ah. A Bruce anchor. How much does your's weigh?

It was the lightest West Marine had.  I think 3 lbs if I remember right.     

Mine is 2.2 lbs.
Every time I used the 3 lb grappel anchor it would stick like I was not going to get it back.

So far, I have had few problems with my claw anchor as long as I use a break-away. I have used it in the Willamette primarily between the railroad and Sellwood bridges, a handful of lakes and in the Columbia above Bonneville. My main problem is it getting stuck in weedy muck above Bonneville. I am planning a trip to Tillamook this weekend and I have both a small pyramid and a mushroom anchor. From the posts, it seems like I should plan on taking the mushroom anchor.

I picked on one of these for use in gravel / sand / mud.    When drug, it is supposed to shovel and bury itself in.

Very light so when I try anchoring up for the fist time,  I will bring it along with a more conventional anchor should it not do it's job.

They have these at next adventure too, and this is what i use for soft bottoms. Works well and has a break away option

Murphy's law... The first trip after posting my preference for the claw anchor, I ended up getting it stuck in the Milwaukie harbor. After seeing how far I can tip my Outback sideways into the current without flipping it, pedaling around for 45 minutes with 200 feet of line, trying all angles to pull it free - and seriously wondering if the 100 feet I had left on the spool was enough to get to shore, attach it to the tow hitch on my Escape Hybrid and get some serious leverage, I finally gave up on getting it free as I stared at the oncoming bow of the Portland Spirit (I was able to limit the amount of line left in the water to about 50 feet). Sadly, I am looking for another anchor and leaning towards the mushroom.   

Murphy's law... The first trip after posting my preference for the claw anchor, I ended up getting it stuck in the Milwaukie harbor. After seeing how far I can tip my Outback sideways into the current without flipping it, pedaling around for 45 minutes with 200 feet of line, trying all angles to pull it free - and seriously wondering if the 100 feet I had left on the spool was enough to get to shore, attach it to the tow hitch on my Escape Hybrid and get some serious leverage, I finally gave up on getting it free as I stared at the oncoming bow of the Portland Spirit (I was able to limit the amount of line left in the water to about 50 feet). Sadly, I am looking for another anchor and leaning towards the mushroom.   

Saw you out there on Sunday.. How was the fishing?  I was a little wet and cold or I would have stopped to chat.

I used an 8lb  mushroom for the first time on Saturday (at George Rogers Park) and liked it a lot. It held well, did not get stuck and was not much harder to pull up than the claw. Plus it did not spin and twist my anchor line like the claw did. I will have to see if I still like it after using it in a variety of conditions.

PDX do you care to share how you had your anchor line setup exactly? I'm looking to set mine up this weekend a was hoping to learn the way of a pro. :p
I'm planning on using an 8lb mushroom with about 300 feet of like on a cord organizer. My questions are,
1) to chain or not to chain?
2) do you use a float? I was planning on using something like this. It's about the size if a volleyball.

I have a boat buoy but it's kinda too big.

My setup is the bsteeves setup (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2041.0.html). The only difference is that I use 2 crab floats (1 is not enough in the Willamette when the flow is up). I do use 2 or 3' of chain. I tie the chain to the drain holes of the mushroom (or the bottom of the claw) and then do a breakaway attachment (zip tie or 20lb test) from the eye of the mushroom (or claw) to the chain.

I think the way that I pull in my anchor is helpful. I pull up the line and toss it off the opposite side while slowly peddling upstream. When I get the anchor in the kayak I quickly reel the line on the spool. This is a lot easier than trying to wind the anchor in directly. Plus, I think it is faster even though there are two steps.

My setup is the bsteeves setup (http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2041.0.html). The only difference is that I use 2 crab floats (1 is not enough in the Willamette when the flow is up). I do use 2 or 3' of chain. I tie the chain to the drain holes of the mushroom (or the bottom of the claw) and then do a breakaway attachment (zip tie or 20lb test) from the eye of the mushroom (or claw) to the chain.

I think the way that I pull in my anchor is helpful. I pull up the line and toss it off the opposite side while slowly peddling upstream. When I get the anchor in the kayak I quickly reel the line on the spool. This is a lot easier than trying to wind the anchor in directly. Plus, I think it is faster even though there are two steps.

PDX is Spot On here.