Anchor System

im working on my Anchor system. Got it mocked up for the most part.Just need to work out a few more minor details and i need to finish a few more attachments. When it's done it will have pole holders on top of the wood plugs in the molded pole holders and it will have a middle bar thats higher that a dodger can be draped over and clipped to the bottom bars and my safety flag of course.

 It's got 187 feet of 80 pound dacron on it. I don't have my Anchor yet so i tied a 3 pound mini sledge on it. It will need a little larger reel in the end but i dont have on yet so i borrowed this one from Ralph for the mock up.



I used an old busted big surf pole and cut the appropriate legth reel mount section. The tube is just a piece of the tip section of the same pole. It barely protrudes through the big tube section on the inside. Get in trouble while anchored, just cut the line at the reel and yer free, not much thinking about it.



My garage anchor



no many distractions in these pics huh?  . I put a few more in the gallery http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=10;u=191  . a close up shot of the reel and the front piece taken apart to show the insides, which will be made of plastic most likely in the end and one with port side dummy bar and flag /spreader section. What do you think? Any input would be appreciated, only if it's adulation and praise.. . LOL, just kidding...

Hey Roy,
Looks pretty good; nice and clean.  I like that you're using fairly light line that is easy to cut and that everything stays pretty much out of your way.

BTW, is that a bow or stern anchor system?  The notch at the end of the boat makes me think stern, but everything else makes me think bow.

I think it's probably a good option for a stern anchor, or a general "keep my over my fishing hole" anchor.  But there are times when a quick release anchor would be better to have.  For example a bow anchor for sturgeon fishing, you'll want to be able to drop the anchor to fight the fish and the use of a bouy will let you find your anchor again when you're done so you can re-anchor.

Is there a safety concern when anchoring in the current with a set-up like this?  It seems like there's a possibility that the anchored end of a yak might want to submerge. 

Stern is the way to go. I've tried both and while a bow setup will work with the current it puts you in a strange position when it comes to fishing. The last thing you want when fighting 10#'s of steel  is tripping over your seatback trying to follow the bugger.

As to safety concerns of a submerging yak in the current, you'll either be trying to fish w/ the river flow is WAY too high or riding in a yak that's really weighed down w/ gear. You've got to use common sense when drifting in rivers. It gets dangerous very fast.

And Bsteves brings up a great point about fishing for dinos. You need a dedicated anchor system for these guys. You must be able to detach your anchor immediately. Let's not forget that these fish grow to absolutely gianormous proportions and are known to go aerial. You only want to deal w/ them when they're good and tired.

Z

i  guess ill just use it on lakes and the bay here. wont matter front or back there.

 I would have thought the front would be better , hmm. To see the river comin at ya. That makes it alot more difficult with a rudder in the way.

I think front or back is a personal preference.  I've seen people do it both ways.  Some might say the bow pointing into the current is better.  After all it was designed to do that.  Personally, I am more comfortable anchoring at the stern.  Not all boats will do this correctly, especially if they are scooped out at back and not able to take some current head on without digging into the water.

Be careful on the anchor.  I don't like to anchor above 2 knots current.  And even then it can be very tricky.  Start small and get used to it.

-Allen

i can realease from this setup easy enough, just will be the last time that anchor is seen..I'd rather lose an anchor then most anything else though.

How have you guys solved the float issue, while having a safe quick release method?

This system works pretty well and can be adapted for use with bow or stern depending on how your kayak rides in the current. 
[pics are near the bottom of the post]
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,6529.0.html

I liked the simplicity of the quick release anchor system.  I've seen similar set-up on a couple of different boards.  I'm going to give this a shot on my Cobra. 

Does anybody use an anchor puller to help retrieve the 100 to 200 feet of anchor line they've scoped out?  Seems like any assistance would be worth the extra space used.

I liked the simplicity of the quick release anchor system.  I've seen similar set-up on a couple of different boards.  I'm going to give this a shot on my Cobra. 

Does anybody use an anchor puller to help retrieve the 100 to 200 feet of anchor line they've scoped out?  Seems like any assistance would be worth the extra space used.

You mean something like this?  Meant for pulling crab traps, but should work the same on anchors.  I just got one recently and look forward to trying it out.

-Allen

This system works pretty well and can be adapted for use with bow or stern depending on how your kayak rides in the current. 
[pics are near the bottom of the post]
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,6529.0.html

This is the one. On my way to Englund Marine right now.

Does anybody use an anchor puller to help retrieve the 100 to 200 feet of anchor line they've scoped out? 

In all reality I doubt you'd put out any more than 30-60 ft of anchor line. Whenever you get into really deep water anchoring becomes pretty dangerous IMO. And even though it may sound like a lot, it's simpler than you think to manage the line.

Z

Thanks Allen,

I was actually refering to a buoy with a directional slide like the power boaters use when pulling anchor.  From what I've been told, not only do they keep you from loosing ground when pulling up the anchor, they also help aleviate the downward directional pull of the anchor and dampen the swing you experience when on hook in a current.

I sure do like that pulley arm though.  It answers a question I hadn't asked yet about crap pot retrieval.

-Mark-

Here's an image of what I'm refering to above.

Got the back one done.I'm gonna do one for the front too, cover all the bases.Getting closer to being ready for a Dino hunt.

 



I think that supervisor Leo approves!!