Anchor?, or no Anchor?

[simon3658]

Hi, just got myslef a Prolwer 13, asked the shop assistant about whether he thought an anchor was a good idea?
His reply was interesting and was hoping fellow Yak fisherman have any suggestions?
The guy in the Yak shop said not to attach the anchor in any way to your Yak, as if somethng got cought on the line it would pull you down with it, he suggested that you anchor to a bouy, then just attach a few meters o cord with a carabineer to the bouy?
Is an anchor really useful and worthwhile?
Any thoughts?

[BUDDY]

Not many places have bouys to anchor to. Most of us use anchors. Look in the mods and rigging section and you will get some useful info. As for pulling the yak under, this is very unlikly as you would never fish in a tide run so strong. If anything should happen to you, you should drop anchor so you wont drift out to sea or into any danger such as rocks ect.
Hope this helps.

[SEAJUNKY]

Simon, Buddy is dead right. But further to what he said is that you should have a safety knife to hand just in case for any reason you need to cut free, or you have a dan bouy attached to the anchor line, and you throw the whole lot (the anchor set up)over the side, and collect it later.

Steve

[simon3658]

Thanks for the info folks, great help.
I think I will invest in an anchor system of some sort, better to have and not use as they say.
Cheers all.
With any luck the wind and tides will be better donw here in Cornwall this weekend so I can give the Yak a float!
;D

[cj]

Everytime I think I will not bother with an anchor, I end up wishing I had it, its just makes life easier. Now I take it all the time.

[THURSOMAN]

Interested in you comment here cj.
In what way do you mean having an anchor makes life easier?
Do you mean when you find a good spot the anchor prevents you from drifting?

Chris

[johnny12]

Hi
calling all you experienced anchor men is it better to have the anchor trolley attached to the stern or on the side near the stern as i only want to fit it once correctly for the best stabilily while at anchor
thanks john

[SEAJUNKY]

Hi John12. You can fit a short anchor trolley from the midships to either the bow or the stern. But I think that to have an anchor trolley running the full length bow to stern gives you a lot more options. Now I like to anchor from the stern, I can sit in my seat and fish forward, to me this is a comfortable way to fish, but you must be sure of the conditions to do this, as large waves approaching you from behind can be very unsettling to say the least. Some people have fitted 2 full length anchor trolleys one on each side, because it sometimes depends on the way the wind is blowing as to what side you wish to anchor from. This method could also serve to provide grab ropes on your kayak. So many things will have to be taken into account when considering fitting an anchor trolley.

Hope this helps and hasn't over complicated things for you.

Steve

[cj]

Chris,

[cj]

the pad on this pc is so sensitive, Chris that exactly right, a bouy is not always available, with an anchor you can stop the drift. I am using a big garden bag as a drift drouge 99p it big its tough its 99p. works a treat when its windy. Got to tell you folks went on hols to Normandy, 9m tide range, paddled a mile out tied to a bouy, the current started running, more weight, it really picked up, hmm put bouy out with 20m of line just incase I fell in. the tide was hammering the kayak was bobbing, 4hrs later I paddled back in, went up the estuary the next day.

[BUDDY]

Hi Johnny12.
Anchor mid - for or aft. Your anchor trolley will run from the middle of your yak to either front or back. or you can do a full length. I personally use the front. One important thing when you drop anchor is to clip your anchor to the trolley and move it to the front or back of the yak before you actually let it go to the sea bed. this will pull you round in the tide. If it hits the sea bed and is lined up in the centre of your yak and the tide and drift are wrong it will flip you over. This did happen to one of our members at llandudno last year.
Steve

[TimO]

Hi Simon, and welcome to the forum.
With regards to an anchor, it is a must. Not only does it make fishing a particular mark easier but it also has a safety side. For example you have travelled a fair distance from your launch point and find the wind or tide has made paddling back difficult, that is the time to drop anchor, hold position and have a rest before continuing. Without the anchor you will be sent back from where you came.

Always carry one with plenty of line. In fact carry a spare, just in case.

Tight lines

Tim ;D