Self-retracting anchor trolley longer than 50ft?

[jhoss]

Has anyone figured out a self-retracting anchor trolley long enough to use at the bay bridge? I recently built one using a retractable clothesline reel for fishing on the susquehanna, I find this way more efficient than the 150 ft dive reel I was using previously. The only drawback is the clothesline reels only go to 40 or 50 feet. Anyone got any ideas? Tired of reeling all that line up by hand. I guess I'm just getting old-or lazy....or both!

Thanks for any tips

[Nitefly]

I'm interested in this answer as well. I am using a dive reel now, but really like your self retracting solution. I have donated one anchor to the bridge this year already!

[JohnE]

You guys ever try a piling hugger anchor for fishing the bridge? I forgot to pick one up last time I was down at the place where they sell them.

[jhoss]

what is a piling hugger anchor?

[JohnE]

You take a wreck-type anchor with bendable tines and basically throw it around a piling and drift back to where you want to position.

[jhoss]

I'd be concerned that this anchor would get too tangled up on the piling and not be easy to remove...especially with the really ripping current at the bay bridge, I'd be wary of using one. have you used one before? if so does it work to hold you and is it easy to remove?

[JohnE]

I have not tried one yet, but I trust the sources that recommend these. I'm going to pick one up next time I head down to Norfolk.

The ripping current around the pilings of the bridge is exactly where you would use one and they are specifically intended to be used for that application. They are apparently slightly different from the wreck anchors, which are designed to be used where you can't really use any other type of anchor.

[jhoss]

It sounds interesting to me, if you get one let us know how it works. I'm almost seeing something on a float that you throw out around a piling. Just wary of having that tied to my boat. I should mention I almost sank rencently while down at the OBX when my anchor snagged on the bottow and the current started to pull the side of my kayak under. Dont want to ever repeat that....

[buzz]

It sounds interesting to me, if you get one let us know how it works. I'm almost seeing something on a float that you throw out around a piling. Just wary of having that tied to my boat. I should mention I almost sank rencently while down at the OBX when my anchor snagged on the bottow and the current started to pull the side of my kayak under. Dont want to ever repeat that....

You don't have a trolley? I rigged one up on mine without any pulleys. I had a couple of chain quick links lying around and attached them to a couple of nylon eyelets, one near the bow and one near the stern.

[JohnE]

Right, you do need some floats and attach with a system that you can quickly disconnect from whatever type of anchor you use. The piling hugger sort of uses friction, you get it hung up a bit on one side of the piling and drift around the other side with the friction holding it in place. I would never secure an anchor in a way that I could not release from it in a couple seconds with one hand. And I really don't like anchoring in a lot of current.

I have an anchor trolley with pulleys that I use for my homemade stake out pole, anchors, and for attaching a stringer as well. On my kayak, I was able to rig up the trolley without drilling any extra holes, I just use existing attachment points.

[jhoss]

Yeah, I do have a trolley. When I got hung up and almost sank the anchor line happened to be going over the side and with the current and the sudden hang up of the boat it really dug in on the right side and started to swamp the boat...I'm a little wary now if you can't tell.

[JohnE]

Went by Oceans East 2 when I was picking up eels on my way to Kiptopeke last week and they have sold out of the piling hugger anchors. Apparently the guy who was making them no longer works there. The guy who checked me out suggested I contact Kayak Kevin to see if he has some he can sell. I have not tried that yet, but I found some similar ones online and they are a lot more money than I want to spend. I might see if I can figure out how to rig one up myself.

[jhoss]

I'm on the same page. Went to home Depo today for some of the parts. I'll post some pictures when I finish.

[JohnE]

I'm on the same page. Went to home Depo today for some of the parts. I'll post some pictures when I finish.

Cool, let me know how it works out. I kind of have an idea in my head on how I would rig it up, but haven't scoped out HD to see what I can use to make it.

[rwh]

Kayak Kevin still has them listed for sale on his web page for $6.00 each: http://kayakkevin.com/home/kayakkevindvdsandstuff.html