Anchors are they Really Necessary?

[M_Duong60]

I have been out on my new kayak recently and would see having an "anchor" be helpful, but I have used an anchor on another kayak a couple years back and have not seen a change in my drift. So I was wondering if 1. do you use an anchor consistently when fishing? 2. Is it worth buying one? 3. Which one works best for drifting/ holding ground?

[Capt C-Hawk]

I have one that came in a bag from west marine. I believe it weighs 3#, has 4 tines that fold and lock along with 25' of poly line and a float. All of it fits in a bag with a draw cord to close the bag. I would say an anchor is a must have if you're trying to hold a certain spot and especially when you're after cats. You probably won't use one if you're casting to a shoreline or jigging a drop off. Either way I wouldn't be without mine.

[Yak Fish]

I have one but I rarely ever use it. I do think you should have one because I've had situations where I've broken a mirage drive and dropped anchor to stop from drifting away while I could repair it....and then gave up and asked Cliff to tow me in :-)
I only use it if I'm fishing for carp, catfish or want to really work an area for bass and the wind is blowing. Otherwise, I'm in water too deep to anchor or I'm on the move. It just depends on your style.

[chimo]

Comes in handy when you want to soak bait for cats, carp, croaker, perch etc. I've been using one of the 3 lb folding anchors like have been mentioned but it is only marginal at holding a yak in current. My old 6lbr that got stuck in something was better.

[J.A. Veil]

I estimate that I fish from the kayak 50-75 times a year. Last year I used an anchor on only 3 or 4 trips. I can usually tell before leaving home whether I will be fishing in a location and in a manner that would benefit from an anchor. Most of the time, my anchor remains in the garage. My homemade "anchor trolley" is only put on the kayak when I plan to use the anchor. Otherwise, it is stored away, and is not sitting there likely to snag my lure.

[M_Duong60]

Very interesting... from what I have read so far it seems like that anchors aren't commonly used and only the heavy ones work well. So during the summer when I go fishing in relativity shallow water 6-7 ft I might as well use a big rock as an anchor.

[kevinfry]

Depends on type and location of fishing. I can't imagine catfishing the Potomac without one....I fished with ictalrus Bill last winter and got schooled...he had an anchor I did not. I don't think a small anchor is is unusable, it just has very limited use and does not work well without a bit of chain to get tit to sit right. I actually use ONLY chain, a 3 ft chunck of very heavy chain and use it in a variety of ways. It has worked well for me and never been snagged up

[frettr00]

I rarely use mine since the only time I fell out of my kayak was at the bay bridge when I anchored. It messes with the boat's stability.

[ComeOnFish]

Minh,
As you already know, it depends on how you fish. Here is my case.
First of all I carry a 3lb anchor for safety reason. As someone mentioned earlier, when you can’t paddle you want to be anchored.
When I am alone I carry a 3lb grappling anchor with 100’ anchor line. Many times the wind blow from the beach. If you are in the narrow places such as Bay Bridge (Annapolis), You will be ended up either side of the shores. But if you are at CBBT or launched from Chesapeake Beach (Mid Bay), you don’t want be drifted away from the side you launched. This is why you want to leash your paddle all the time
I have currently, one 1.5lb grappling anchor, two 3lb grappling anchors, and one 5lb grappling anchor.
The smallest (1.5lb) is used in Pohick Bay in the narrow stream. I can continuously hit a submerged log one side and the small hole in the lily area for LM or snakehead when the current is strong or wind is strong
The 3lb grappling anchor will do the job in the most of time. But you need a long anchor line if you are in 30’+ water.
5lb anchor works all the time
The reason I have many is that I have three kayaks and all three kayaks can be used at the same time. Also I cut the line off when the anchor got stuck.
Soon in May, you want to catch croaker in Bushwood wharf (Wicomico River, MD). The only day you can fish can be windy. Here is an example of the 3lb grappling anchor in use. The river is very narrow. The width of the area I fished was about 1.5-2 miles. It is a safe place. BTW May 5-15 is the best time for croaker there. And I don't say "shrimps" any more:

[ronaultmtd]

For catfishing on Mattawoman Creek an anchor is ESSENTIAL- without it you will not catch fish- I use the folding 4 lb. anchor- it does the job just fine- as others have said safety is another consideration- something happens and you call the USCG for help you need to be anchored-

[MetroMan]

I use a 3lb folding anchor like others. With the appropriate amount of anchor line (3x depth), it has always held just fine. I have 10lb anchors, but have never soaked bait in current strong enough to warrant such a heavy anchor.

[wfauby]

if you dont own a kayak with a foot powered paddle system like a hobie, i dont know how you can fish without an anchor system, especially if you are targeting specific spots and there is any kind of wind. i use the drag chain system myself, 20-24" of heavy logging chain, it does ok except in the strongest of winds. my typical day of summer fishing is to target deep fish w/ light jig heads on specific structure, so it may take 20-30 seconds for my lures to reach the intended depth, without an anchor system, on a breezy day i can be 50 feet from my quarry.

[Shady]

I really only use an anchor when fishing for cats or when crabbing to anchor down if i have to rebait a trap or something. Other than that I usually dont even bring one, which based on others posts is probably not the safest. I started out with the 3 lb hobie grappling anchor, but couldnt get that to hold. Now I use an 8lb mushroom anchor and that will hold pretty much anywhere.

[ComeOnFish]

Minh,
People come up with their own anchoring system for their needs. You have plenty of time to study for your needs. Take time before you put holes. Actually you don't have to put holes to have a simple anchor-trolley system

Joe

[frettr00]

if you dont own a kayak with a foot powered paddle system like a hobie, i dont know how you can fish without an anchor system, especially if you are targeting specific spots and there is any kind of wind. i use the drag chain system myself, 20-24" of heavy logging chain, it does ok except in the strongest of winds. my typical day of summer fishing is to target deep fish w/ light jig heads on specific structure, so it may take 20-30 seconds for my lures to reach the intended depth, without an anchor system, on a breezy day i can be 50 feet from my quarry.

I'm not sure how true this is, but I heard from another fisherman that the fish can see the anchor line and it might spook them if you put it down close to the spot. If I fish the bay bridge I usually end up paddling back up withing casting range on every cast. It does get old after a while, but I don't fish that bridge much either and tend to stick to lower current areas.