QRAS Question

I was actually gonna add "until it hurts and you have to pull it back in". 

How about on a Hobie? In that case, I'd rather drop the anchor and use the pedals to fight the fish. Then there would be no chance of the fish getting tangled in the anchor line.

Good suggestion, Dale! Thanks you. Wish I'd known that yesterday while trying to hold my position in a river haha.

Most sot kayaks handle better facing up current. With significant current, you'll get speed-wobbles when it's facing backwards.

speed-wobbles    Never tried it ... just sounds funny.

Try skateboarding down a steep hill on a regular board with crappy trucks. Major speed wobbles!   

If you fish behind you while facing up current your rods need to be splayed out sideways or behind you and you will get a sore neck trying to watch two rods all day long. I have anchored backwards for 7 years and never had any issues. Occasional debris from time to time and once dropped anchor fast, which was no big deal since I had a QRAS. That is what the QRAS is for. I will continue to face my rods for ease of use and comfort.

If you fish behind you while facing up current your rods need to be splayed out sideways or behind you and you will get a sore neck trying to watch two rods all day long. I have anchored backwards for 7 years and never had any issues. Occasional debris from time to time and once dropped anchor fast, which was no big deal since I had a QRAS. That is what the QRAS is for. I will continue to face my rods for ease of use and comfort.

Good point about 2 rods. Hadn't thought about that...

Just because you don't need glasses doesn't mean you can't use them. Polarized sun glasses are good on the water. Blue blockers? I think they also make the mirrors that attach to a hat. No matter which way you anchor, the mirror helps to make sure boats approaching from behind are not going to run over you.

Wow, I was just about to post exactly the same question.

It seems to me that facing upstream would be comparable to trolling, which seems plenty natural to me. And I don't see why you'd be any more likely to snag the anchor if it in front, rather than behind. Still not getting it...

My thoughts exactly. The only time I would fish anchored is soaking bait for sturgeons, so I would not be casting. I would only be watching the tip of my rod, just like when I am trolling.

Aren't you facing downstream anytime you anchor and fish? Unless you have a bowrider and fish up front. The only difference is anchor in front, fish at the back or anchor in back and fish at the front. I don't see what the concern is other than the size of the boat and it's harder to look back.  I have a bicycle mirror on my glasses so I can see debris and boats approaching from behind.

The direction I face would depend on which end of the kayak the anchor is deployed from. My biggest concern is with seeing debris coming downstream towards me this time of year. And since I do not wear glasses, and hence no bicycle mirror, I would have to constantly look back if the anchor is deployed off the stern.

Waiting for that stray log to hit me is the only excitement i get while sturgeon fishing. Thats what it is all about…..right?……Thats why i don't call it fishing. I call it the waiting game…or sometimes the crying game.

Waiting for that stray log to hit me is the only excitement i get while sturgeon fishing. Thats what it is all about…..right?……Thats why i don't call it fishing. I call it the waiting game…or sometimes the crying game.

Yeah, besides if a log didn't hit your yak while soaking your eel how would you wake up?

I saw a log floating with a big root or branch above water leading the way. Having that stick you in the back or head at a couple miles an hour, with momentum, would not be fun. 

I saw a log floating with a big root or branch above water leading the way. Having that stick you in the back or head at a couple miles an hour, with momentum, would not be fun. 

I hear ya, once I saw a log coming down sub-surface with a bunch of plywood nailed to it

Reminds me of this thread

http://norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=41659

Here's another thought (maybe not a good one, but it is a thought). Suppose my anchor is slipping just a little bit. Then if I'm facing upstream, I could pedal real slow---like a really, really slow troll---to stay in place. Besides, it would give me something to do while waiting for that massive sturgeon...

What Rob said.  And I fish the Old Sac in some hellacious current.

"If you fish behind you while facing up current your rods need to be splayed out sideways or behind you and you will get a sore neck trying to watch two rods all day long. I have anchored backwards for 7 years and never had any issues. Occasional debris from time to time and once dropped anchor fast, which was no big deal since I had a QRAS. That is what the QRAS is for. I will continue to face my rods for ease of use and comfort."

+1

Here's another thought (maybe not a good one, but it is a thought). Suppose my anchor is slipping just a little bit. Then if I'm facing upstream, I could pedal real slow---like a really, really slow troll---to stay in place. Besides, it would give me something to do while waiting for that massive sturgeon...

Turn your drive around.

Here's another thought (maybe not a good one, but it is a thought). Suppose my anchor is slipping just a little bit. Then if I'm facing upstream, I could pedal real slow---like a really, really slow troll---to stay in place. Besides, it would give me something to do while waiting for that massive sturgeon...

In extreme tides if you don't have enough anchor to hold...pull your drive to reduce the drag. It also gives you more room to stretch out a bit. You can always stab it back in during the sturgeon fight...