Anchor choice

Pic #2

What do you like about that style?

Heavy enough to stay put, the forks dig in just enough to hold you but not so much you can't pull it out.
It's what I've always used and never had a problem.

I use a 10LB pyramid and it holds in the American River in the high flow rapid areas no problem. Works perfect everywhere in the delta I have been too. No chain and has never been stuck even in extremely rocky river bottoms. You would have had no issues anchored on Cache where you were.

Here's a good way to rig a grapnel-style anchor.  The chain increases the holding power of the anchor, and will allow you to use a lighter anchor.  Attach the chain to the bottom of the anchor with a quick-link, and to the top of the anchor with a breakaway device such as a cable tie or a loop of heavy monofilament.  If you snag the anchor on something, the idea is that you can break the break-away loop, which will reverse the direction in which you are pulling the anchor and often release it.  Attach one or two spare cable ties to the top of the anchor so you can re-attach the top of the anchor to the chain if you have to break the original breakaway loop. 

When choosing a breakaway look, be sure to  hook the anchor to something on dry land and try to break the loop.  An average size cable tie is too strong to break from a floating kayak with somewhat stretchy anchor line.  If you can't find a light enough cable tie, try using a loop of monofilament.

How heavy of an anchor do you use? How does the spare zip tie work? Are they re useable so you can open them and then attach it to the chain?

My grapnel type anchor is a 3 pound anchor, which is fine for the situations in which I anchor.  Talk with other kayakers in your area about the kind and size of anchor which works best for the kind of fishing you do.

I loop a couple extra cable ties to the top of my anchor, leaving a bigger loop than I will need to attach the top of the anchor to the chain.  If I have to break the cable tie to extract my anchor. I cut the spare cable tie next to its grabber, pull the stub of tie out of the grabber, loop the tie through the top of the anchor and the chain, stick the end of the tie through the grabber, and pull the cable tie tight.

I'm currently attaching the end of the chain to the bottom of my anchor with a quick link.  I've been thinking that I should replace the quick link with a cable tie which is somewhat stronger than the tie which I'm using for a beakaway at the top of my anchor.  Then if I broke the upper cable tie, and reversing the pull on the anchor didn't dislodge it, I could break the cable tie at the bottom of the anchor and recover my anchor rope and chain.

I rarely anchor, but when I do: 8lb mushroom w/tote's QRASystem

I use a piece of 3" pipe about 8" long cut square on both ends. U bolt welded to one end on the side so the edge digs in if it wants to slide.  Works good so far and no worries if unretrievable.