Size of anchor?

Any suggestion on what size anchor to get?  I notice that there are anchors of different sizes (1.5 and 3 lb, I think).  I would like the anchor to hold in the generally slow moving Sacramento River during salmon season.  Would the small anchor do the trick?

Thanks, Sean

Small anchor rubber coated mushroom style because of the mud should be just fine. I use a three pound when we go out on the Sac. or San Juaquin and it holds two Cobra Tourers just fine. More important is to remember to put out plenty of line if where you are anchoring is still in a tidal zone. Up river on a windy day the high tide can run much higher than at the Bay or on the ocean. Also are you sure you want to anchor? I understand trolling for salmon is more productive once they enter the river system, becuase by then they aren't really feeding anymore but strike more out of irritation. But, then I haven't fished for them in the river before. I'm planning on it this year though - I should be close enough to the salt line that the salmon should barely be turning if at all.

Good luck.

Jeff

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/content/view/15/42/

Erik K - has a set-up that works really well (I use it too) The folding anchor on the pic. has a hole where you can tie down additional round sinkers which allows the prongs to dig deep (no need for an anchor chain). With this set-up, you can add on or take off weights depending on where you are fishing (Bay, Lakes or river).

If you use your anchor in a rocky area, say to hold your kayak in place when you go diving, then an anchor chain is pretty important - otherwise the rope may get frayed and break on the rocks.

I'll add that my anchor is the little bitty folding dive anchor that you see in dive shops.  

You can find the same anchor in a larger version as well (about twice the size) which I would recommend (that's what I'd do if I did it all over again).  

The little folding anchor with a couple pounds of lead added to it works fine in heaviest of tidal currents that occur in the San Pablo bay flats.  I've used it in up to 40' of water successfully with moderate current.  

Beyond that it won't hold... need something bigger / heavier.  In heavy current the longer prongs will probably be of some added benefit as well.

Erik

I use the 5# version, or perhaps it's the 6# version, of the folding anchor.  I choose the bigger version because I have a bigger boat that carries 2 people when fishing.  I had no problems whatsoever in swift current at Alviso this winter.  The current was fast enough to pull my buoy underwater when we released from it.  Luckily, the current subsided a bit and the buoy popped to the top.

-Allen

You can find the same anchor in a larger version as well (about twice the size) which I would recommend

Yeah - I did get a heavier 3 # anchor and it worked well (with the added sinker balls) at San Pablo.  

I prefer a foot or two of chain to help the anchor stick better.  Weighing down the anchor line a little will enable it to angle better and dig in good.  I use a small danforth but it should work for any other mushroom or pronged anchors.

I use a 3# with no chain and it holds well diving, often too well!  I added one ball for the bay and it never budged.

Mooch

You had posted a link here showing how yourself and some others rig their anchor. The link is no longer valid. Can you let us know how you are rigging your anchor? I found a “Quick” release setup that was posted that seemed good as well.

Thanks Orion

I got the 3 lb folding anchor (Thanks Erik!) and it works great.  Just make sure you screw down the locking collar when you deploy the prongs otherwise they'll flop around and you'll end up going for a ride like I did.

One ghetto addition that you guys might consider is to use an orange Tide bottle as your terminal float.  The orange container really stands out and high if you have to release the anchor and have to find it in the swells.  Oh yeah, make sure you use up the detergent on your stinky fishy clothes before you hook it up to your anchor.  LOL

Gary

Mooch

You had posted a link here showing how yourself and some others rig their anchor. The link is no longer valid. Can you let us know how you are rigging your anchor? I found a “Quick” release setup that was posted that seemed good as well.

Thanks Orion

Orion, I'll take some photos of my quick release anchor system tonight and will post it tomorrow - it's pretty simple, low cost and very effective (IMO)

Sandman

I read a post earlier on crab pots. He said he used sections of Pool noodles as floats. I think I will try this as an anchor float as its smaller. What do you think?

Orion

Ps – Thanks Mooch! Look forward to seeing it!

Orion,

Pool noodles in a bright color will definitely work and are less bulky.  I use a 50' nylon anchor line which was sold as a crab trap line and its really buoyant, so a small noodle would work great as a terminal float.  My anchor float was designed for sturgeon/striper trips in San Pablo Bay where there's enough chop and some swells that can make a low riding float disappear in between waves.  So that's why I opted for a little bigger, higher riding float.  In rivers I suspect that its not as much a problem?  The cool thing about all this gear is that you can attach whatever you want depending on the water conditions and weather.  Have fun with the rigging and let us know how it comes out.  When I asked my wife to buy me a small bottle of Tide because I wanted the bottle, she gave me that "look"...what's he up to now?

Gary

Sandman

Key point! I remember almost loosing an anchor in San Pablo because we could not find the white colored float in the chop. It must have taken us about twenty minutes to relocate it.

Orion