Driftboat anchors

[Big Willie]

Hello all. Just wanted some opinions from my fellow driftboaters on anchor weights. My Willie came with a 30lb, 4 side pyramid. I lost that on the Wilson last year with our good friend RT. He felt bad and bought me a 30lb 3 side pyramid from the Guide Shop. Well, I thought the 3 side might have work a little better in some situations. Either way, I didn't think 30lbs was holding the boat good enough. So I stopped in to see Ray at Nestucca Valley after some lousy deer hunting and bought a 4 side 35lb'er. I think the 35 will be perfect. Any comments?
-Gary

[Gone Fishin]

Hey Big Willie!

The 35 seems to be the most popular size for a drift boat anchor. I make the anchors for Nestucca Valley Sporting Goods, and probably make the 35 size 4 to 1 over the others. I make them in 5 pound increments from 15 to 45 pounds.

[Gizmo Man]

HI: after 20 yrs of driftboating, I look in my garage and see several differnt type and size anchors. I pick the anchor for the river situation. If you are fishing a bolder type river you may want to try chain or using and innertube anchor.

A gravel situation with heavy flowing water than the heavy anchor with some tangs on the bottom.

Light flowing water, a 20 lb works.

Carry extra rope in your boat. 200 feet if you can. If the anchor hangs up sometimes you will be able to tie the extra rope to the anchor rope, drift to a safe area to stop the boat, then if the terrain cooperates, you can walk up above the spot and pull it out.

Be flexible...

Giz...


iz...

[Deleted User]

Ya, I couldn't help myself but to drop Gary's anchor among the boulders just above the lower Josie hole because we hit it with no fishermen there. I wanted to stop right over that productive hole to fish it with a variety of things from right above the late running steelhead. That wasn't the first time by a long shot that I gambled a risky anchor drop over some really fishy water. No way that was coming out either! Gary, with that 35 we should be able to fish some fancy water on the upper Nestucca. Can't wait!

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Know fish or no fish. - RT

[Big Willie]

Thanks for the info everyone. Giz, great idea regarding the extra rope. In that situation it would have worked! Marty, since you made those anchors, I think Ray did mention that, are they gauranteed to attract fish? Steve, if you keep losing my anchors, I'm not gonna let you row my boat anymore! http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
-Gary

[Stinkfoot]

I've seen boats with a bunch of heavy chain for an anchor. Does anyone know how this works?

[CtDrifter]

My good friend who is a guide on the Yakima has one of those anchors. I asked him about it and he said that is the only anchor he would use. personally I have a 30 lbs 4 sided paramid. I am going to get the chain anchor when I get my Clackacraft.
Ct

[Bait O' Eggs]

Marty
It looks like you make a 4 side anchor from the above post. Do you think 4 -vs- 3 sides makes much of a difference, or is it a matter or weight mostly?

[Gone Fishin]

Roy,

I really don't think it does make much of a difference on 3 vs. 4. Although, my mold is 4 sided!

[Deleted User]

I have seen a few D-boats using the chain anchors. And heard them too. I wondered if that clanking steel noise could put holed up fish off the bite a little? Maybe not when there's a lot of water color and the fish are on the move. - RT

[aye fsh]

A few years ago picked up some large link chain at a salvage yard for next to nothing. The links are about 4" long and maybe 1" in dia., totaling maybe 8' in length (3 pieces) Best thing I've used as an anchor. Lost three pyramids in various snags, kinda scary sometimes. As Gone Fishin' indicated, works really good on rocky/snaggy bottoms, can slide a bit on gravel. Have pulled plugs and caught fish with the chain dragging lightly on the bottom, can hear it tinkling away down there on the gravelly bottom. Think it may have made the fish irate!

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ayefsh,there4ayeam

[FISHFINDER]

PLEASE EXPLAIN THE CHAIN ANCHOR A LITTLE MORE. I GUESS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS. DOES IT ONLY WORK IN BOULDERS?

THANKS,

FF

[Salmonator]

The chain anchor is just a big ball of chains on the end of the rope. Nothing rigid to become snagged, but doesn't grab as well either and doesn't work as well in heavy current. Marty, do you make a fluted 4 sider??

[Gone Fishin]

Sal,

It's pretty much just a flat 4-sided pyramid.
But hey, they do hold good!

[Gone Fishin]

The chain anchors are very good for rivers with snaggy bottoms, however depending on how much chain you use, they don't always stop you when you want in heavier stream flows. The lead anchors seem to do well enough around here, and if you take RT along and he has you drop it in a snag pit and you loose it, don't worry, I'll make you a new one! (after I give RT his comission)

And, Big Willie, if you start catching fish with that anchor let me know, I sprayed Marie's shrimp scent on it!