Anchoring help

brshooter · 09-02-2001, 07:05 PM

Was out fishing on the Columbia today. The hoglines were stacked up pretty close. When we decided to call it a day, it was to crowded to use the anchor puller so I hopped out on the bow, while my wife eased the boat upstream and I pull in the slack until we get above our anchor and go to make the pull on the last 40 feet. Our line was good and I thought everything was clear. As I pulled the anchor off the bottom, I did snag the neighboring boats anchor line. The current was pretty strong and I think when the anchor came off the bottom, it started to swing in the current. Fortunately, the other boat was paying attention and gave me some slack to free it up. No major mishaps, the other boat was real cool about it, but I felt like a moron. This bothered me because I disrupted the other boats fishing. The tugging on their anchor line, moved their anchor and they had to take the time and reset.
This is the first problem I have had of this sort. What did I do wrong? Any suggestions so that I don't do something like this again? I don't want to be the cause of any situations out there.

[ 09-02-2001: Message edited by: brshooter ]

Mrdorkfish · 09-02-2001, 07:54 PM

brshooter, It's hard to tell if you did anything wrong at all....too many factors to think about.... My brother called me tonight and told me this happened to him today... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] what kind of boat was it you hooked up with?

Mrdorkfish

Crabby 2 · 09-02-2001, 09:19 PM

I agree with Mr.D! It's not always your fault when you tangle anchor lines. It's always helpful for the anchored boat to assist the boat who's anchoring along side. Both boats benefit from a cooperative effort. What you don't want to see is someone who is too inexperienced trying to anchor into the hog line. This means someone in a fiberglass ski boat throwing out a mushroom anchor or a sand anchor and expecting to hold somewhere in the vicinity of everyone else. What bugs me is some boat that doesn't join a hog line. Hey folks, don't be shy...Hog lines are created to maintain order. Don't anchor immediately downstream and outside of the established line, unless you are definitely knowledgable of a hot spot. I think a lot of boaters are sometimes too shy too join an established line because they are embaressed to join. Doggonit, hog lines are pretty social too. I depend on my neighbors to sometimes wake me if I'm snoozing during a bite. I've also had a neighbor more than once, jump into my boat to assist me in catching a fish. So, please fellow fishermen, if you're timid or not...don't hesitate to join in a hogline and have some fun. And by all means, please invest some well spent money on a claw type anchor and float pully system. Also spend some time before the season starts practicing anchoring techniques. This is especially important for those anchoring near the mouth of the Sandy! The vast majority of fishermen in hog lines are considerate and helpful.Come on everybody,let's all join in and have some fun!

Dale

Uncle Bob · 09-03-2001, 03:40 AM

Hey Brshooter,
Just the fact that you're concerned says a lot to me. And if the boats are stacked in there like chord wood...
I've found that as the line fills up, and really starts to get tight - just a polite comment like "well, we might have some fun when we try to pull anchor - but let's catch some fish first". Letting them know what to expect.
When they squeeze 30 boats into an area that only fits 20 boat...
I guess what I'm saying is that even the old pro's will get in a tight line now and then. I've seen some say...that's no problem, I'll just take up some slack - others sound like my 4 year old grandson fighting with his younger sister over a toy in the sand box. You wonder how some of them handle the tough things in life. Just do your best. Getting there early is best, that way you let the other guy drop in the hole. Good Luck!
UB

SureSet · 09-03-2001, 05:24 AM

I wouldn't worry about it at all Bill. You handled it exactly the way you should have. Experience is the best (only) way to learn sometimes. I see even the most seasoned guys mis-read the current from time to time. It's nice to hear you have a guy next to you that was helpful. Most times people are, but every once-in-a-while you'll run into some real jerks. I ran into one Sat. who thought a hog line on labor day weekend at the peak of the run meant no one for 75' on either side of him. I tried all the polite talk and told him I'd leave if we ever got close(we never did), but he must have had a hangover, it just set the tone for future conversation (NOT). After a couple hours I moved.

Do what you need to. For me, as long as I am focused on being safe, concencious and not a jerk, I can live with it and not feel like a "moron". I just ckalk it up as more "experience".

SureSet

Pete · 09-03-2001, 05:32 AM

I was pretty surprised to see that line set up in front of you. From my boat it looked like they must have been fishing for your anchor ... deep water, big distance ... if you have 200 feet of line out, you need 400 to 500 feet to get your gear up in any sort of order .... sorry it got dicy, but it was happening all around you, too .... those two lines were just too close and too many guys didn't understand the current. You survived and that was a good measure of success yesterday ... be thankful.