Anchor Felt?

[Snapset]

Anybody ever tried to put boot felt on a drift boat anchor? There is nothing more frustrating that having an anchor slip on a crowded run, and I was just thinking: "Maybe some felt would do the same for the anchor as it does for boots."

[Gone Fishin]

How about getting a bigger anchor instead.

Problem solved.

[Bubzilla]

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, but instead of felt or a bigger anchor how about not anchoring in water where you might slip? I was taught anchors are for one thing: holding your boat to the bank while your out of it so it doesn't float away! These days, everyone runs straight downstream to anchor-up in the hole. No fishing through and then heading downstream; no etiquette for sharing water; no sense of how and why drift boats were invented originally. It seems these days that everyone seems to use drift boats like a piece of floating bank. Sad really.

Sorry for the vent. To answer the original question, I don't think the felt would make a difference. Friction, per se, isn't generally the cause for slipping.

[Gone Fishin]

Hey Bub,

When I want my boat to stop, I want my boat to stop! It can be very dangerous to drop the hook then drag off downstream toward an obstacle or brush in heavy current. I need a heavy enough anchor to do the job (and I use one). I don't drop the hook unless we have fish-on or need to fix or change some gear because I cant row and tie gear at the same time.

At the same time I see your point on the "floating bank". You know what you call a person that anchors in a hole all day and dosen't move? I call them dope-on-a-rope ! :grin:

[Bubzilla]

Marty,

I was just overstating the point about only anchoring on the bank for effect. You're totally right about being able to anchor when you need to. I'm just questioning what some of our fishing brethren might describe as necessity! I swear that the last few times I've been out lately the only major navigational hazards on the river were anchored boats! Sour grapes? Probably. :grin:

Wait, you said you can't row and tie on new rigs at the same time? And you call yourself a guide! :tongue:

[Hookset]

Bubzilla, anchoring to fish is not old fashion, it's part of the fishing arsenal. If you don't anchor, how would the oarsman fish? Not everyone who fishes from a drift boat knows how to row. I've been rowing for a number of years and boats have always anchored up in holes to fish. This is not a recent trend. I don't think the problem is really about anchoring. Sounds like there's just to many drift boats on the water in some areas. To much competition for the available water.

People can get mad and upset about this all they want but anchoring in holes isn't going to change. When the trailers start stacking up on popular drifts, fishing water is always going to be hard to find.

I understand what it's like having to row downstream without weting a line because of all the anchored boats. I don't have any answers, unless people want to start a permit system to limit boaters. Ouch, that would hurt, limiting the freedom we currently enjoy.

One thing for sure, there is no simple answer.

About the anchor. Like Marty said, buy a heavier anchor and if it's to heavy, use a pulley off the anchor to reduce the lifting weight. And if you still can't hold, that's ok since it's probably to unsafe to fish that water anyway.

[Seefood Man]

Pay out more line, go with smaller rope, or don't anchor in such hard water. Just my .02 worth :smile:

[dawhunt]

This will propably tick a few of you off but here it is.I see nothing wrong with someone anchoring there drift boat to fish a spot, I do it all the time and so does just about everyone I know that owns a drift boat,as long as there not blocking your way by then they just got there first !!sounds to me like someone just anchored in somebodys favorite spot.If your anchor isn't holding then you need a bigger anchor,I use a #30
anchor and when I'm anchored I try not to block some else from going around or maybe anchor near by.If I get to the hole first and want to fish it I anchor period !! if your there first I try to go around you and not disturb your water any more then I have too.I may not like the fact that you got there first but thats life. :smile:
No disrespect here just the facts.
Bob :grin:

[Pete]

You might also consider what type of anchor. Pyramid anchors are fine, general purpose anchors. But I also use an Animal anchor when I know sticking may be a problem ... it's basically a lead filled pipe with two pieces of rebar stuck through it to provide grip on the bottom.

Sliding the anchor down the stream can be a bad idea. It's possible to really screw up redds by dragging anchor through them. If you don't stick tight when you drop the hook, figure out what you need to change to fix it!

[Artwo]

This is getting off the main topic but here is my take on drift boat anchoring etiquette.

The river I primarily fish consists of long deep slots ideal for backtrolling with diver and bait or plugs. What I have seen lately is people anchoring (even sleds) right in the middle of the slot using this type of gear so know one else can effectively fish the slot above or below them. If you are going to fish with gear that is designed for backtrolling then fish through the hole and either move on or row back up (if you can) and do it again, but don't anchor up in the slot to have lunch and ruin it for everyone else. If your going to be using drift gear/jigs, then anchor off to the side and allow poeple to either fish or drift through the hole and then continue on fishing. If I need to re-bait or re-rig, I always move off to the side to do this so as not to block the slot/hole, I believe they call it common courtesy. A giude friend who taught me allot about salmon/steelhead fishing a long time ago told me to always be courteous to other fishermen, you never know when you might need their assistance and they'll been allot more courteous to you.

Thanks for letting me vent, this topic is a big issue with me, it happens way to much.

As far as the original question;
I don't think the felt would assist you to much, it probably wouldn't add much resistance against the weight of the boat and people. I agree with the above, if your having trouble holding look into a heavier or different style anchor.

JK

[NEUTRON]

Artwo, good post. I like to back troll as well.
As the rivers seem to get more and more crowded...
Last week, I had a pair of anglers anchoring fishing jigs always staying ahead. When they would move, they didn't pull the anchor all the way up. Not sure if they were dragging it or what. When I decided to move past them, they were
anchored in the middle of the river. I was running my outboard on the back of my driftboat.
They got upset I chose to run the prop in deeper
water they wanted to fish. At least anchor near
the bank if you must.