Anchor for Kayak?

[Yakfly]

What I ended up using was a Clorox jug filled with pea gravel - advantages were smooth plastic surface that wouldn't cause any damage when bumping against the kayal when in tow, and adjustable amount of weight. Worked pretty good, although kinda of noisy ride with the bumping on the bow, and affected the tracking a little.

Thanks for all the warnings, but I never intended to anchor up in swift water. I was thinking of "anchoring" in slack / shallow water while i cast into faster water. The jug'o'rocks worked well for that.

On the idea of drag chains, I belive they are illegal on the Norfolk, but OK on White below BSD.

I saw an interesting kayak drag chain rig on the White thats worth a thought. Had a 3 foot length of big chain tied to 20 feet or so of rope, and that was tied to a Clorox jug half filled with water, The jug was inside the kayak BUT NOT TIED DOWN. The idea was that the chain slowed the drift - and kept the kayak floating straight(er) - but if there was any chain snag on the bottom of the river AT ALL the jug would be pulled into the water clear of the yak. Could go and retrieve beacause the 1/2 filled jug would be floating.

For me, as someone said above, I think the anchor was more of a hassle than anything. Next trip will be without any anchor, I'll just pull up on gravel bar or bank and wade fish the desired water. That's what I ended up doing most of the time anyway.

Thanks all

[Whiskey Joe]

A guy gave me an old Grumman Canoe Anchor a year or so ago. I couldn't find a picture on google, but I really like it.

It's about the size of a tallboy beer can with fins in. top is an eyebolt. Bottom is a heavy female threaded, 3-1/2" dia, thing. You unscrew it, fins flop out, and screw-in to hold the fins out. Do the opposite to hold the fins in.

Very light weight and holds well.

[Whiskey Joe]

See attached pictures of my grumman canoe anchor.

See attached pictures of my grumman canoe anchor.

[Monte Ray]

I have a SOT kayak I used on the upper part of Taneycomo some this year. I bought a 3 lb claw style weight - can be used as a claw or folded up.

DO NOT use any kind of anchor in moving water. Very slow current is ok but even 1 generator running would be enough to flip the yak. Tie up to a tree or something on the bank instead.

If you anchor in moving water and the nose of the yak dips below the surface, the yak can flip very quickly and can then plane downward to the bottom - possibly with you attached.

This was an issue I initially took very lightly but after reading some stories I've realized just how serious it is and how easily it can happen.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I never anchor in a flow in the Yak, but I do sometimes to hold me in shallow water. I use a 3# dumbell from Wal Mart, I think they're about $3.