River Anchor

[i'majigger]

Just curious as to what type of anchor a guy should use on the river. I have a good lake anchor, but I know if this drops into the rocks I will never get it loose. Kind-of spendy to loose so I am sure that the guys that fish the river a lot will have some good suggestions as to what to use up there.

[tearin' lips]

Over the years I have tried many types of anchors on the river, I have found the best one to be a cinder block. Cheap, and if by chance you get it hung up in structure you really aren't out anything. Cinder blocks also hold better in the current than most anchors. With that said you can get away with other varieties of anchors as well as quite a bit of the river is sand. River anchors work well 18-25 lbs. The new ricthor/digger anchors are suppose to be good, but I would hate to lose 65.00 of anchor to the river. I would suggest a navy anchor or a river anchor if you are going to purchase one. As I said go for something around the 18-25 ball park. Yes there are times and places where a lighter anchor will work, but it isn't hurting any to have a little heavier of an anchor.

Take Care and Good Luck Fishing!

[Tim_Anderson]

The bigger your boat, the bigger the anchor you will need. The river often acts like a "wind tunnel", and the bigger a boat is, the more it tends to behave like a "sail". Once it gets some momentum, it's hard to stop (slippage can be very frustrating)!

I have had the best luck with the navy type anchor off the bow. Buy the heaviest one you can find, and you will have no problem. I think they regularly come in a 28# (which I have), and they even make an upper 30 pounder, but they are much more difficult to find.

Have a good, long chunk of rope too. Letting more rope out puts you at a smaller angle, which holds much better, esp. in the rainy river where the mud and gravel is so common.

Then you might want to consider a second anchor in the back, to keep your boat from swinging back and forth in the current. It helps alot when you anchor parallel to the current, and you definitely have to have one if you want to anchor perpendicular to the current.

Hope this helps.....

[Rainydaze]

We've used a light weight river anchor with the chain in front which increases the scope to make sure it digs. Always works great for us. In fact I'll be switching to that set up for the lake this year. Key is the chain to get the right angle. To one up that set up, place the shock chord, then chain then anchor. Your not going anywhere then. Yes you'll have a few bucks invested, but there is nothing more frustrating than being on fish and having to pull up and attempt to relocate. Good fishing!

[Royal Dutchman]

Good answers so far. Heavy river anchor, long rope, & 2 anchors. Cinder block could be the best but hard on some boats, carpet, etc. Don't know if you can get vinyl coated cinder blocks?

On second thought, send me your orders! For $50/each, I'll find a way.

I hardly ever anchor except in wind(like April 13th) or for sturgeon & have had more trouble holding due to wind than current.

I do know where a couple of anchors are out on the lake but have never lost one in the river. If you get hung up run past the anchor and CAREFULLY use the motor and/or boat bouyancy to pop it loose.

Oh yeah, don't forget to tie the rope to something!

[vern]

Personally, I watched some guys on the Red River in Selkirk try the cinder block and they couldn't hold at all. The current is very strong below the dam and there's not much for the anchor to grab onto. I'm sure it makes a great cheap anchor but it didn't work in that location. I like the 18-25 lb river anchors. .