I anchored in the heavy winds and heavy current (20-26 FOW) Friday, Saturday, Sunday…With a 8′ bimini up so catch wind like a sail.
Cat River Anchor
1/2″ Rope.
Here’s the trick: Take a small wood block. Put a rope cleat on one side, and an eyelet on the other. Buy two bungees from FleetFarm, 3′ length. Attach carabiners to each end of the bungees. Connect them end to end.
Hook one end of the bungees to your bow. Hook the other end to the eyelet on the wood block.
Now dump your anchor in the water. When it hits bottom, attach the wooden block to the rope via the cleat. Now your anchor rope is attached to your boat via a bungee. Take the tag end of your anchor rope and attach it to your boat, but be sure there is enough slack so your bungee can stretch plenty. The proper amount of slack is no more than the bungees can handle without breaking.
Why do this?
When your boat lifts with a wave or wake, it is pulling on a rope. The anchor will budge and slip in most substrates. By having a bungee to absorb the lift, allowing your boat to lift, your anchor will sit gently in the bottom and not budge.
You will essentially get 50% or more holding power from an anchor, no matter the weight or design. You also do not need to amount of anchor line out that you would without it. I let the anchor hit bottom, and maybe let out a few feet of line – like 3′. If it is blowing hurricane style like this weekend, i’ll let out 10 additional feet. Without the bungee i’d be letting out 15′ up to 40′ extra rope to help hold bottom. What all this means is less precision anchoring. More rope, less precise. Less rope, less movement. Typically with less rope you get less holding power, but not with the bungee system i describe.
I’ve been using this for many years. Long before the anchor bungee systems were invented.
I can anchor darn near vertical in yacht waves, and not budge.
Before someone mentions a chain…Chains essentially do the same thing, but less effective as a bungee. But most people fall short of the amount of chain needed to compete with the bungee. It is also added weight and tears up your boat when people rub that chain on your boat. Chains are also noisy underwater and not desired.
There’s my anchoring 101.
Guys boasting the power of spotlock aren’t fishing the conditions i frequent or the fish i seek and the currents they reside in…let alone the length of time i might pursue. I love spotlock, but it don’t and won’t ever replace what my anchor can do. Precision anchoring is a requirement for many bites and locations.
Lastly…A drift sock in current can be a lifesaver. Anchor out the bow, drift sock out the back. You’re essentially tied in the front and the back. Wind roaring upriver…Drift sock is a necessity. Wind blowing from the side, necessity. Light current and heavy wind…Necessity.
I used to buy 2 to 3 anchors each year because i’d lose them. Then i fished with Brad Durick and he showed me the great Cat River Anchor…Haven’t lost one since! Last anchor you’ll own.
