This weekend two boats dropped anchor in Prescott where many people were drifting. The fish were obviously hitting in one area and everyone was taking turns drifting through. Is this acceptable practice to other IDA folks? Do some of you practice it?
This kind of stuff drives me crazy when people just don’t “get it”. If they were the first ones out there that day and they came in and anchored fine, but it sounds like you are saying they butted right in and ignored what was going on with everyone else taking turns and thought only of themselves. Time to get out the 50lb test and daredevils and start chucking at their lines huh?? I am the type that will tell them that they need to pick it up or we will continue right on by (through) their boat. This is not acceptable. It is like those 2 people trolling in the 14 foot aluminum boat with the loudest motor on the lake that have a set path they troll and don’t care you are half way around the lake and were their first and they troll 10 feet from your boat and you have to reel in your cast quick. Some people only think about ME, ME, ME! 
Mike, I would only anchor in the channel if I knew it was you drifting through…
Ok seriously..now. The last two times I was out in the Afton channel I wanted to anchor but there was one boat out there each time.
The first time it was a eye guy…I asked him if it would bother him if I anchored in this certain location…which he was trolling through at the time. He said that he was going home after this last pass. BUT thanked me for asking.
The other day…I got out after dark. I couldn’t tell if the boat was anchored or not. I didn’t look like it was moving, but it had it’s navagational lights on. Once i got close enough..I turned off my motor and asked if I would be bothering them to anchor a little over 100 yards away. Turns out they too were catfishing and didn’t have a problem with me anchoring…relativly close to them.
Soo, long story short…PERSONALLY, I wouldn’t anchor if there were a number of boats….I would ask if it’s one or two and I was in there drift path. The only defense I could see is if all the drifters were down at the lower end, a person motors up and anchors…not knowing that it was a drift path.
Suzuki,
I saw a couple boats anchored down there yesterday too. I will usually use my trolling motor to move around while fishing and do not anchor much. I understand your dilemna as it can cause some frustration for those drifting, but everyone is entitled to fish however they want within the fishing guidelines. Some guys don’t have trolling motors or don’t have the ability to use them very well. It is common on pool 4 below the dam to see a few boats anchored while everyone tries to drift around them also.
It seemed like mostly dink sauger were caught down there, you get any decent fish around there?
Legal, yes. Curtious, NO. Respectfull, NO. Yes I got decent fish there this weekend when I could fish where I wanted. The anchor dinks were not only on a break they were casting as far as possible down stream and eating up at least 3 boats worth of water. I saw 2 Other people snag them twice. I left disgusted even though I had my limit which included 2 jumbo saugs. Be they slobs or rookies there are ignorant people at the very least to do such a thing.
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Legal, yes. Curtious, NO. Respectfull, NO.
Mike, you have to remember it’s the Croix. If it isn’t the boats anchoring in a persons drift lane…it’s a cruiser that’s so close you think that they didn’t see you. I personally had my line cut by cruisers 4 times in one year.
On the Croix and other high use waters, a prescription for common sense is needed…sometime we have to fill it for them! 
Suziki, the fan casting part would TO me too. If they were jigging over the side it would be more understandable. Glad you were able to still get some decent fish.
Guess I’m the bassturd!!!! 
I anchored up Sunday afternoon on the side of the channel, where nobody else was fishing, out of the way of boat traffic. I was on the west side, north of the railroad. Anchored up about 30 minutes on a pod of fish, that nobody else was working……..
Everyone else was fishing down stream from me and never came up to that area……
Gary, I was going to agree with you…
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Guess I’m the bassturd!!!!
…but I figure I’ll just keep my trap shut… 
Were you dressed in camo Gary? Hear anyone growl at you? Did you get any of those big saugs? Man are they nice.
I’m going to get my head bit off here I think…
It all depends on how many boats are out there drifting around, and how much room there is to fish(productively). If there are a ton of boats all trying to drift one area and its a zoo.. I will get off to the side if I find fish and toss the anchor.
I would not drop anchor in front of anyone who is trolling or drifting(remember I said this)… although.. if there is only one other boat out there, or a couple more boats out there that would not be affected by me tossing out my anchor… its going over the side if that is what is most productive for fishing.. I dont really care what anyone has to say about it.. BUT .. I wont drop anchor in front, or obviously hindering anyone… taking this into account, if I am there 1st, I will fish which ever way suits ME best… and I dont mean cutting off someones drift or troll.
Daredevils and 50 pound test? Save that for the bayliners and other pleasure craft that run too close… You will get more accurate and faster cast out of 4 oz weights…
People get on my nerves also when they get on a troll or drift and head right for you when anchored, or positioning with a trolling motor for vertical jigging… you guys fish your way, I will fish mine.
Wind. If it is very windy then anchoring can sometimes make fishing more enjoyable.
I was out fishing this weekend by Beanies with my two little buddies and it was tough to control the boat, bait the poles, untangle lines, open pop, help put gloves on, etc.
I should have anchored, it might have been more enjoyable for me…
I think the issue has different perspectives from those who anchor to those who drift to those that troll, probably no one is wrong and no one is right.
I have fished the Prescott area of the Croix for many years in the fall. One thing you see is the many different styles of fishing, from anchoring to jigging to lead line trolling. I will anchor sometimes early in the morning and often times there will be a small group of boats anchored in a small area. My experience is that the people who anchor are usually there early.
I prefer to jig fish, but last Friday I decided to anchor for the first part of the morning. There were only 3 boats anchored in a small area but that didn’t stop one boat from coming so close to me that we had to grab his boat so he didn’t bang into us. I also saw another guy come so close to another boat that was anchored that they actually snagged the anchor rope.
After a couple hours of anchoring I was going to move shallower and drop anchor but there were more boats now drifting and moving around so I decided that anchoring would be rude and I proceded to drift and jig.
I think it really boils down to common courtesy and showing respect for others. If the drifters don’t drift in the middle of the anchored boats and the people who want to anchor don’t drop anchor in the middle of a drifting run and the trollers don’t run over the drifters and anchored boats we should be fine.
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Legal, yes. Curtious, NO. Respectfull, NO
Ditto on that Suzuki. Usually, it’s the pleasure boats and jet skis, that are inconsiderate, but on occasion, it is our fellow anglers.
The anchoring doesn’t bother me so much. Unless some jerk decides to he needs to get in there and starts weeving in and out of anchor lines and jig lines to get in on the action. I won’t mention any names, but this really hairy guy in jon boat on saturday got a few cuss words sailed his way when he needed to cut me off twice while I was trolling in front of the docks. The words were not said loud enough for him to hear. But the dog had a few choice barks for him, just to let him know he got a little to close.
When I got down there Friday and Saturday morning there were already people anchored in the same spots, same boats actually both days. If anchoring is your fortay, go for it. They beat me down there, its their choice. I will admit that there are times that anchoring is the only option, or easiest option. But I do get a kick seeing brand new expensive boats pull up with all the latest gizmos and gadgets and out comes the anchor.
Lets just remember to be curtious, smile and say hi. We are all out to have fun.
I’ll be back down there this weekend.
Jami
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Brand new boats with all the latest gizmos and gadgets pull up and out comes the anchor
Hey thats me But I didnt anchor just went trolling through!
Apparently this is now the accepted method to fish the channel. Entire group of boats anchored Sat morning in Prescott. Either that or they had a sale on anchors….
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