Looking at getting a Water Spike anchor. What purpose does attaching a chain serve? How long should the chain be? How do I attach the chain? When using the anchor the posts I read say you have to let out a lot of line. Can someone please explain the process of setting one? How much room do you need to do it? Would a richter be a better choice for fishing up by the dam among all the other boats? Will they hold on the clam beds? Thanks guys.
I have no experience with a water spike, but if you are in really fast water (behind a dam), you are going to have to let out a lot of line to hold. 50′, maybe more. Depends on what the anchor has to grip. If you are in sand or soft gravel, you might not be able to hold. Doesn’t happen often, but once in a while. Having said that, my Richter holds the best of any anchor I have tried and it is compact. 
I own both the waterspike and Richter. For tight “up by the dam applicaitons” the Richter is the best choice. Check with Dean @ Everts, He stocks both 
richter works great, but on the river sometimes too great… i know where one is in the MN river you can have for free… 
i changed to a waterspike, and have yet to have an issue holding bottom on the river or lake applications.
I should add I am trying to anchor an 18.5 ft boat with a full windshield. The windshield is nice for traveling but seems to act like a kite on the water when trying to anchor.
I’ve never used a Richtor Mr. Lund…Brian Lyons was hatched below L&D three. Since he has both and choses the Richtor…if I were going to get a new anchor, I would be leaning on his advice heavily.
As for the spike, mine isn’t the largest one they make and I found it works much better with a four foot section of chain. Prior to the chain, I did have to have a lot of rope out to get the darn thing to hold. Most water spike anchor companies recommend a 3 to 1 ratio for the “scope”. For every 1 foot of depth the anchor needs 3 feet of rope. So 30 feet of water would need 90 feet of rope.
Once I bought my heavy rubber coated chain, I needed much less rope out. I anchor in 30 feet all the time with less than 75 feet of rope. I know this because 75 feet is all I have!
For connections, avoid the spring loaded D type rings. I know too many people that lost their anchor because of them…right Mikehd??
The clevis with a bolt connector has done well for the last 5 years for me.
Dean has the large spikes, chains, connectors and Richtors in stock…I’m betting one has your name on it! 
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Dean has the large spikes, chains, connectors and Richtors in stock…I’m betting one has your name on it!
You can count on it. I will be making the purchase the next time I am down.
As far as setting the anchor I like to get the boat going with the current before dropping. I think this helps with keeping the flukes pointing in the rite direction to dig into the bottom.
My nephew scuba dives and has made a few dives on Mille Lacs rock reefs to salvage anchors. He tells me he looks for short lengths of rope as it likely will be tied to a lost anchor. He believes the rope get cut on adjacent rocks once the anchor bites. That is why I use a 4′ chain at the anchor.
So Don, does your nephew have any good anchors for sale?
You are right about the wind and an 18.5 boat doesn’t help either. I have had more trouble holding a boat in the wind than current.
Hayward- He cleans them up, paints and sells to a bait shop. They will take all he can deliver. I got two from him this summer and already lost one.
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Looking at getting a Water Spike anchor.
What purpose does attaching a chain serve? Keeps the anchor rope from rubbing against rocks/trees other debris on the bottom
How long should the chain be? 3 feet ish, Dean sells the coated chain, highly recommended you use the coated chain so you don’t get rust marks on the carpet of the boat
How do I attach the chain? Anchor clevis! don’t use one of those with the spring! I lost one that way….
When using the anchor the posts I read say you have to let out a lot of line. Can someone please explain the process of setting one? How much room do you need to do it?
Really depends on the depth/bottom/and amount of flow. If the flow is rocking 100 feet might not be enough, might need to have 150 feet of line. To set the anchor in heavy flow is a process. You best guess how much line you’re going to need to let out to hook up, go past the spot you want to fish by that much, slowly let the anchor out, since these are pretty light, they will get pushed by the current, once the anchor hits the bottom, let line out, and pull on the anchor line every so often to make sure its starting to dig and not just skipping along the bottom. Once the anchor is hooked up you let line out till you get to the spot you want to fish and tie off.Would a richter be a better choice for fishing up by the dam among all the other boats? Will they hold on the clam beds?
My opinion would be to get a richter. They hold much better on the river with much less rope out, less swinging and easier to setup on the structure you want to fish. Just what my opinion, I have both, the water spike sits on the shelf unless I’m going to milleJami
Thanks guys.
Quote:
Quote:
Looking at getting a Water Spike anchor.
What purpose does attaching a chain serve? Keeps the anchor rope from rubbing against rocks/trees other debris on the bottom
How long should the chain be? 3 feet ish, Dean sells the coated chain, highly recommended you use the coated chain so you don’t get rust marks on the carpet of the boat
How do I attach the chain? Anchor clevis! don’t use one of those with the spring! I lost one that way….
When using the anchor the posts I read say you have to let out a lot of line. Can someone please explain the process of setting one? How much room do you need to do it?
Really depends on the depth/bottom/and amount of flow. If the flow is rocking 100 feet might not be enough, might need to have 150 feet of line. To set the anchor in heavy flow is a process. You best guess how much line you’re going to need to let out to hook up, go past the spot you want to fish by that much, slowly let the anchor out, since these are pretty light, they will get pushed by the current, once the anchor hits the bottom, let line out, and pull on the anchor line every so often to make sure its starting to dig and not just skipping along the bottom. Once the anchor is hooked up you let line out till you get to the spot you want to fish and tie off.Would a richter be a better choice for fishing up by the dam among all the other boats? Will they hold on the clam beds?
My opinion would be to get a richter. They hold much better on the river with much less rope out, less swinging and easier to setup on the structure you want to fish. Just what my opinion, I have both, the water spike sits on the shelf unless I’m going to milleJami
Thanks guys.
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