Fishing Kayak Anchor

I want to introduce you to one of the most important tools for  kayak fishing, the Fishing Kayak Anchor.  As you know from reading other KFC posts, we feel that the kayak anchor is one of the necessary kayak fishing accessories to ensure a fun  and safe time. 

There are a number of these devices on the market today, and we’ve written about some of our favorites on other KFC posts – including our listing of The 5 Best Kayak Anchors. We have decided to make an overview of this amazing tool on this post, our Fishing Kayak Anchor Ultimate Guide.

Unbiased Review

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All of the product reviews included on KayakFishingCorner are based on my unbiased analysis.  I have the experience and obtain the feedback necessary to rate these products, and I treat it very seriously.  I will never give any brands or companies preferential treatment or alter scores, and I review every product on a level playing field.   If you have any questions regarding my methodology, please do not hesitate to email me.

Parts of a Kayak Anchor

FISHING KAYAK ANCHOR: ULTIMATE GUIDE

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Shortcut to Kayak Anchor Review

As stated above, the Fishing Kayak Anchor is an essential part of the kayak fishing experience.  Whether you require the stability of a stationary kayak to fish standing up, or you desire a motionless kayak in a strong current, the kayak anchor is king.  This guide discusses all of the main aspects of these specialized anchors.  Maker sure to read the “My Experience” section toward the bottom of this guide!

The Foldable Kayak Anchor

The optimal anchor for kayaks is the foldable kayak anchor.  The design of these anchors helps save space on your kayak, which is extremely important with all of the required fishing equipment.  The average foldable kayak anchor weighs around three pounds. The weight is another important consideration. The light weight of the foldable kayak anchor ensures that the kayak fisherman isn’t overly burdened when transporting his or her fishing kayak and gear.  A fishing kayak, by itself, is more than enough weight to deal with. No need to add to this weight by taking along a heavier boating anchor.  They are often extremely bulky and heavy.

Fishing Kayak Anchor Design

The foldable kayak anchor is built with 4 flukes (the “prongs”) which are designed to anchor any fishing kayak to the mud, rock, sand, gravel, silt, or other substance at the base of the water way you are kayak fishing upon. As is perhaps obvious by its name, the foldable kayak anchor folds up into a size small enough to allow it to tuck into a number of different storage locations in the fishing kayak, keeping it out of the way of your foot traffic, yet safely within reach when the need for anchoring arises. My favorite anchor (listed below) comes with 40 feet of standard marine grade rope, which is an appropriate length for water depths lesser than 30 feet. Any deeper, and you’ll want a longer rope to ensure your fishing kayak is properly anchored.

(Commissions Earned)

Right Size for Your Kayak!

Kayak Anchor Benefits

The ability to anchor your fishing kayak is critical. If you doubt me, just wait until you read my personal experience further down on this post.  Only in the calmest of waters will your fishing kayak not be subject to currents or the movement of waves. This is extremely rare.  A fishing kayak should be allowed to drift and flow with the movement of water, but not to such an extent that the kayak fisherman is forced to put down his or her rod and reel, and redirect or reorient the fishing kayak with the fishing kayak oars. Remember, any time you are using your oars, you are possibly doing so at expense of tending to your lines!  You are also disrupting the water and possibly scaring away your potential catch!

Looking for something lighter and easier to tie up? See if Inflatable Kayak Fishing is right for you.

How to Use a Foldable Kayak Anchor

This is one of the most important parts of this post.  I have organized this guide into several descriptive steps to make it easier to follow.  I encourage you to tailor these instructions to fit your personal needs.

1. The first step begins before your kayak even touches the water.  Before your planned outing, ensure that your fishing kayak anchor is clean and properly stored in its bag (usually nylon).  It is important that the cord is neatly folded to avoid a tangled mess like the one pictured above.  This will make it easier when you deploy your anchor and will result in extra time to fish.
2. The next steps are dependent on personal preference.  On the day of your excursion, place your foldable kayak anchor in your desired location.  You may or may not want to keep it in the nylon bag.  I usually take mine out of the bag and attach it to my kayak.  I tie/clip the anchor to one of the cleats that I installed in towards the rear of my kayak.  Make sure yours is attached where it won’t restrict your casting.  I always want to make sure that I can deploy my anchor quickly and efficiently; I don’t want to worry about fumbling with a bag.
3. Once again, ensure that your kayak anchor rope is organized.  I loop mine in circles and secure it with one twist tie.  When you believe it is time to deploy your anchor, remove any ties attached to the rope and toss the anchor in and underhand manner.  Foldable anchors automatically unfold as they prepare to impact the bottom.
4. Depending on the depth, it may take a couple minutes for the kayak anchor to reach the bottom.  Keep allowing rope to go out and make sure that to avoid tangles and knots.  You will know that it reached the bottom when the rope stops going out and the line is taught in your hands.  It also helps to have a fish finder that displays depth.
5. Once you verify that the anchor has reached the bottom, wrap up any excess rope around your desired cleat.  Keep the rope fairly tight as you wrap to avoid knots.  In quick currents, the rope may not go straight down to the bottom at a 90 degree angle.  It is perfectly acceptable to have a more diagonal line, and some people prefer a 45 degree angle to help avoid tangling their fishing line with the kayak anchor rope.
6. If your kayak continues to move, you can pull up your anchor and try a different location.  The sediment at the bottom of waterways can vary drastically, and so does depth.  If you continue to have issues, your anchor may be too small for the water current strength, or the water might be too deep.
7. Once your kayak anchor is secure and the excess rope is wrapped, you can begin preparing to fish. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid casting over the fishing kayak anchor rope.  You don’t want to lose a fish due to a tangled mess.

Pro Tips

• Always carry a knife (all fisherman need one).  This will help you cut the rope or tangles with fishing line.
• Use a fish finder that displays depth.
• Mark measurements on your anchor rope with permanent marker.  I draw a line on the rope every 5 feet.  You can use different colors to differentiate each measurement.  I use the rainbow color order ROYGBIV, but you can always attach a cheat sheet to your kayak to help remember!

Here are some additional tips on how to set your anchor properly!

My Experience

I decided it was time to purchase a kayak anchor when I was fishing in a local river and missed out on landing a huge bass.   I spotted him about 15 yards away, but the current was very quick (water was up).  I couldn’t fight the current and cast at the same time, and I watched my chances slowly fade away.

I had too many pieces of gear to keep up with, and I needed something to keep my fishing kayak in place when I was unable to tend to my paddles.  I immediately purchased a fishing kayak anchor, and I have never and will never take it for granted.  The kayak anchor has become one of my most valued tools, and I make sure to never forget it.

I’ve included a link to my favorite kayak fishing anchor above.  Clicking on the picture or link above will take you to a product page where you can purchase or learn more about it.

FISHING KAYAK ANCHOR: CONCLUSION

I hope that this ultimate guide has taught you everything you ever wanted to know about fishing kayak anchors.  As you probably already know, the average kayak fisherman has his or her hands full when they are out on the water. I know I sure do! The last thing I want to do when I have a potentially large catch on my line is worry about adjusting my paddles or fishing kayak location. The kayak anchor definitely accomplishes all of this for me. If not for my kayak anchor, I know that I would have let several fish off the line and I’d have even more gray hair!  If you have any questions, please send me a message or post in the Comments section below.

Further Reading

If fishing from a dock is more your style, you should look into storing your fishing kayak on a kayak rack on your dock!

Do you enjoy kayak fishing with your small child? Learn if the Rocket Fishing Rod is the perfect kayak fishing rod for small children!

Did you know that you can build your own fishing kayak? Take a look at this easy to follow guide!

Comments

Do you have any questions regarding the fishing kayak anchor or kayak fishing in general? Please share with the rest of the KayakFishingCorner community by posting in the Comments section below.  Your comments keep me happy and motivated!