Best anchor for a Reata 1850?

[oly67]

I was up to Baudette last week for the 1st time. I was told I needed 2 anchors to hold me in the river sideways. Well, the walleyes were not in the river, yet, so we went just outside the gap and caught them. Problem was on the second day, when there was maybe 10-15 mph winds, I could not hold with my 25 and 15 lb std anchors on the flats. I am looking on the internet at a Richter anchor and a Digger anchor. Any thoughts on those and others? Thanks.

[Esoxchaser]

If you had two anchors of those sizes out and they didn't hold you, you probably didn't have enough line out.

[oly67]

I am thinking the 25 might be a 20, but I realize that might be the problem. I had about 65 ft out on each in 29 ft of water. Maybe I need longer anchor lines. I am new to anchoring and fishing.

[Esoxchaser]

Absolutely not enough line.
Here is a decent article on anchoring:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/Anchor-Rodes.htm

[MadMan]

----------------> good info for you in the above link.

I myself run a fortress w/ 6' of chain and 150' of Rode. 7:1 roughly in the river that I fish, 5-6mph current.

Lake fishing I can probably get away w/ 3:1.

Make sure you run a chain on the end.

[went522]

I find a waterspike w/3' chain will hold in about any condition, any structure. I agree with the others, you need way more line out than what you were running.

Besides the waterspike I have a digger. The digger is great if it's not real windy. I find I use each anchor about the same amount, windy I use the waterspike, calm the digger. Both the waterspike and digger are nice for storage, the spike breaks down and the digger is small enough to fit in storage. If you decide on the digger, look at the recommended size for your boat and jump up a size or two....I bought the recommended....its to small for the heavy sea days.

I have 2-150' of rope, I need it all at times. The chain is a must with the spike and although they say you don't need it with the digger...I call BS. You need it. Get yourself a spike, 3' of heavy chain and 150' rope. It's the best I have found for about any structure, it just works.

I'll be selling my digger and buying a richter for my "second" anchor. I think the richter is better suited for those days I hop the rock piles, shallow water....which I do enough of that the richter will be helpful.

BIRDDOG

[Fishspike]

We were up there (LOW ) last week and had two 28 lb anchors with 100 ft of line each and they held my 19 ft ranger just fine. slipped some at 20mph but held all other times.

[bob1]

The best anchor for a Ranger 1850 is a Lund 1800.

Just kidding! lol

Bob

[1850vswanted]

:rotfl:

[1850vswanted]

how about a harley:rotfl:

[BCLII]

how about a harley:rotfl:

ouch!

[maxxum]

Good ones!!!

[oly67]

What year Harley works the best? Does color matter? Would I have to get a tattoo? At least I am sure that I would not have to let out as much line as you guys are recommending!

[REW]

Oly67
What sort of rope do you have that is attached to your anchor.

If you use multiple lengths of 50 feet of 1/2 inch anchor rope, you will find that you will have a good amount of stretch in the rope.
If you find that you can't hold with 50 feet, add another 50 feet of rope.
If you find that you can't hold with 100 feet, add another 50 feet of rope, etc. etc.
It is nice to have at least 400 feet of rope on board in lenghts of 50 feet with a loop woven on each end of each section. Then, have a selection of anchor clevises, to attach the multiple lengths together if needed.
An anchor clevis is simply a U bolt with a bolt that is screwed through the end of the u bolt to connect the multiple lengths of ropes. Do not use a snap to hook the ropes together, because it is too easy for the ropes to unsnap from each other.

Also, be sure to use at least 3 feet and perhaps 4 feet of fairly heavy chain at the end of the rope, before attaching the anchor.

---------------
a. If you have stretch in your anchor rope, you take care of many issues of anchors pulling free due to wave action.
b. If you have a heavy chain at the end of the rope, it will help to keep the anchor pulling flat against the bottom of the body of water to stay hooked up.

c. If you have multiple lengths of rope, you can get to the desired depth to length ratio recommended by the coast guard of 7:1.
i.e. the coast guard recommends that boats be anchored in a storm by a rope that is at least 7 times in length compared to the depth of the water.
So, if you are in 30 feet of water, the coast guard recommends that you have at least 210 feet of rope out when you are in a storm to better hold the boat.

They also recommend that for general conditions that you have a rope length of at least 5:5. So, if in 30 feet of water, you have out at least 150 feet of water.

If you do this, you will find that most recommended anchors will hold just fine. I do agree that in congested waters, these lengths are not practical, so that it is necessary to go with shorter rope lenghts, heavier and different design anchors to hold your rig securely.

---------------
Another thing that I have done, since I don't like to lift heavy anchors is to use multiple anchors in series.
I keep a10 lb, a 15 lb, and a 20 lb navy anchor in my boat. I like to use a navy anchor because they are inexpensive - (about $1 per lb)- compact and easily fit into smaller storage compartments, and don't need to be assembled or disassembled.

Depending on the water depth, bottom conditions, wind and wave actions, I will use 1, 2, or 3 anchors to hold the boat.
I will generally start with the lightest anchor - 5 lb, with the single length of 50 feet of rope.
If that doesn't hold, and or I don't have a very good angle on the bottom, I will extend the anchor by 50 feet.
If the bottom is deeper, the wind stronger, or the bottom bad, I will start daisy chaining the anchors. i.e. I will put the 20 lb anchor on the end of a 50 feet of rope. Then, I will add the 15 lb anchor, and add another 50 feet of rope. Then, add the 5 lb anchor and another 50 feet of rope.

By daisy chainging multiple anchors together in this way, all of the anchors up the line tend to hold the main anchor tight to the bottom of the lake.

I have been out in some terrible weather - when conditions did not permit me to return to shore in a timely fashion, so needed to ride out the storm. This combination of anchors and ropes allowed the boat to safely ride out the storm without pulling free and blowing up on the rocks.

--
It is actually suprising in that most of the time, for most conditions, the 5 lb anchor with 50 feet of rope will hold the boat just fine. As a result, it is the minimum amount of effort required to deploy and retreive the anchor.

I am not a big believer of having a 28 lb anchor in the rope, and having to deploy it all of the time - even when the water is shallow and the water calm just to hold the boat.

I did have a 28 lb anchor at one time, but only used it once and decided that deploying and retreiving such a weight was not a good thing to do on a daily basis.

Good luck
REW

[Tim Ellis]

I recommend a Waterspike with a Drop N Stay attached to 100' of rope. More than sufficient to hold my 621 in any fishing conditions.