Best anchor for Mille lacs

[Walleye daddy]

I have been talking to people about which anchor they like best for windy rocky conditions such as Mille lacs. It seems theres mixed reviews, The Richter anchor came up several times and the Water spike came up also. Any experiences or comments on either one appreciated. Or does anyone have another favorite.

[Dutchman]

I tried many before I got a Richter. I can save you some time and money get the 28lb Richter. I bought 2 and so far have only needed to use one. An it's darn windy here in S. Dakota, so it's gotten a good test......


" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[ETT]

The water spike is made right close by, and accepted as the best by the locals. You'll still want plenty of line (100'), because they only use them when it's blowin.

[eye1]

Have the Waterspike and although I don't anchor alot when I've used it on Mille Lacs I've never had any troubles holding .Additioanlly it will break down and can be stored in one of the storage compartments when not in use.

[Walleye daddy]

Who sells the water spike in the Twin city area

[REW]

The water spike is a good anchor, but I don't like the size, and the fact that you have to take it apart to store it in most compartments.

I carry three navy anchors.
1. 1-10 lb anchor
2. 1-15 lb anchor
3. 1-20 lb anchor.

sure you can carry around a 25-35 lb anchor, but if you do much reanchoring - the weight is a real pain -- sorry about the pun.

On the end of each of these anchors, I have a 3 foot 3/8" link chain - connected - with a screw on link.

On the end of each of my 3-50 foot anchor ropes - that I carry - I have braided a loop.

I then have three anchor clevises - after losing too many ropes and anchors, I no longer use knots or snaps - they simply can get unhooked from the anchor and get left on the bottom of the lake.

I also use 3/8" nylon three twist rope. This is the ideal rope for stretch, non rotting characteristics, and easy handling.

--
In general - I always use the lightest anchor that will hold the boat in the waves. All three of these anchors are navy fluke style anchors. They hold suprisingly well in most conditions. I will always start with the 10 lb anchor. If the bottom is somewhat muddy - this anchor will generally hold in the worst of conditions, if you have out a reasonable amount of line - like 100-150 feet of line. You need to keep the angle of the lins shallow - with respect to the bottom - so that you don't pull the anchor out.

When the waves get worse, or if the bottom is really rocky, I will add the 2nd or 3rd anchor. I will daisy chain the anchors. i.e. I will put the heaviest anchor down first - then 50 feet of rope, the 2nd anchor down, then 50 feet of rope, and finally the 3rd anchor down, with perhaps another 100 feet of rope - if I am talking 6 foot waves, but need to stay on site.

By daisy chaining the anchors, the anchors closer to the boat - will be in close proximity to the bottom - to keep the flukes of the heaviest anchor digging into - even the hardest bottom.

I also have found - that it is much easier to lift - one anchor in at a time that weighs - 10 or 15 lbs, rather than one anchor that weighs 30 lbs. Start lifting a 30 lb anchor in with another 10 feet of chain on the front, and you are talking a real back breaker - especially if you do it several times on an outing.

The nice things about the use of the three smaller anchors - is that they are compact, easy to store - and you can use only the one that is needed for the task at hand.

Also, by using three or 4 separate 50 foot lengths of anchor rope - you only have the amount of anchor rope - laying about the boat - that is needed for the job at hand. i.e. if you are in relatively smooth seas, the use of the 10 lb anchor and 50 foot of rope is fine.

However, if the sease are really howling, and the bottom is very hard and rocky, then the use of three anchors, and the use of 4 anchor ropes, to give you about 200 feet of rope out - will hold you securely in even the worst blow.

this is a real savior - if you have the misfortune to get caught in a storm - have power problems, and need to wait out the storm, without getting blown onto the rocks that are present on some lakes.

take care
REW

[MnWalleyeKiller]

You can get the water spike at cabalas in owatanna. I have used one on mille lacs for a few years. No question they hold on the rocks under the worst conditions. One anchor should be all you need. I recommend using the bow ring to tie off to. 150 feet is the shortest rope length you want to go. Adding the 3 foot chain will also help.
I wouldnt worry too much about the rocks its the mud you slide in.:)

[Don__SD]

Hey, Dutchman if you want to sell one I will take it off our hands. I recently tossed my Richter overboard and the rope slipped out of my hands. The wife had a good laugh until I told her what one costs. So ya want to sell it.!!!!

[mmillelacs]

i personally like the 28 pound navy anchor- when added to the 10 foot strechy rope it will hole my boat in anything

[EyeBoy]

In what manner do you secure your anchor rope to the bow of the boat? Do you use the bow eye, or a deck cleat? If you use the bow eye, what manner of knot do you use that will release (when you want it to), under tension? If you use the deck cleat and it is off center, does it cause the boat to slew to the side?
Thanks for all of your great knowledge, as well as your ability to make it understood.
Tom

[MnWalleyeKiller]

I use the bow eye and connect it with a clasp. I found that using the cleats on the bow sides creates more rock and roll than its worth.
If some one knows of a good knot for that bow eye I would be interested until then I stick with the clasp.

[REW]

I almost always use a side cleat.
Since I have loops woven on the end of each anchor rope, I slip the loop through the cleat, up and back over the cleat to secure the rope.

This has the advantage, of being able to work the entire area, with out reanchoring. I tie on the starboard cleat, and the boat will angle port. When I get through working that side of the area; I will reanchor on the port cleat, and the boat will angle off to the starboard side.

If the waves are really big - and I want to tie off on the bow eye, I will use an anchor clevis, to bolt on a snap, and snap it to the bow eye.

When it is time to pull up the anchor from the bow eye; I will start the engine - loosen up the slack, and easily unhook the snap.

take care
REW

[REW]

I don't disagree that the 28 lb navy anchor will generally hold very well - especially with the use of a stretchy rope.

However, after nearly pulling my back out a couple of times - when I am pulling this anchor out of the mud - I decided to go to the set of smaller anchors and using only what I need.

Even, if I have all three out - not very often - I still only have to pull them up - one at a time. Lots easier on the back.

Take care
REW

[EyeBoy]

Gents;
Thanks for the great info, as usual REW holds forth with excellent advice and experience. REW I must say that you are a phenomenon, as well as a former Montanan. I would look forward to meeting you some day.
Tom
Lewistown MT.

[What I do]

Eyeboy I have the 25# Richter with 4' of chain and I have it on a 1775 dual consel Skeeter which is pretty highsides and about 2400# without passengers and in 4' waves on Mille Lacs I hold without moving on the mud in 35' of water and then drift over the edgeof the flat.
I use the bow eye in the big waves but a bow cleat will suffice in moderate to no waves.
As Rew stated you can change position of your boat by changing to the opposite side cleat and the boat will track that direction.
I use a bowline knot on all anchor connections and I use a clasp for the bow when all the way out in rough stuff.
Tie a loop in the line about 6' from the clasp and hook another 10' rope to this loop for pulling in the anchor when it is hooked to the bow.
This will keep you from having to lean out the bow in 4' waves to catch and retrieve the rope to pull in the anchor.
Tie a loop in this tag line and hook it over a bow cleat when anchor is deployed from the bow eye.
This will also give you a second hookup if the clasp fails and you won't loose it.

[Dutchman]

Thanks for the offer Don, but I'm gonna hang on to both of them....


" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "