Anchor Setup

[Stag]

I was wondering if someone could help me out with an anchor setup. I've been drifting for hali but haven't had much luck. I tried the technique out at constance and lost a lot of gear . I have a 17" whaler and I was wondering if anchoring for hali is doable with that size boat. If so, I have never anchored for hali and I see other boats with the anchor/buoy combo out at constance. Does anyone have a digram and explanation for what is exactly needed to anchor up when fishing for hali out in areas like Constance? How big should my anchor be, how much rope/chain should i need? (I will be retreaving my anchor by hand but I'm not too worried about that part).

Thanks in advance!

 

[scott craven]

Should be no problem anchoring your boat,
you will need
1. suitable anchor
2. approx 30' of galv chain attached to 350-400' of rope.
3. scotchman
4. anchor lift (retriever)

Here's a link to look at to get an idea how to set up.
http://www.ironwoodpacific.com/products/anchoring_mooring/anchorlift.htm

they are available from most tackle store's.
It's a good idea to go out the first couple times with someone experienced in anchoring.
Check the current's carefully first !

 

[juandesooka]

Do a search of "anchor" on here, lots and lots of excellent info from the past couple of years.

I'm no anchor pro, but have a decent set-up and am learning.

First off, EXTREME CAUTION. From what I can tell, anchoring incorrectly is probably the easiest way to sink a boat. Find out the right way to do it from posts on this forum and follow all the safety tips to a T (practice in no current, knife handy to cut the line, "go bag" with vhf and flares, etc). There's some horror stories on here...and when it goes bad, it's over in seconds.

Second, anchor puller is for sure the way to go. For an extra $75 or so ($20 anchor puller, plus big scotsman), you save a ton of grief...you don't want to be pulling 400' of line by hand...tiring and dangerous.

Go to Trotac, they will set you up and will explain it without any bad attitude. They have small scale models of the anchor setup to demonstrate how it works, and have the best prices around from what I could see.

Search for the info on here, but a few things that come to mind learned from this site:

-- bruce style anchor recommended over danforth, I think 8kg, though I could be wrong.

-- to anchor in 150-200', want 400'-450' of line.

-- I think 10-20' chain, different people use different amounts. If you have a lot of chain, want ring-style puller. If less, than can use the plastic type. For extra holding, some people attach weight to top of anchor chain. (I think more for mooring)

-- attach chain to bottom of anchor, then use zap straps to attach chain to top of anchor. This will help pull it if stuck.

-- attach anchor rope to big scotsman, throw it off, let it set, then attach to scotsman (safety if in current, if scotsman pulled under or something goes wrong, you're not attached)

-- have a rope from front cleat to back cleat on boat; attach a carabiner that can slide, attach 30' rope from scotsman to carabiner. If things go bad, you untie or cut rope on side of boat, you don't lose your anchor.'

-- ensure nothing on side of boat that rope can catch on...can capsize you quick in current. NEVER ever attach to stern of boat. If it catches motor or something at back in current, be ready to cut it...lose $200 in gear, save your boat.

I'm sure there's tons more, but that's what I can think of. Search the archives for more.

Good luck, be safe!

 

[Captain Dudds]

I know everyone says this but be very very careful. My grandpa and I almost got pulled under in May. Scared the **** out of me. We anchored as usual, fished through the tide, and right before we were going to pull, we hooked up. It took us a while to get the fish in and sorted out and by the time it was all said and done, the current was going pretty hard.

My first mistake - I noticed when we set anchor that it didn't drag at all - it just hooked right away - I should have realized then that it was set very well.

Anyways, we're set up so when you drive away, the rope the anchor is attached to slides from the bow to the stern so you are pulling from the back of the boat instead of the front where you would risk getting the rope in your prop. It does this as expected. First sign of an issue was the buoy getting sucked under. I used to have a small white buoy but bought a nice big orange one from another forum member and was quite happy to be properly set up - and was also very unhappy to see my now larger buoy sucked down.

At this point, I'm thinking everythings ok, I'm just hooked well and the safety on the anchor will release and we'll rip it off. Nope. I've got my motors turned hard to starboard and the anchor line is now off the port cleat and we're being slowly pulled to the port side in a circle.

To make this clear, I've got both motors running and am doing everything I can to go right, but I'm being pulled to the left and am inevitably going to be spun in a circle and will have the anchor pulling from the stern against the current - perfect equation to sink the boat.

My heart is going a hundred miles an hour and I'm thinking WTF am I going to do! Second mistake - although I don't know if its a mistake because I don't know what else I could have done - I figure if I can turn hard to port and spin us I can get the anchor line to slide back up to the bow so we're in a stable situation. Nope. I crank it hard to port but current is going fast - not even close to working. Starts sucking back corner down so I take off the gas because I am now pulling almost the same direction the current is going - It was amazing how fast we were spun around. Anyways, I pull motors out of gear and grab the knife and jump to the back. My grandpa is at the back where the anchor line is attached and a wave of water comes over the back and soaks him - I thought that was it and went to cut it but the situation stabilized - water was thrashing on the back corner of the boat but other than that first wave it was not quite flooding in so I stopped, ready with the knife. I then was able to slide the anchor line back up to the bow and tied it off there so it could not slide to the stern again.

I pulled as much line in as possible by hand before trying again. I have my rope marked and got it to 300' of rope out in 250' of water. On our last try we had another boat there with us in case anything happened - we motored strait forward but it sucked the bow down until it was flush with the water and waves were lapping up on the front - then gave up, let out another 100' of rope, tied a second buoy to it, cut it off and let er go. Both buoys were sucked down and we were drifting at 3 kts with minimal wind.

We went back the next day right on the slack and the buoys had resurfaced. We tried pulling off of either cleat and still couldn't get it off. The current was perfectly dead so we made a V out the back between the two stern cleats so we could pull strait out the back without it turning the boat and it finally ripped off. Obviously the safety release on the anchor had tripped - though who knows when.

Haven't anchored since and haven't decided if I am going to again. My boat being small, I don't think it has the power and control that come in handy in this sort of case. I will probably go again in the next few months anyways and just set more precautionary rules, such as during the pull: knife is out (as it was before), radio is on (as before), life jackets are either on or accessible (had them under bow before), safety kit is out (had under seat before).

I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert boater or anything, and I have anchored maybe 20 times so I'm no expert at that either, but I've guided 6 years and have fished all my life and I think I have a reasonably good understanding of how things work on the water and what goes on out there - so believe me when I say it will knock you on your butt how fast this happens and how little time you have to react. My grandpa is 86 and for a second there I thought I'd finished him off. There is no way I'd take him or any of my little nieces or nephews anchor fishing after that experience.

Anyways, I thought I'd try to paint a picture of what can go wrong for those who are considering this way of fishing. Also, if any of the anchoring experts have any advice as to what I should have done, lay it on me - I've thought about it alot and haven't come up with a good solution if this ever happens again. One thing though, I think it is better to let out lots of rope instead of pulling in all you can - this way the anchor line won't pull as sharply down and when you motor forward it will pull moreso against the direction of your original set. This is what we did when we finally got it off - I had about 600' or rope out - and when it went, it went surprisingly easily although I don't know if it was because we let more rope out or because we made the V and pulled strait out the back thus getting more power.

The hali was 54 and tasted great.

 

[scott craven]

The first few times you anchor, try a place with soft currents...
Juandefuca has some pretty fast currents to deal with unless you pick
your day right.
Haro has considerably lighter tide and currents and there are Halibut
there also.

 

[juandesooka]

Yikes....hear that kind of thing all the time, and most of the anchor pros on here have given tales where they learned by near misses or by saving someone else in a near miss situation. [I know of one guy whose life was saved by having a VHF in his floater jacket pocket, and by Coho ferry happening to be passing by....surely dead otherwise...he now pays $1000 a day for hali charters and wears a floater suit on sunny hot days]

I have no idea how to better resolve the situation you're talking about...look forward to hearing opinions.

One thing I do recall reading on here that might have helped...the bow-stern line that your anchor line is attached to, have it looped around rear cleat (not tied) and then either hold on to tag end or stand on it. If the ***t hits the fan, you either let go or lift your foot, and your boat comes off the anchor and out of danger. Anchor remains on the buoy, so can still come back for another try to retrieve.

My heart is still pounding from your story....I know that "holy crap" feeling all too well.

 

[Stag]

Thanks for the great info. I'll do my homework and practice the setting and retrieving of the anchor when i get my setup. Much appreaciate!

 

[scott craven]

Seems like a quick knife cut of the bridle would end any immediate danger of getting swamped.
Thats why we don't "hard wire " direct to the anchor line right ?
Once clear , take a GPS mark and return on slack tide to pick up
the anchor.

 

[marula]

"I know of one guy whose life was saved by having a VHF in his floater jacket pocket, and by Coho ferry happening to be passing by"

I remember that well and knew one of the guests on the boat. Large twin diesel alumn boat, anchor line off bow, slipped off gps mark from current so they motored forward with the line coming up from and getting caught in one of the screws. Engine wound up the line untill the anchor hit the hull and put a hole in it.

Next week i bought a handheld VHF !


Captain Dudds, good story. I have had a few hairy anchor moments also and it is nothing to be complacent with. Like mentioned the bow / stern slide line should be loosely wrapped to a cleat for a quick release and a sharp knive or two close by. You did the right thing by letting the whole gear go and come back another day. I've dropped in a fast current off constance where my large scotsman just dissapeared and the rope when straight down. Retrieval then is just too risky so we sat it out for a few hours untill current slowed down.

 

[Karma-Kazi]

Another great place to practice anchoring is william head,(the is halibut there too) i find the currents there not to bad at all, and with the majority of the bottom being sandy the anchor very rarely gets stuck to hard. The zippties on the top of the anchor is a great methos, i also use them on the bottom i go 3 strong ones at the top and 5 stong ones at the bottom. We have never broken the bottom ones but broken the top a number of times.

-Steve

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Capt Dudds. Great post! Lessons there for everyone. Just need to find out how alot of guys use the chum bags for helis on the anchor line?? Tight Lines,...........BB

 

[Gypseas]

Why would you want to have scent some 200ft away from your hooks?

JUST FISHEN'

 

[Gypseas]

As for anchoring, I use a bruce anchor, 20ft of lighter chain shackled to the claw side of the anchor and zipped to the arm part, followed by 10-15ft heavier chain. Got 600ft of 1/2 poly and like the guys suggested an anchor lift with a 24inch scotchman.
I don't use the slider rope but rather pull with the bow, just make sure I don't cross the rope when I pull. If stuck hard just peel right around the scotchman and I'm still on anchor. Haven't had any probs so far knock on wood.
Always wear my floater when pulling anchor! Always know where the knife is.
Be safe out there

JUST FISHEN'

 

[jimbob]

Be careful at William Head. While I agree that currents are generally slower there, I have had 2 instances where my anchor would not pull free. IN both cases I nearly had to abandon it before I finally found an angle to pull it free. There are indeed halibut on the 2 pinnacles there but just be careful

 

[wolf]

The best thing to do if you are going to do this is hire one of the many guides on here Tailspin,Last chance or whoever else you want as we know what we are doing ask as many questions because there are a lot of different factors in anchoring and it is more of a hands on thing NOT something that you read you have to do...

SAFETY is the main concern I have seen many people loose and anchor system some 3 or 4 sets so why not "learn" right the first time best money you will EVER spend.


Good luck wolf

 

[salmon9]

I prefer pulling the anchor from my bow but want the ability to easily release from the line if in trouble. I am thinking of using a snap shackle between my bow line and the anchor line with a cord running to the stern from the snap shackle. I things go side ways you could pull the cord running to the shackle pin which opens the shackle and relases the boat. Anyone try this?

 

[highlights]

Pulling from the bow? Wow you are courageous and full of energy! I let the boat and the scottsman do the work. Double back and pull in the slack. Thats all the work my arms need for the day. Often times I will do five or six sets in a day. That would be alot of hand bombing it. Even when I anchor in shallow bays for sleeping over night I have a windlass do the job

are you seriously hand bombing 500' - 700' of rhode

 

[salmon9]

I use an anchor retriever with a scotsman that ends up being attached to the bow and not attached to a carabiner on a bow/stern line like what is often used where people have expressed safety issues with. Thus, I am refering to pulling the scotsman/retriever from the bow and not off a line that slides to the stern. In case of emergency a snap shackle allows you to open the shackle by pulling on a separate line that could be in the stern - thus breaking the boat free instead of releasing the stern line with the carabiner on it.

 

[highlights]

Ahh , yes. Much clearer now.

That makes sense. Especially if has become comfortable for you. Stick with what works.

HL

 

[profisher]

Where is the anchor line while pulling to retrieve, under the boat?