Do You Need an Anchor for Kayak Fishing?

Fishing on a kayak is a fun, affordable, and convenient way of enjoying your time on the water. The kayak’s light weight, small size, and easy maneuverability allow you to transport it easily across your water body of choice. However, it’s these features that make you ask the question, “do you need an anchor for kayak fishing?” The answer is yes, you do.

Once you establish the need for an anchor, you need to consider the different types of anchors available and buy one that fits your requirements. After this, you need to know how to use the anchor you buy to prevent possible accidents.

All in all, having an anchor for your kayak is important and what’s even more crucial is to know what to do and how you plan on doing it.

Why Do You Need an Anchor for Kayak Fishing?

If you ask the question ‘do you need an anchor for kayak fishing, here are some things that you need to know.

1. The Need for Anchors During Kayak Fishing

An anchor on a kayak helps keep you in one place while you catch as many fish as your heart desires. Without an anchor, the kayak’s light weight would always make it easy to be pushed around by even the slightest of currents.

Too much movement on your part could take you further downstream than you originally planned. This would probably make your return journey longer and more difficult.

You could, of course, paddle at regular intervals to keep yourself in one spot but that will tire you out quickly and take away time you have reserved to catch yourself some fish.

In addition to this, the absence of an anchor and the ensuing movement would scare away potential catches as fish can detect fishermen if they move frequently.

2. Knowing Which Weight

Kayak fishing anchors are available in many different weight categories. Knowing which one is right for your kayak depends on how much your kayak weighs. 

Understanding this can make it easier for you to answer your question of whether ‘do you need an anchor for kayak fishing?’ Usually, the fishing community opts for a kayak fishing anchor which weighs around 1.5 pounds to 3.0 pounds.

Folding anchors are available in this weight span and are typically used by anglers that go fishing in kayaks. These folding anchors are marvelous as they straighten up along the side and grab the bottom, helping to stabilize the kayak and ensure it stays in one position.

Getting an anchor that’s too heavy for your kayak is very dangerous as it can cause your kayak to go underwater, especially during rougher water and weather conditions.

Moreover, getting an extremely light anchor wouldn’t be able to keep your kayak in one position, rather it would cause it to keep sliding into different positions due to the water current.

Keep in mind that while fishing in places of higher water currents, you would need an anchor that weighs more.

3. Evaluating the Scope of a Kayak Anchor

When asking yourself whether you need an anchor for kayak fishing, in order to find the right anchor for your kayak you need to check the scope of each particular anchor.

The scope of an anchor denotes the ratio of the anchor line and the depth of the water. According to some fishing experts, the ideal ratio should be 7:1 where the line should be at least seven times longer than the total depth of the water.

Having enough line is vital to the role of the anchor for a kayak as only then can it effectively dig into a good spot on the water bed.

4. The Ideal Place to Attach an Anchor on a Kayak

Knowing exactly where to attach an anchor on a kayak is vital. There are three main places where people usually think to fasten their anchors on.

Here’s a quick comparison.

• On the Side: This is a BIG no! Attaching an anchor on the side of your kayak can cause it to lose its balance, especially in regions where there’s a stronger water current. Kayaks are usually built to withstand water traveling across their length but are unable to manage water coming from the side.
• On the Stern: The stern is an obvious choice as it doesn’t let you get disturbed by the anchor line. Moreover, attaching an anchor at this point will mean that your bait will move on your side, but opposite to you by the current. This would work in your favor if you make use of baits on the bottom.
• On the Bow: The bow is also a favorite spot for those who frequently fish on kayaks, as it allows you to manage the current, and helps you cast upon it. However, by placing the anchor on the bow, you would have to be careful while fishing as your anchor line will be in your immediate vicinity. 
• Using Anchor Trolley: An anchor trolley can help solve your bow vs stern dilemma as it would allow you to switch from bow to stern without the hassle of getting out of your kayak. An anchor trolley works by allowing your anchor line to run through a ring within the rigging, giving it leave to change its placement with great efficiency and ease.

More Anchoring Ideas for Your Kayak

There are several other non-traditional anchors that you can try for your kayak.

• Stake-Out-Pole: This pole attaches to the anchor trolley, and helps keep the kayak stable by lodging it on the water bed.
• Drift Chutes: If you don’t actually want to stop while fishing on a kayak, you can opt to go very slow by using a drift chute to help slow down your kayak’s movement in the water.

Conclusion

Kayaks are really exciting boats to go fishing on. For those wondering why you need an anchor for kayak fishing, the answer is ‘yes’.

Anchors can help stabilize boats and aid in your fishing process while ensuring that you stay safe.