Anchor Advice

From OKFC Wiki

One of the key areas where I see novice kayak anglers making a mistake is with their anchoring methods. Traditional anchors do have their place, but typically not in the kind of fishing that we do on the flats of Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River. First of all, anchoring just to stay in one spot is not necessarily the best plan. How do you know that area is going to produce your catch? Unless you see fish in the area, let the wind push you along or cast and paddle, and be sure to cover water to either look for signs of predators or until you get a strike.

Second, consider your anchor itself. Traditional anchors such as this folding anchor aren't necessarily optimal on the flats. First of all, these anchors can be clumsy and noisy to deploy by the time you find fish . Secondly, considering the shallow water where we normally find fish, the stakeout pole tends to be the best method. It's fast and stealthy: once you see fish simply drive the point end into the bottom of the flat. Make sure you stakeout on the proper side of your kayak so that you don't bump into it either due to wind or current because this would negate the stealth factor. Some kayakers simply drive their stakeout pole through a scupper hole but I would worry about the sound. In addition there is a seam around most scupper holes and I would also be concerned that this could stress the hull over time.

You can either buy a stakeout pole or make your own. Many that elect to buy one consider Captain Dick's Stakeout Pole [1]. Check out the pictures so that you can get an idea of how anglers use stakeout poles. Some kayak anglers find Captain Dick's product quite expensive but remember that it's not just intended to hold your spot, it's also intended to be used as a push pole to help you get into position.

If you would prefer to make one consider either using an old broomstick or my favorite, which is an old golf club. Don't use PVC pipe because in harder bottom with shell or oysters you will find it very difficult to penetrate. For a usable golf club go to Play It Again Sports and look for the $2 or less golf clubs, and pick a graphite model. I once made a stakeout pole out of a metal club and it corroded too quickly. Cut the head off at a steep angle to create a sharp point, and drill a hole through the handle so that you can pass a piece of thin rope through it so that you can tether it to your kayak.

Now you're set to stalk fish: Find some tailers, get within casting distance, stick your stakeout pole into the flats bottom, and start casting.

The most important aspect of this is to remember that fish have tails. This means that instead of holding in one place they tend to move around a bit. Be prepared to pull up your stakeout pole and plant it again once you relocate them.

Check out these other low cost stack out pole substitutes:

HISCO [2] Restockit [3] Cajun Anchor [4]

Article by Kirk Dunaway