Overview[]
Anchoring from a kayak is quite different to anchoring from a boat.
In a kayak, the kayaker is facing one direction, and it is not easy to fish in a wide angle. Add to that trying to fish in current, and we are initially seeming the underdog.
However, by using an Anchor Trolley on our kayaks, we can overcome these issues, and end up top dogs on the water.
Anchor trolleys can be used with either a standard anchor, or a sea anchor/drogue (See Anchoring Systems)
Nuts & Bolts[]
Anchor Trolleys can be as simple or as complicated as needed/wanted. The basics of it are a pulley at the nose of the kayak, a pulley at the rear of the kayak, and a rope running through both of them and lying along the side of the kayak.
Nose/Rear Pulley - This is anything from a simple Stainless Steel ring, right through to a Stainless Steel Pulley.
Rope - Spectra rope is the best type to use due to the lack of stretch. The rope passes through the front pulley, runs along the side of the kayak, through the rear pulley, then back along the side to the front again. The rope is then joined together.
Rope Join - The join in the rope can be done a few different ways. The 2 most common ways are:-
i) The simple way is to tie a loop into the rope at the join. This allows the anchor rope to be clipped onto the loop, and run to where needed along the kayak.
ii) A middle "ring" can be used to join the rope. This allows the anchor/drogue rope to be passed through the "ring" and then attached to the kayak. The Anchor Trolley can then move the rope to the end of the kayak needed. By utilising a clip and a ring together, you add flexibility by also being able to use the Anchor Trolley rope to tether the kayak to anything needed (Other kayaks, jetty, yourself when snorkelling, etc)
Usage[]
Using the Anchor Trolley is a very easy affair.
Paddle out to your chosen fishing location, then decide whether you want to use a traditional anchor or a sea anchor/drogue.
If your Anchor Trolley is using a loop (Option i), throw your anchor over board, then when the required rope is out, attach to the loop. If your Anchor Trolley is using the "ring", then enure the rope is passed through the ring, throw over board, then attach the other end to the kayak when the required amount is out.
Once that is done, then you move the rope along the side of the kayak in the direction needed. This will move the anchor/drogue towards either the front or the rear of the kayak (dependant upon which way you move the rope).
Examples[]
Here are some 'Do It Yourself' installation instructions for various anchor trolleys and kayaks:
Ado's Anchor Trolley for a Hobie Adventure
In Closing[]
By using an Anchor Trolley, a kayaker can govern the direction that the kayak will face while on the anchor (Or drifting with a drogue). This allows the kayaker to be facing the best way to fish. We can even keep the kayak at 90 degrees to the current allowing us to fish along the length of the kayak for a better spread.
Although this is mainly using the term "anchor", a sea anchor (or drogue) is the same thing, and by utilising the Anchor Trolley, allows the kayaker to adjust the way they are facing while drifting. Personally I do not anchor with my kayak yet, but I do use a drogue regularly. The Anchor Trolley will give me much greater flexibility for my drifting.
Return to Do It Yourself.