Question for Driftboat Lake Fishing concerning anchor techniques

D

Draketake

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
Morning,

I am trying to figure out the best way to anchor my Driftboat, while Lake Fishing. Been watching a ton of Phil Rowley, Brian Chan, BC Fly Guys, Wait4it videos. I get the idea of using a two anchor set up, for exact positioning, especially when fishing Chironomids. I just cant figure out a great way to do it in my Drifter. Id love to get a dedicated Lake Boat be it Hard side or Inflatable Pontoon, but it aint happening this year. Im damn near aged out of my 40 plus year old Caddis Donut Tube so Ive been using the hard boat.

Ive got a starboard ( right side ), off set, Dierks, anchor mount. Ive got another portable, hand dropped, anchor that I use with a 40 foot line. I tie this off to the gunwale. This works okay but it isnt perfect.

If you have the time, Ill take any and all input, on how you have fine tuned your Driftboat, for the Lakes. Pictures would be great,

Thank you for any and all help.

Everyone have a safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Bob
 
Draketake said:
Morning,

I am trying to figure out the best way to anchor my Driftboat, while Lake Fishing. Been watching a ton of Phil Rowley, Brian Chan, BC Fly Guys, Wait4it videos. I get the idea of using a two anchor set up, for exact positioning, especially when fishing Chironomids. I just cant figure out a great way to do it in my Drifter. Id love to get a dedicated Lake Boat be it Hard side or Inflatable Pontoon, but it aint happening this year. Im damn near aged out of my 40 plus year old Caddis Donut Tube so Ive been using the hard boat.

Ive got a starboard ( right side ), off set, Dierks, anchor mount. Ive got another portable, hand dropped, anchor that I use with a 40 foot line. I tie this off to the gunwale. This works okay but it isnt perfect.

If you have the time, Ill take any and all input, on how you have fine tuned your Driftboat, for the Lakes. Pictures would be great,

Thank you for any and all help.

Everyone have a safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Bob
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I set my anchors just as you described, been doing it that way for more years than I want to think about.
 
I forgot to ask about this:

Which anchor is the best to drop first.....the rear of the boat or the front one? The front anchor is the one I hand line? I try to get the boat positioned perpendicular to the wind, with the wind at my back, so I can cast and then retrieve, down wind or cast and sit Bobber Fishing. In other words what I am having the most difficulty with is keeping the boat perpendicular to the wind, during the second anchor drop. Thus about 50% of the time, I get some sway as I drop the second anchor. As a result, I am not exactly perpendicular to the wind.

My rear anchor is a 30lb. My portable hand line anchor is about 15 lbs. I could add more weight to the portable anchor but what I have now does hold on the bottom. I place the portable anchor just in front of the front bench seat. I am wondering if I just shouldnt make the portable anchor point up front, off the side of the bow, on the same side as the fixed, rear anchor.

Thanks again for any help.

Bob
 
Drift boats have a different dynamic with both ends designed for less water resistance but wind resistance being different, I would anchor the bow, let it swing until pointing into the wind, and then anchor the rear.
 
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I use a 16’ Clacka with bow (20lb) and stern pyramid anchors (30lb) and a FB 120 finder for depth and structure. A 55lb thrust minn kota is the other thing that makes it work for lakes. I liken my boat to bringing my own dock. Once I figure out the “where”, I try to anticipate what the wind will do after one anchor is down. I usually start with the stern anchor (foot release mechanism) then step up to the bow to lower the second anchor with a Dierks roller.
 
Old406Kid said:
Drift boats have a different dynamic with both ends designed for less water resistance but wind resistance being different, I would anchor the bow, let it swing until pointing into the wind, and then anchor the rear.
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I'm curious why I always see advice to anchor at the bow so you're into the wind, but wouldn't that hurt your casting distance? I like to anchor off the stern so that I'm facing away from the wind and I'm not fighting it to cast. I'm a novice though, so I appreciate any advice with that.
 
Dez said:
I'm curious why I always see advice to anchor at the bow so you're into the wind, but wouldn't that hurt your casting distance? I like to anchor off the stern so that I'm facing away from the wind and I'm not fighting it to cast. I'm a novice though, so I appreciate any advice with that.
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Ideally, the best would be to have the boat perpendicular to the wind with the wind at your back. But it's tough to hold that way in stronger winds and you will likely spend more time cussing and reanchoring than fishing.
 
Old406Kid said:
Ideally, the best would be to have the boat perpendicular to the wind with the wind at your back. But it's tough to hold that way in stronger winds and you will likely spend more time cussing and reanchoring than fishing.
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I’m in a canoe I can’t face perpendicular to wherever my canoe is pointing - which is why I tend to anchor at the stern, so the wind comes from behind me and helps my cast. The opposite tends to be me fighting the wind and cursing lol
 
Dez said:
I’m in a canoe I can’t face perpendicular to wherever my canoe is pointing - which is why I tend to anchor at the stern, so the wind comes from behind me and helps my cast. The opposite tends to be me fighting the wind and cursing lol
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I can see your point with a canoe which has very little resistance at the stern. I do the same with my inflatable pontoon but my pram allows me to fish in a variety of positions so I just anchor accordingly. My preference with the pram is off the side so I'm not having to reach as far while netting my usual multitudes of fish. :ROFLMAO: I mentioined perpendicular in my previous comment but that's certainly not for a whitecapping day.
My pram for reference.
1748033444047.png
 
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Old406Kid said:
I can see your point with a canoe which has very little resistance at the stern. I do the same with my inflatable pontoon but my pram allows me to fish in a variety of positions so I just anchor accordingly. My preference with the pram is off the side so I'm not having to reach as far while netting my usual multitudes of fish. :ROFLMAO: I mentioined perpendicular in my previous comment but that's certainly not for a whitecapping day.
My pram for reference.
View attachment 154529
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I think I’ll try that with my pond prowler, it’s an 8’ long plastic barge lol. One day I plan on getting a 12-14’ jon boat to replace it.
 
In my pram, I have the biggest anchor on the bow which I drop first. When it catches the boat swings and weathervanes into place. Then the smaller stern anchor is dropped. Because of my seating position to row, the stern is closest. Being broadside in my pram is no bueno..
 
Wetswinger said:
In my pram, I have the biggest anchor on the bow which I drop first. When it catches the boat swings and weathervanes into place. Then the smaller stern anchor is dropped. Because of my seating position to row, the stern is closest. Being broadside in my pram is no bueno..
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I do it the same way with my 8-foot pram - my boat seat is mounted on a watertight thwart so fishing out the side for me is also no bueno. The downside to the bow/stern anchor method is I do get some stern side swing in winds that change direction which I can minimize by scoping out the bow anchor line: the stern line is vertical. T
 
Draketake said:
I forgot to ask about this:

Which anchor is the best to drop first.....the rear of the boat or the front one? The front anchor is the one I hand line? I try to get the boat positioned perpendicular to the wind, with the wind at my back, so I can cast and then retrieve, down wind or cast and sit Bobber Fishing. In other words what I am having the most difficulty with is keeping the boat perpendicular to the wind, during the second anchor drop. Thus about 50% of the time, I get some sway as I drop the second anchor. As a result, I am not exactly perpendicular to the wind.

My rear anchor is a 30lb. My portable hand line anchor is about 15 lbs. I could add more weight to the portable anchor but what I have now does hold on the bottom. I place the portable anchor just in front of the front bench seat. I am wondering if I just shouldnt make the portable anchor point up front, off the side of the bow, on the same side as the fixed, rear anchor.

Thanks again for any help.

Bob
Click to expand...

On my 12 foot aluminum boat, I drop the bow anchor (on a Scotty anchor lock) and then use my trolling motor to position the stern how I like it. Then I drop my stern anchor. It works great since the trolling motor can be pointed perpendicular to the stern and it just pivots the rear of the boat around the bow anchor point.

Then I pop the top off a beer and get to fishin'.
 
ENSURE the anchor technique keeps you out of rane of the bears. These days you're SEEING more and more groups of bears coming up towards the shore. At the same time. Happening more and more. Often times 5-7 bears!!!! Happening more and more.
 
I have a Koffler whitewater pram, basically a small drift boat. I have an anchor at the front and back. I did add another rope cleat so I could drop my front anchor without stepping over the front bench seat. Makes life somewhat easier. I have a 14 pound anchor in back and ten pounds in front i believe.
IMG_2096.jpeg
 
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