Legacy OSG Commander Anchor "system"

[skyriver]

Ok, my 3rd attempt at a decent anchor system. This is not for rivers. Only for lakes. I never anchor in rivers because you just stand up. If I'm stopping to fish a river outside the Commander I'll drag it up on shore or rope it to a tree. That's usually just lunch or pee breaks. An anchor on the river is just unnecessary weight, in my experience.
I just wanted something more than the cheesy float-tube anchor kits that Outcast provides. Which, btw, are now $65!!!! WTF.
The Commander doesn't work great for bobber fishing unless there is a prevailing breeze. But it works well enough to attempt a better anchor system.

I used one of my NRS stern rails. I only use 1 rail on my OSG Striker (for anchoring) most of the year so usually have an extra since I have a pair.

I stuffed one end into the handy loops that the Commander has on the floor. These have come in handy many times over the years and that's why I'm really disappointed in NRS for not doing the same thing on their sexy little Boundary 100. It's a big miss after seeing just how useful they are. Much easier than strapping the tube, which isn't even an option for the Boundary.

The curve of the stern rail fits very well to stick out the back. And as owners of Commanders know, there is a gap between the floor and the back of the tubes. This has also come up handy time after time. Another big miss by NRS on the Boundary 100 since it doesn't have the gap. I don't get it. Anyway...
I lashed the rail to the tube using a NRS strap. Between both contacts, there's no chance for the rail to roll. And what's really nice is it put the end of the rail right off the back of the point of the boat. A challenge on a pointy boat. The new Commanders solve this challenge with a rounded butt that has an IGS pad now. You can just mount a Scotty anchor mount and you're done.

You can see the strap points circled in blue-


I'll probably use my 10# mushroom anchor most of the time, but will try using the combined Outcast anchors first. I just bolted them together. They're supposedly 2# each so it's about 4#s. It feels all of 4# and they're grabby. We'll see.

I then installed a pulley that I had laying around to the end of the rail in a manner that would work for the rope.


I then installed a Scotty mount on the regular IGS pad and just using the rope stop functionality. Pretty easy pull (actually more of a push) with only the 4 pounder and should be reasonable even with the 10# mushroom.

I'll report if it works! Just call me Jerry.

 

[Matt B]

The Commander doesn't work great for bobber fishing unless there is a prevailing breeze. But it works well enough to attempt a better anchor system.

Please elaborate. This almost seems counterintuitive, but also I’m just curious, in no small part as a Commander owner who hasn’t lake fished out of mine yet. I thought I might want fins, like with a float tube, no?

 

[skyriver]

Please elaborate. This almost seems counterintuitive, but also I’m just curious, in no small part as a Commander owner who hasn’t lake fished out of mine yet. I thought I might want fins, like with a float tube, no?

Yeah, you definitely want fins.
For bobber fishing it's best if the boat stays locked in one spot and doesn't wag around. If the wind blows consistent and the same direction then a single aft anchor is no biggie. The wind and anchor keep you pretty locked in.
However, if the wind is intermittent and/or changing directions you end up all over the place if only using 1 anchor.
In a pram, or my raft, you have a regular aft anchor as well as a front anchor so the boat doesn't spin or go anywhere. This is necessary for good bobber fishing. It's more effective and definitely less annoying.

The Commander is a bit of a challenge to get front and back anchors. At least the old pointy ones like mine. If you have the newer model you have a IGS patch in the back all ready for a Scotty mount and then you could add a patch to the front pretty easily. Honestly, not sure why Outcast doesn't put one there stock.

I just happened to see this video from Outcast today. I bought the rail mount Scotty for $20 off Amazon immediately. Haha! Not sure how I hadn't seen this or thought of it, but will try it as my front anchor. I'll mount it on the left foot rest of my Commander.


I'm not going to lift the anchor every fish though. That's insanity and a good way to get injured and lose fish all at the same time. I'll take my chances just like I do in my raft and everyone else does in their prams. There's 100% NO chance Phil does this very often. He catches WAY too many fish to do that all day. Maybe the Outcast folks wanted him to show the possibility? Silly

I went out tonight and fished bobbers for stockers, but took the raft since I didn't want to wader up. I'll try the Commander a little later this month when it warms up.

 

[Matt B]

Yeah, you definitely want fins.
For bobber fishing it's best if the boat stays locked in one spot and doesn't wag around. If the wind blows consistent and the same direction then a single aft anchor is no biggie. The wind and anchor keep you pretty locked in.
However, if the wind is intermittent and/or changing directions you end up all over the place if only using 1 anchor.
In a pram, or my raft, you have a regular aft anchor as well as a front anchor so the boat doesn't spin or go anywhere. This is necessary for good bobber fishing. It's more effective and definitely less annoying.

The Commander is a bit of a challenge to get front and back anchors. At least the old pointy ones like mine. If you have the newer model you have a IGS patch in the back all ready for a Scotty mount and then you could add a patch to the front pretty easily. Honestly, not sure why Outcast doesn't put one there stock.

I just happened to see this video from Outcast today. I bought the rail mount Scotty for $20 off Amazon immediately. Haha! Not sure how I hadn't seen this or thought of it, but will try it as my front anchor. I'll mount it on the left foot rest of my Commander.


I'm not going to lift the anchor every fish though. That's insanity and a good way to get injured and lose fish all at the same time. I'll take my chances just like I do in my raft and everyone else does in their prams. There's 100% NO chance Phil does this very often. He catches WAY too many fish to do that all day. Maybe the Outcast folks wanted him to show the possibility? Silly

I went out tonight and fished bobbers for stockers, but took the raft since I didn't want to wader up. I'll try the Commander a little later this month when it warms up.

Got it, thanks. The key word I didn’t pick up on was “prevailing” wind. Which, it’s almost always swirly around here. I hadn’t thought much about anchoring the Commander. It probably catches wind a lot more than a float tube.

 

[clarkman]

y'all need to grab a pair of dive fins...although while they allow you to more easily move about in you Commander (or in my case, Stealth Pro), they don't come with spot lock.

 

[Matt B]

y'all need to grab a pair of dive fins...although while they allow you to more easily move about in you Commander (or in my case, Stealth Pro), they don't come with spot lock.

I have dive fins.

 

[Matt B]

y'all need to grab a pair of dive fins...although while they allow you to more easily move about in you Commander (or in my case, Stealth Pro), they don't come with spot lock.

Do you do any anchoring at all for your musky or bass fishing out of the Commander? Or just deal with any wind while fishing by using your fins?

 

[clarkman]

Do you do any anchoring at all for your musky or bass fishing out of the Commander? Or just deal with any wind while fishing by using your fins?

Zero anchoring, just fins, but that's why I went with dive fins since even the best float tube fins just wouldn't cut it in high winds. But I'm also not fishing static. More dynamic with both.

I do really like @skyriver 's setup above though! Although, with the newest model (and the Scout and Stealth Pro), they at least have a square back for that anchor mount.

 

[skyriver]

We'll see if my feet fit with this mounted like this...

 

[Haggis57]

We'll see if my feet fit with this mounted like this...

Like you, I prefer having permanent Scotty mounts where possible. If your rail mount does interfere with your foot, could you use a Scotty strap-on, or glue-on, mount right in front of the foot peg? I have used the strap-on mount/anchor lock shown below a couple of times on my Fish Cat Scout. I don't anchor up enough right now to put a glue-on patch there.
Ken

 

[skyriver]

Like you, I prefer having permanent Scotty mounts where possible. If your rail mount does interfere with your foot, could you use a Scotty strap-on, or glue-on, mount right in front of the foot peg? I have used the strap-on mount/anchor lock shown below a couple of times on my Fish Cat Scout. I don't anchor up enough right now to put a glue-on patch there.
Ken

View attachment 148621

Yeah, I've thought about using the straps or installing a pad. I just haven't been motivated enough since I can use my raft for most lakes. Hoping this gives me the added possibility with minimal work.
I plan to actually store the front anchor and mount in a bag onboard the Commander and only break it out if I actually want to fish bobbers. It should be pretty quick. Just have to make sure I don't drop the anchor in the lake.

Usually, if I've taken the Commander it's because I want the ability to troll & strip while kicking with fins. Trolling with the raft sucks unless I use the electric motor, but that means 2 more heavy things to bring.

 

[Buzzy]

Yeah, you definitely want fins.
For bobber fishing it's best if the boat stays locked in one spot and doesn't wag around. If the wind blows consistent and the same direction then a single aft anchor is no biggie. The wind and anchor keep you pretty locked in.
However, if the wind is intermittent and/or changing directions you end up all over the place if only using 1 anchor.
In a pram, or my raft, you have a regular aft anchor as well as a front anchor so the boat doesn't spin or go anywhere. This is necessary for good bobber fishing. It's more effective and definitely less annoying.

The Commander is a bit of a challenge to get front and back anchors. At least the old pointy ones like mine. If you have the newer model you have a IGS patch in the back all ready for a Scotty mount and then you could add a patch to the front pretty easily. Honestly, not sure why Outcast doesn't put one there stock.

I just happened to see this video from Outcast today. I bought the rail mount Scotty for $20 off Amazon immediately. Haha! Not sure how I hadn't seen this or thought of it, but will try it as my front anchor. I'll mount it on the left foot rest of my Commander.


I'm not going to lift the anchor every fish though. That's insanity and a good way to get injured and lose fish all at the same time. I'll take my chances just like I do in my raft and everyone else does in their prams. There's 100% NO chance Phil does this very often. He catches WAY too many fish to do that all day. Maybe the Outcast folks wanted him to show the possibility? Silly

I went out tonight and fished bobbers for stockers, but took the raft since I didn't want to wader up. I'll try the Commander a little later this month when it warms up.

I'm going to be a bit contrary to this need for a front anchor in the pontoon like Mr. Rowley is using. Anchor your stern*anchor and use your fins to control side to side motion. I've fished two indicator rods at the same time from my Bucks Bronco with just the stern anchor and my fins controlling swing. Sure, if it's really windy that complicates things. And yup, anchoring my pram bow and stern is a better way to keep from moving around. But even then if it's too windy......

What utter nonsense having to pull the forward anchor when hooking and playing a fish. Seems to me the time wasted pulling the anchor increases the chance of losing the fish to inattention and inability to react. WTFDIK.

 

[skyriver]

I'm going to be a bit contrary to this need for a front anchor in the pontoon like Mr. Rowley is using. Anchor your stern*anchor and use your fins to control side to side motion. I've fished two indicator rods at the same time from my Bucks Bronco with just the stern anchor and my fins controlling swing. Sure, if it's really windy that complicates things. And yup, anchoring my pram bow and stern is a better way to keep from moving around. But even then if it's too windy......

What utter nonsense having to pull the forward anchor when hooking and playing a fish. Seems to me the time wasted pulling the anchor increases the chance of losing the fish to inattention and inability to react. WTFDIK.

Well, for me, controlling with fins is 1) not very effective, 2) not very fun and 3) I don't want my feet in the water!

And yes, I agree pulling the anchor each fish would be about the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. I have to think Phil got tricked into this one by Outcast, Aire or Scotty or just someone on the video shoot. I'm gonna give him a pass on this one.

 

[Buzzy]

Well, for me, controlling with fins is 1) not very effective, 2) not very fun and 3) I don't want my feet in the water!

And yes, I agree pulling the anchor each fish would be about the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. I have to think Phil got tricked into this one by Outcast, Aire or Scotty or just someone on the video shoot. I'm gonna give him a pass on this one.

Stacy -
I haven't fished from that Bucks Bronco for maybe ten years (I forget what year I started using my pram.....) so maybe my memory is remembering the good times fishing "2 poles" and I've forgotten about how damn cold my feet/legs used to get on some of those cold Canadian lakes. ;-) I do bobber fish (with strike indicators) from my float tube; something I have never anchored since I started float tubin' back about 1980. I'm getting old.


(Float tube, two rods, fly boxes loaded in the truck bed, heading out tomorrow morning.)

 

[skyriver]

Got the Commander out tonight after the deluge. Anchors work great! The back 10# mushroom even got tested in the muck. One of those 15' deep to the bottom, but 6' through the nasty weeds. Front one too. No issues.

I kicked the front one a couple times when I was kicking around casting for cruising pods, but noticed if I push the mount all the way forward I don't kick the anchor. Really nice being able to kick without having to remove it. And when I did actually anchor it kept me from swaying or spinning. We'll see how it does in stronger wind, but pretty darn happy with it!