Anchoring questions for cataraft

[XQB]

Anyone have any advise on anchoring in slower water (think upper Missouri) with a 14 ft. Cataraft? I have a 25 lb. pyramid off the back using the NRS anchor system. I know a drift boat is better but I just have my cat. I've never anchored in moving water as I mostly use the spey rod or fish the D/ not boat fishing. Montana is a whole different thing.

Thanks,

[Slow and Low]

Originally Posted by XQB

Anyone have any advise on anchoring in slower water (think upper Missouri) with a 14 ft. Cataraft? I have a 25 lb. pyramid off the back using the NRS anchor system. I know a drift boat is better but I just have my cat. I've never anchored in moving water as I mostly use the spey rod or fish the D/ not boat fishing. Montana is a whole different thing.

Thanks,

They don't track worth beans. I use mine to keep it pinned to the beach. Oar rights might help but I doubt it.

[flatman]

the pyramid will drag with much current. have plenty of line out for safety. that may be good as moving water creates lots of issues anchoring small craft. have a way to quickly disengage and stay alert. best to pull into eddies or near the bank and anchor there. missouri has more current than it looks as its so wide.

[steel_beaver]

Yup, if you let out a lot of line you will swing back and forth all over the place as the current catches one toon or the other. If you let minimal amount of line out you won't swing as much (you still swing but only 2-3 feat each side) and your anchor keeps dragging due to the steep angle. Your best bet is to find a rock that creates a big enough eddy where you can drop your anchor immediately next to the rock (downstream) and still have the whole toon in the eddy... of course they don't always appear in your favorite fishing spot

[wfocharlie]

I have anchored mine in the columbia and used it to fish for fall chinook below the sandy river several times. The current is fairly strong and I have had no problems at all. It will move around a little but that just lets you cover more water. I was surprised how easy it was to hand line the anchor up because these boats are so light that they sit right on top of the water and you can pull the boat right up to the anchor before you bring it up. I was anchored in about 15-20 ft of water.
One thing I would say is be very careful if you are fishing by yourself from an anchored boat because if you fall off you will not be able to get back to it and there will be no one left to bring it to you. I wouldn't get out further than an easy swim back to shore for this reason.

[XQB]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll play around with it next week on the MO.

[PerfectRiverLevels]

About anchoring, in a drift boat you should never drop your anchor in water faster than you can hold your boat by rowing. I would generally stick to the same rule in a cat or raft.
You also may need a thirty pound anchor, for sure if your anchoring up with any gear in the boat.

[Jad Donaldson]

All good advice,

If you find that the boat is swaying to much AND YOUR NOT IN RIPPING CURRENT, you can drop a second anchor off the front...ala fishing a boat in a tidal bay and that should stop the swaying...

Jad

[PharmDoc]

Originally Posted by PerfectRiverLevels

About anchoring, in a drift boat you should never drop your anchor in water faster than you can hold your boat by rowing. I would generally stick to the same rule in a cat or raft.
You also may need a thirty pound anchor, for sure if your anchoring up with any gear in the boat.

YES. Get a bigger anchor. The cataraft will swing more in the current, necessitating a larger anchor. I use a 25 lber in my 8 ft Pac 800. You may need a 35 in a boat the size of yours. The swinging action will create more drag on your boat and work lighter anchors loose. It is far more dangerous to have an anchor that drags and allows your boat to drift than having an anchor that you have to work a little more to pull up.

[veilside180sx]

I use a 30 lb...if it doesn't hold...shouldn't be anchoring there.

[PerfectRiverLevels]

Originally Posted by veilside180sx

I use a 30 lb...if it doesn't hold...shouldn't be anchoring there.

Solid advise that applies to drift boats and other river craft too, bigger is not always better.
Never drop your anchor in water you can't hold your boat in by rowing. Never.

[FishonDon]

Perfect River Levels is correct. Pharm Doc is not. Don't be fooled by the underexperienced.

[PharmDoc]

Originally Posted by FishonDon

Perfect River Levels is correct. Pharm Doc is not. Don't be fooled by the underexperienced.

Just received a PM from a certain ifisher who tried to tell me I was leading a fellow astray. Rather than making assumptions, accusations, and inaccurate statements, it might be advisable to simply ask; Why do you feel the need to use such a heavy anchor? Well, it goes like this: Not everybody will fish exactly the way you do. Not everybody will be using their pontoon boat as a river taxi only, where they always get out and wade to fish. Not everybody will be fishing only for trout and steelhead sized fish.
Here's why I recommend a larger anchor: If you want a single anchor to cover all situations, you need the larger/heavier anchor. There are probably few fly fisherpeople who fish for large fall chinook from an anchored pontoon boat. But, speaking from personal experience, it is easy to get into extremely dangerous situations when a 40 lb fall chinook takes you, your pontoon, and your 15 or 20 lb anchor and tows it downstream into even faster flowing water. In addition, when fishing crowded rivers, the heavier anchor allows for a steeper angle on the rope...less intrusive and less chance for others' terminal gear to catch on your rope. If one finds it unpleasant or difficult to pull a heavier anchor, time to hit the weights a bit.
So, only want to buy one anchor? Buy the heavy one. Have the resources to do lots of different kinds of fishing? Buy several anchors to have the right one for what you will be doing that day. Lake fishing? 10 lb ball or 15 lb pyramid. River taxi? 15 or 20 is plenty. You won't be doing more than supporting the weight and buoyancy of the boat. Fishing from the boat for large strong fish? 25 or 30 lb.
On my 16 ft glass drift boat, I run a 40 lb anchor and am able to anchor safely in many places where others can't...without worry of pulling loose.

[FishonDon]

Did you read that he was going to be fishing the upper Missouri?

[XQB]

The boat did better than expected. I was able to anchor in eddies, current up to 1-4 ft deep and of course right next to shore. Was able to anchor above pods of fish and get that reach cast to them. I'll put some photos and video in another post.