Mixing Anchors?

[Newbass112]

I have a 14/36 jon boat and just bought a 12lb river anchor for it. I was going to get another 12lb river anchor but seen a Navy anchor at my local shop that I know would hold better in bigger lakes and rivers as I've heard the river anchors dont always hold well.

My question.. is it ok to mix and use a river anchor and navy anchor together? Or would two 12lb rivers hold fine?

And when anchoring do you attach the anchors to both ends of the boat or one on the port side and the other on the starboard side?

[Shewillbemine]

People use homemade anchors such as buckets filled with cement--you're fine mixing anchor styles.

 

Regarding where to anchor, it will depend on the current and how you want your boat positioned. If you want to stay parallel to your target, you will typically use anchors on the same side. If current isn't too strong, usually one anchor will suffice. It honestly depends on the current and where you are casting. 

[Newbass112]

Thanks shewillbemine.

Now is a 15lb navy anchor sufficient for our 14/36 jon or should we opt for the 20lb?

I'm not assuming max load of our boat is a problem with a 155lb guy, a 120lb woman, the trolling motor, tackle, both anchors, etc. as the gentleman we bought it from said he's had 5 guys on it before no problem.

I know that isn't recommended but just us two and our gear should be fine I assume.

Also I have no idea what kind of chain or rope I need to buy for the anchors..

[A-Jay]

When anchoring in any current or wind / waves you MUST ALWAYS anchor off your BOW  - you may capsize if you anchor any other way.

 

Two anchors are fine as long as the bow of your vessel is facing any wind, waves  and/or current. 

 

 

A-Jay

[Newbass112]

When anchoring in any current or wind / waves you MUST ALWAYS anchor off your BOW  - you may capsize if you anchor any other way.

 

Two anchors are fine as long as the bow of your vessel is facing any wind, waves  and/or current. 

 

 

A-Jay

So anchor both anchors off the bow if using two?

[Shewillbemine]

So anchor both anchors off the bow if using two?

 

Yes, you basically want the bow of the boat facing into the current so that the boat cuts into the water as it's designed to do. 

[Shewillbemine]

The size and weight of the anchor will also depend on the loads you typically carry, the currents you normally face, how easily your boat drifts and the bottom surface you fish over. You can almost never got an anchor that's too big (unless you're being ridiculous). 

 

For length of rope, you typically want to go with a length that is 5x the depth you normally fish. Others will tell you that you can get away with 3x the depth. I fish the ocean a lot so 5x is what I use--ocean waves can be more temperamental than the freshwater waves I face in the West. 

 

You will also get jerry rig/MacGuyver advice about rope and chain for anchors. If you want the cheap route, go to Home Depot and get any kind of rope, but truthfully you probably want some kind of braided/twisted nylon with or without polyester. DO NOT use polyproplene rope as it will give out on you (it's what's used for wake boarding and stuff). Boaters use a "rode", which is a fancy term for chain. Chain connected directly to the anchor will help you set the thing because of its weight. Then you connect the rope to the chain/rode and the other end connects to your boat. Use anchor shackles for the connection. Lastly, if you want to ensure your rope will last and not be frayed by its connection to the chain, use thimbles or rope that already has pre-assembled thimbles. 

 

Remember, I'm suggesting what "boaters" would do, which is not necessarily a "bass fisherman" thing to do. As mentioned, others successfully and happily use a block of cement or even dumbbells for anchoring. I have to be a bit more serious because I fish the Pacific very often.

[airborne_angler]

I learned the hard way to never anchor off the stern. I did once with a jon boat and the anchor got stuck, I pulled and pulled and pulled, each time the corner would dip into the water. Eventually the boat got swamped and I had to swim to shore. I salvaged it but I also lost/damaged a lot of equipment.

Years ago there were some college athletes in the Gulf of Mexico iirc. The anchor off the bow got stuck. They turned the boat to hook the anchor line to the stern so they could use the engine of the boat to pull the anchor free. That method pulled the stern of the down and swamped it and iirc there was only one survivor.

[Fishes in trees]

I am firmly in the home made anchor camp.  I don't fish the ocean.  I seldom anchor in choppy water.  I seldom anchor at all, really.  But on those very rare times when I get an anchor stuck, I don't want to give a d**n when I cut the rope.  Back when I had a pond boat, it didn't handle wind very well and I got blown all over the place.  I made a drag anchor out of window sash weights,  I'd throw it out to slow down my drifts.      I'd use a 50' rope and tie it off close to the end of the rope,  it didn't get stuck very often.

[airborne_angler]

In a pinch I have used a very large rock as a replacement when I couldn't get my anchor unstuck and had to cut the line. Of course it helps when your fishing out of a 12 ft jon boat. I don't get too serious about my equipment, but if I see something at a yardsale or swapmeet and I can use it for my boat, ill pick it up if its cheap enough. One year I even used an old rotor from a disc brake on a car. It was a floating style from a front wheel drive vehicle so the wasn't any grease from bearings to pollute the water...

[Newbass112]

Thanks for the advice everyone. That is my main concern is the anchors getting stuck, especially the navy anchor, don't want to have to cut a $30-40 anchor off. I'm thinking the 15lb navy should be enough..

And like I said I won't be in any oceans with a 14/36 jon, just lakes and POSSIBLY some rivers.

[jbird9009]

As another jonboater, i think a 15-20lb anchor would be plenty sufficient. like was already said please anchor at the bow, specially on a smaller boat it doesnt take long for a 14ft boat to take on water.

 

i fish for catfish alot so i anchor often when possible i like to anchor off bow and tie the stern off loosely to structure of some sort just to keep the wind from spinning the boat in circles while im trying to keep the lines tight.

 

when anchoring keep in mind Wind, how choppy the water is and dont forget about the pleasure boaters who seem to be looking for a chance to swamp the little boats. dont want their wake coming over your stern, trust me on that. happend one of the first times out on the river bass boat decides to fly by 15 ft from me while im anchored at the edge of the river even though it was 75 yards wide at that spot  . took on a good bit of water and had to start bailing, i now have a bilge pump

[Bankbeater]

I like to go a little on the heavy side with anchors.  It's no fun being blown around when the anchor won't hold you in place.