Lots Of Questions Now - Anchors, Scupper Holes, Keys, Etc...

[hoosierbass07]

  After fishing in my Ride 115 only three times this weekend I have to say I'm addicted to this hobby now and I love fishing kayaks.  It is so freaking fun to easily paddle around and be able to paddle over deep water and shallow water too.  I'm already thinking of buying a second kayak so I can take another person with me kayak fishing.  

 

 Anyway, I have some questions I need answered.  

 

 The first thing - I noticed I was getting blown around even with light wind.  I realize the most important thing to have a life vest and paddle is an anchor.  What anchor do you all recommend for fishing out of a kayak?  Can I simply take some cloths line and find something heavy to throw over and tie the other end on?  Since there is not a great amount of space on the kayak I would like to find an anchor/weight that is sort of compact with no sharp edges and easy to use.  What do you all use? 

 

 Now - scupper holes.  Is it OK/safe to use scupper plugs?  I didn't get too wet when I was fishing but I did have to move forward to open up the front hatch when I was on the water and a little bit of water did pop up, not much though.  Still, if I could safely plug up the scupper holes where I sit, that would be very nice.  Does plugging up scupper holes lower the performance of kayaks?  

 

 Coolers - what kind of coolers do you take to take along drinks and keep them cool?  

 

 Now - car keys.  Yeah, I had my car keys in my pocket but I kept checking if they were still there all the time.  What do you all do with your vehicle keys when you are out on the water?  

 

 Thanks much! 

[GADawgs]

Congrats, I am glad you enjoy it! I don't use an anchor yet so I can't knowledgeably speak to that but you should be able to do a set up like you described. Scupper holes are absolutely safe to use. I just fished with two guys today who have Ride 115's and they both used scupper plugs on all the holes. I have a jackson cuda which has a storage area with a bucket in between my legs/feet and I pack my lunch and drinks with a ice pack into an insulated lunch bag and keep it in there. Lastly, I bought a small dry bag where I keep my wallet, keys and some other valuables.

Good luck and enjoy, it's a great way to fish!

[flyfisher]

Any type of anchor will work and an anchor trolley will be very useful. Just be careful about anchoring in any type of current.

Scupper plugs are fine but remember scuppers are there to drain water so any water that gets accumulated throughout the day will still be there until you unplug. You are in a kayak you are gonna get wet ....

As far as keys go I have a small dry bag that I clip to my crate....

[hoosierbass07]

Any type of anchor will work and an anchor trolley will be very useful. Just be careful about anchoring in any type of current.

 

 

 

  Why be careful?  Anchoring in heavy current can be cause problems like getting swamped and such? 

 

 I've seen some kayaks with those trolley anchors and they look pretty cool.  I wouldn't mind having one on my kayak.  

[HeavyDluxe]

What anchor do you all recommend for fishing out of a kayak?  Can I simply take some cloths line and find something heavy to throw over and tie the other end on ?... What do you all use?

Last season, I bought an el cheapo barbell weight (15lbs) from Walmart on clearance.  It tucks behind the seat in front of the crate I use for carrying tackle in the tankwell.  I used a cheap cleat to tie it off, but this year I'm hoping to make a trolley system like this using some paracord.

http://palmettokayakfishing.blogspot.com/2012/02/diy-no-drill-kayak-anchor-trolley.html

 

Is it OK/safe to use scupper plugs? ... Does plugging up scupper holes lower the performance of kayaks?

 

I used them all last season...  I'm big enough that I carry a little water in the tankwell otherwise. If I was fishing in moving water where I'm apt to take on much water, I'd pull them out.

 

Coolers - what kind of coolers do you take to take along drinks and keep them cool?

 

I don't use one... so, I'm interested in other people's feedback.

 

What do you all do with your vehicle keys when you are out on the water?

 

 I bought a small dry bag from EMS that will fit my keys, wallet (I carry just a couple cards in a small sleeve), and my cell phone.  I attach it to the cord inside the center hatch well just between my legs or to the bungees that hold the seatback in place.

[flyfisher]

  Why be careful?  Anchoring in heavy current can be cause problems like getting swamped and such? 

 

 I've seen some kayaks with those trolley anchors and they look pretty cool.  I wouldn't mind having one on my kayak.  

Yes that is exactly the reason.  If you anchoring even in what feels like light current can cause problems pretty quickly.  When i anchor in current which is extremely rare it has to be directly off the stern or bow of the kayak.  If it is off to one side or another you can very easily be swamped or flipped.  It is also critical to have a quick release system and a fixed blade sharp knife to cut the line should things get ugly.

 

Personally i can count on one hand the number of times i have anchored in heavier current.  If i want to fish one of those types of areas i will beach the kayak or go shallow and use my park n pole to hold the boat while i wade to fish the area.

 

The anchor trolley is really nice on flat water as it allows you to change the position of your boat relative to the wind so you can have the best angle for your presentations.

[Nelson Wormefeller]

I have been using a 25 foot retractable dog leash with a 1.5 pound anchor for the past 2 years, works great and in an emergency you can just toss it overboard. I fish in large lakes with slow currents.

 

Sporting goods stores sell rubber coated barbells which would probably work in slow currents I would think.

[B@ssCrzy]

I think all the above posts are good comments.  I use a 5lb bench press (disc) weight that I had laying around my house for my anchor.  Sometimes if it is windy I will attach a second 5lb weight, but not anymore than that. I did buy a little plastic buoy for the end of the rope in case I needed to quickly detach and come back to the rope.  It has been helpful when I have gotten snagged and needed to move to get my snag out.  I just detach and then let the anchor rope float and come back to it.  I have not fished the river yet so not sure if that would hold in current.  I have just not wanted to invest in that yet.  I plug all the scuppers holes on my yak because it keeps me drier, but also I have lost baits and lures by stuff falling in through them.  I use a small cooler that I keep in the sealed hatch, but it is not really very big.  I have an otterbox sealed hard case that I use to keep my wallet, keys and cell phone in. 

[hoosierbass07]

Yes that is exactly the reason.  If you anchoring even in what feels like light current can cause problems pretty quickly.  When i anchor in current which is extremely rare it has to be directly off the stern or bow of the kayak.  If it is off to one side or another you can very easily be swamped or flipped.  It is also critical to have a quick release system and a fixed blade sharp knife to cut the line should things get ugly.

 

Thanks for the info.

[MikeinFresno]

I use a soft, insulated lunch bag that has the hard plastic insert inside it. I keep mine in the well behind the seat or where the crate would go. Water gets in there and if you dont have the hard insert the water will migrate into your bag and suck the cold right out of your ice bag. Put a float on the end of your anchor rope too so you can retireve it if you have to let it go. Make the rope 1/2 again longer than you would ever expect to need for your depth so as you drift out at a 45* angle you still have rope left. I use a small water proof bag for my keys, wallet and cell. I keep it in my PFD so if a turn over it is still with me.

[Nelson Wormefeller]

Oh, 1 thing I forgot to mention is if you think you are going to be kayaking alone in an area where there might not be other people, let someone at home know you're going out and what time you will be back. It may sound silly at first, but it can get a little creepy sometimes when you are alone and it's totally quiet and you think about what would happen if you flipped over and got hurt somehow or lost your phone.  Better safe than sorry I say.

[Phillip K]

 Have any of your heard of a Mantus anchor before? 

 For kayaks?

[kikstand454]

Welcome to your new addiction!

Lets see-

Anchor- I never use one. Not a conventional one anyway. Stakeout pole and tree anchor solves 99% of my anchoring situations. However- if you need one, either a bruce claw or a rubber dumbbell is the way to go. You simply must have an anchor trolley. Or two. I can't imagine fishing without one.

Scupper holes- completely safe for you to plug your scupper holes. Your yak PROBABLY isn't going to sink even if you fill the cockpit completely full of water. The amount of air trapped in the hull will keep it buoyant at LEAST. If your HULL is taking on water- the the scupper plugs arentgoing to help you anyway. Keep an extra absorbant sponge in the cockpit hatch to get excess paddle water out.

Cooler- I use the soft cooler bags you can find in you're supermarket freezer section. Two- one inside the other, both half filled with ice- if its really hot. This will keep ice all day. I sit it right under my legs at the base of my seat and it keeps me cool all day too. I like the Walmart ones because the Velcro is strong. ( this is also where I put any fish iI'm taking home).

Car Keys- I put my wallet and keys in a dry bag and then in the hatch behind the seat. I put my phone in one of those waterproof packages that lets you use the phone through the front, and then put it in that hatch as well.

Hope that helps.