Drifting in Jonbaot while anchored

[airborne_angler]

I had a doozy of a time yesterday trying to stay put in my Jon Boat even with the anchor dropped. While I can understand drifting when its windy,its hard to grasp why im drifting when theres no wind.

Is it just the shift in weight as I cast? I kept needing to reposition myself and it meant pulling up the anchor,turning the boat,moving a few feet several times per hour . Just got frustrating to try to get back on that "sweet spot" I wanted to fish.

My Jon is 10' long. I sit in the back,thats where the trolling motor,battery and anchor point is. It still drifts and spins with another grown adult on board with me.

Would it make a difference to put the anchor point up front?

I believe my anchor is just heavy enough. Im using  a used front brake rotor(full floater type,no grease involved whatsoever) off my Ford truck. Id estimate it weighs at least 10lbs. Anything heavier just makes it difficult and tiring to haul up when I spend a full day on the lake.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the boat from spinning when im fishing?

*Disclaimer* I mention the Brake rotor is of the full floating type,so I dont give anyone the indication I may be polluting the lake with the wheel bearing grease in the rotor. In this type of rotor there is no grease...The rotor came off a 4WD truck and just slides on and off the lug nut studs once the caliper is removed from the vehicle. Im using it because it was worn out and was going to go in the trash anyway,so why not put it to use?

[Gatorbassman]

Get a second anchor and tie it off to the other half of the boat. Put it out at a 45 to 90 degree angle from the first anchor.

[Travlin_Man]

I think you need to get an anchor that's designed to to be an anchor not to stop a vehicle. Also how much line did you let out in relation to the water depth? It should be at least  7 to 1.

[Catt]

I think you need to get an anchor that's designed to to be an anchor not to stop a vehicle. Also how much line did you let out in relation to the water depth? It should be at least 7 to 1.

Exactly with one exception I don't buy into this 7 to 1 rope length; if I'm anchored in 15' of water I only use 25' of rope but I use a Tri-fluted River anchor designed to dig in.

[airborne_angler]

I wasnt aware of the 7:1 ratio. What is meant by that? What I do is I find an area I want to fish,Drop anchor to the bottom and then take the slack and tie it off. I still end up drifting and if im not driting then im spinning in circles. I tend to drift everytime I move around in my seat to make a cast or something.

So what am I doing wrong in my scenario?

[Long Mike]

The general rule of thumb is the you let out 7 feet of anchor rope for every foot of water depth.  This allows the anchor to dig in to the bottom. Instead of being dragged along in a near vertical position

[Catt]

So y'all are telling me if I anchor in 15' of water I need 105' of rope

I've anchored a 2007 Skeeter 22I with a 2007 Yamaha 300 3.3L V Max HPDI in 15' of water with only 25' of rope, 20 lb tri-fluted river anchor and never moved until I pulled up anchor.

[Bassn Blvd]

I agrre with catt.  I have a 19' tracker and a 10' john.  Don't have a problem anchoring unless its real windy and all i use is a 10 lb mushroom anchor.  The 7 to 1   or 10 to 1 rule I think applies mostly in saltwater where you have strong currents.  try6 a different kind of anchor.   If my 10 lb mushroom won't hold my john in 5-15' of water with 25' of rope then it tooooo darn windy to fish. out of a john anyway.

[Catt]

Airborne your problem is you're are not using an anchor, a brake rotor will do nothing but slide along the bottom. An anchors holding power comes from its ability to dig into the bottom not from its weight.

This 7' or 10' to 1 is when you're mooring a boat in heavy seas for riding out a storm, a short anchor rope with an anchor dug in rough seas will hold the bow down causing waves to come over the bow, where as a long rope will allow the bow to raise and fall with the waves.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

And it will have a much greater chance of biting in.  It's called "scope"

Never anchor off your stern, always off the bow.  Drift anchors are different, they can be run off the side, weather permitting.

[IneedAnewScreenName9886691]

I agree with above.  Maybe not 7 to 1 but it sounds like you need to have more slack than you are currently using.  Also, get you a real anchor if possible.  

Good luck!  

[Long Mike]

I agree with the majority.  The "general rule of thumb" was from www.boat-ed.com.  Personally, I anchor with about a 2 to 1 ratio.  It works on the lakes I fish. But then I use a real anchor.

[Catt]

Long Mike you link is excellent but what it teaches on anchoring is during rough weather not fishing conditions. If you anchor in heavy swells then yes you will need a longer rope but generally when it's that rough I aint gonna be on the main lake.