I’m fishing out of a 7’ inflatable boat. I anchor all the time with a 8 lb mushroom anchor. Otherwise in minutes I’ll be in the overhanging tree limbs. 

I carry an anchor for real windy days but noticed the way the wind usually blows on the lake and bought a drift sock to slow down the effect of the wind to slowly cover the shoreline.

12 lb river anchor probably every time I've been out.  The wind is always trying to push me into something I don't want to get into.

I'm old school and grew up using anchors in tailraces and heavy current, then went to pinpoint fishing for crappie and installed two one frt. and one rear to hold specific positions. Now bass fishing almost totally I have used the dual anchor concept for wind, current, and holding a spot on points and structure.

 

I will add that anchormates make the anchoring much neater, smoother, and quicker. You can ease them into the water without the splash and drop to bottom and pull off slack to move boat exactly where you want it. They hold 100' of rope for deep spots, and if you're in silt or muck when you wind in just leave it below surface and it will wash clean quickly just moving a couple boat lengths. No rope to trip on or anchors in the way when fishing either, I can anchor the boat with both anchors in just 2-3 minutes. 

Seeing as how I cannot (or will not) afford a talon or power pole (or two), I do still anchor from time to time.  I am not outstanding with boat control on windy days and an anchor usually will do the job I ask of it.  Of course, "my" lakes aren't smooth rock bottoms where an anchor won't hold so there's that.

On 10/12/2020 at 2:20 PM, wis bang said:

I carry an anchor for real windy days but noticed the way the wind usually blows on the lake and bought a drift sock to slow down the effect of the wind to slowly cover the shoreline.

Me too.  I fish from a kayak and prefer to keep moving more often than not.  Especially in the shallows.  But sometimes I'll find some deep structure I want to hit, and an anchor is usually my best means of doing that.