I wnet fishing today in my Eagle 9 inflatable.  I shouldn't have, because the winds were 15-30 mph. In order to fish selected areas I would drop the anchor.  I HAD an old fluted anchor that weighed about 5 lbs.  Long story made short, I was fishing in a small rocky lake and the anchor got hung up to the point that there was no way I could retrieve it.  I finally had to cut the rope.  Okay, now I need a new anchor.  Will a say, 5 lb. mushroom anchor be adeqate for my needs in both rocky and muddy bottoms, or should I look at the mushroom with the large V's cut into it?  Another fluted anchor is out of the question, but any other recommendation would be very much appreciated.  I remember reading on this forum recently that someone uses a bag of sand.

I use an anchor more than most people and I prefer the river anchor  8-)

River anchor is really good, but for an inflatable you only need a small mushroom.

I guess I am thrifty (see cheap) ;D

I made my anchors.   I took 2 3 lb. plastic coffee cans?  Filled them with concrete and put a stainless eye bolt in the center with washers and but on the end  to anchor it in the concrete once it dried.  Weighs about 6 -8 lbs. and if I have to cut the rope for any reason,, I am out,, ummmmm about 3 bucks.....

Since your boat is small I would go with any mushroom, river or even the concrete anchors suggested. Fluke anchors can be a real pain if your boat doesn't have the power to unseat them. I would also stay away from Danforth or the "grappling" hook type anchors. I use a small mushroom for my little boat and for my big boat I use a Fluke forward and a mushroom aft to hold it where I want it.

Thanks for the input guys.  I'm going to go with the mushroom anchor.  I found one at Academy for $13.00.  If I lose this one, I will be a concrete anchor guy 'til hell freezes over.

Mike