I do alot of Tennessee River Fishing in current. Usually I drift with the current and use my trolling motor to regulate my drift speed but sometimes I want to toss out an anchor at certain spots. I have been reading about electric anchor winches but I'm concerned they may not have the strength to pull my boat against one to two MPH current to retrieve anchor even though I fish out of a vintage 15' Monarch fiberglass which may be lighter than todays 20 footers. Anyone have any experience with winch anchors and could point me in the right direction? At sixty something I'm beginning to tire of the rope pull.

Thanks and happy hooking!  

34 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I do alot of Tennessee River Fishing in current. Usually I drift with the current and use my trolling motor to regulate my drift speed but sometimes I want to toss out an anchor at certain spots. I have been reading about electric anchor winches but I'm concerned they may not have the strength to pull my boat against one to two MPH current to retrieve anchor even though I fish out of a vintage 15' Monarch fiberglass which may be lighter than todays 20 footers. Anyone have any experience with winch anchors and could point me in the right direction? At sixty something I'm beginning to tire of the rope pull.

Thanks and happy hooking!  

 

They come in all sizes, and most will have no problem, bringing up chain and anchor. The "correct" procedure is to idle the boat up to it, not to winch it up. You can set up multiple switches if you are really going to be anchoring a lot. I would also suggest a float ball. Its all on YT, as are all things these days. 

Are you at least a few miles away from the dam? Usually the anchor becomes property of Poseidon if you anchor up closer. One of the elite series guys, maybe sumerall, tried it below Wilson dam this year, he lost it real quick haha. I don’t know about your electric winch but doing what @Deleted accountsaid and idling up to the anchor should solve any problems. Fair warning, this is headed your way. Looked voluminous………….. There was a tornado of seagulls rejoicing 

19 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Are you at least a few miles away from the dam? Usually the anchor becomes property of Poseidon if you anchor up closer. One of the elite series guys, maybe sumerall, tried it below Wilson dam this year, he lost it real quick haha. I don’t know about your electric winch but doing what @Deleted accountsaid and idling up to the anchor should solve any problems. Fair warning, this is headed your way. Looked voluminous………….. There was a tornado of seagulls rejoicing 

 

If it's sticky bottom, a break-away grapple is the way to go. I volunteer to dive for any stainless ones with matching chain left at the bottom...

I'm looking for a retirement/vacation place, and I may be up that way in the spring.

Thanks guys!

I was looking for a solution that did not involve idling up to anchor. My thoughts were controlling everything from the bow of the boat facing the current. If that isn't possible then I'll just have to keep the manual retrieve going.

BTW I do not try to anchor in the tailwater. This is a couple miles or more downstream. 

Minn Kota makes electric anchor winches with remote that operates next to the TM.

Tom

Good news about anchors that hold in mud or grass. I designed my own. Piece of S S shaft 2" to 2.5" in diameter. About 12 # . Buy & weld a S S eyebolt on 1 end.  Done.  It WILL slide thru all weeds & dig into the bottom enough to hold in 6" plus waves. I use it all the time on a 16' Lowe Aluminum with 30 hp motor with 18 gallons of fuel.  220# of me. armed chair,  Bimini top.  4 other standard anchors 10 # each, car battery.  I had used a key FOB winch rated for 20 pounds. Many years ago. Well known brand. But NOISEY cheap gear mesh.

I can find it if needed.

 

 

EDit   Web search....   small boat anchor winch  .....Enjoy

Anchoring is another skill forgotten by bass anglers. We have spot lock TM’s now.

The basics are 7:1 Scope, each foot of water you let out 7’ of rope.

Bill Murphy in his book In Pursuit of Giant Bass has a chapter on anchoring and his anchor design worth reading.

I grew up working at a boat landing using 20lb Navy anchors in the rental boats with 100’ of 3/4”manila rope.

Electric anchor winches usually have 3/8” nylon rope. Several brands available.

Tom

32 minutes ago, WRB said:

Anchoring is another skill forgotten by bass anglers. We have spot lock TM’s now.

The basics are 7:1 Scope, each foot of water you let out 7’ of rope.

Bill Murphy in his book In Pursuit of Giant Bass has a chapter on anchoring and his anchor design worth reading.

I grew up working at a boat landing using 20lb Navy anchors in the rental boats with 100’ of 3/4”manila rope.

Electric anchor winches usually have 3/8” nylon rope. Several brands available.

Tom

I don’t have spot lock but I have lots of anchors. They are a lot cheaper 

21 hours ago, WRB said:

Anchoring is another skill forgotten by bass anglers. We have spot lock TM’s now.

The basics are 7:1 Scope, each foot of water you let out 7’ of rope.

Bill Murphy in his book In Pursuit of Giant Bass has a chapter on anchoring and his anchor design worth reading.

I grew up working at a boat landing using 20lb Navy anchors in the rental boats with 100’ of 3/4”manila rope.

Electric anchor winches usually have 3/8” nylon rope. Several brands available.

Tom

 

Definitely a lost art.  When I was a kid we would make anchors from coffee cans, an eyelet bolt and concrete.  They looked something like this but we would cut the sides of the coffee can a little to make it look like a flower.  This would cause it to catch on something on the bottom.