How much anchor line do you usually carry? I understand it might be different from lake to lake, but in general how much line to have to anchor down with?  Or do you anchor at all? =)

Sippi

Your anchor line should be 5 x the depth you want to drop your anchor in.

The water down here never gets deeper than 20 ft so I carry 100 ft of anchor line.

Brute

I anchor in 20' with 30' of rope 

Your anchor line should be 5 x the depth you want to drop your anchor in.

The water down here never gets deeper than 20 ft so I carry 100 ft of anchor line.

Brute

Correct formula. Also remember to add @ 5' of  heavy chain between anchor and rode (the anchor line). The chain keeps the anchor arm down on the bottom so it's flukes can get a good bite. I anchor bow and stern when fishing overnight to keep boat from spinning on the anchor line and tangling fishing lines.

Guys we aint anchoring the USS Enterprise, 100 foot of rope is totally unnecessary

It has to do with the correct angle of your rode to allow the anchor to hold firmly and not pull loose or drag across the bottom in wind or current. If the anchor rode goes straight down in the water your anchor will not get a good bite on the bottom.The anchor shaft MUST lay flat on the bottom for the flukes to get a proper bite, therefore the chain and length formula of rode. I normally anchor for the night in @ 20 feet of water. I let out @ 80 feet of rode fore and @ 60 feet aft, bow into the current, or more frequently, the wind. If the wind is strong I'm not on the water anyway.

These are anchoring rules I learned when I was a teenager fishing saltwater in Florida. This information can be found in the U.S.C.G. boating handbook.

Sure you can get away with less under ideal conditions, but when you find yourself drifting when the wind comes up strong that's not a good time for "wish I had more rode".

I'm not trying to be smart ***, just trying to give good advice from experience.

Our reservoirs here in Arizona exceed 100 feet in depth. I certainly don't anchor in those depths, but striper fishing may easily be in 80 feet of water. I have 250 feet of rode on each anchor. Both are 10 pound "navy" type anchors. My boat is fiberglass, 16 feet long.

Happy fishing.

My boat is a 1996 Stratos that is 15' 5" long and I can anchor solid with a 20 lb tri-fluted river anchor in 20' of water with as little a 25' of rope. Winds under 15 mph are none issuse, anything above yes.

If you use a 10 lb anchor then yes you will need 80' of rope but you will be 60' off your intended structure.

Happy fishing.

Wow! A lot of great information. However, there is "theory" and there is "reality". I offer "my" reality: I fish a large, deep reservoir for smallies. I anchor my 15' aluminum boat, quite often, in 30' - 45' of water. (I do a lot a lot drop shotting here.) I have 100' of 3/8" braided nylon rope, attached to a 3' section of heavy chain and a 5#, slip ring, fluke anchor.

Been anchoring this way for over 20 years with no problems. This particular anchor is 11 years old. Have never lost it to stump - yet (and there are plenty of them to loose an anchor to!). Hanging a slip ring anchor is an easy out; just move out straight from the hang - motor a semi-circle 180 degrees from the hang - and pull free. Simple....effective.

I let out the anchor until it hits bottom. Then let out another 5' or so. That's it. No problems....no worries. It's that simple. Please...do NOT over think anchoring!