Hoping you guys can give me some advice on how heavy of anchor I need while fishing the Sky, Cowlitz or similar rivers.

That is a mighty big boat for a 45# cylinder anchor!! If you're trying to anchor in the main current, you might want to go to an anchor of rocking chair stlye, with 2-3 long tines. If the river is of gravel bottom this will hold a lot better than what you have. If the river is full of snags I would not use this style anchor, you may lose it. If you need a photo, let me know via e-mail, and I'll send you a photo of my anchor.

You need an anchor similar to this. My dad uses a 50lb EZ Marine stowable anchor with his 21' Inboard sled and it works fine in all conditions

I use a 55 pound cylinder anchor on my 19' TJ and have no problems with current so far. In faster water let out a little more rope so it bites in better. I typically fish the Snoho, Sky and Snoq. I went with the cylinder style as this won't hang up so easy on the bottom. Hope this helps. Take care and good luck

Doubletake

I use a 38 lb cylinder and a 28 lb rocking chair. The cylinder works in any water that a steelhead is likely to hold in. The 28 lb rocker works everywhere. If the water you are going to be in has mud or sand, a Danforth style anchor will work well.

If you are having problems with the anchor dragging, first thing to look at is, do you have enough rope out? You need at least 3 or 4 times the depth of the water, and you'll get best results with 7 to 10 times water depth.

Next, anchor style is more important than weight. The rocking chair style gets it's action from the tines. I know some folks have big heavy ones, but I don't think they are necessary. If you think about how they work, they need to be setting at an angle so that the tines dig in, and need to have enough weight to get the tines started. More is unnecessary. If the anchor doesn't hold, then what is needed is more tine length.

With the cylinder anchor, the anchor just lays in with the rocks, and meets resistance with the spikes and with the top edge. This anchor needs to be heavier, in order to lay in with the rocks. However, it's also going to benefit from having more rope out, as there will then be less upward force on the anchor, making it less likely to slip.

I don't think I'd want to lift a 55 lb very many times. The only reason I use the cylinder anchor at all is that it takes up less space and is a bit easier to keep from banging the side of the boat.

Finally, all anchors work better if you ease the boat onto the anchor when you have enough rope out. Use the motor to slow the boat down, and you may get better results.

SH bring up a good point, I had a 45 pound anchor on my last sled and it was bit much to pull up on a continuous basis. I have an elec. set up with the 55 pound (my wife bought it for me) so neither she or I have to pull it up. The 45 pound was as much as I would want to pull up throughout the day.
Easing on to the anchor also makes a big difference as to how well it bites.

Good luck

Doubletake

Full Freezer,

Sounds like our boats are very close in size. I run a 65# can style anchor on my 20' inboard. I did have to make a modification on the spikes to get it to hold though. Welded 2" X 2" X 1/4" pattles at a 45 degree angle to the spikes. Now it will stop the boat any place I drop it. As for sand on the Columbia I use the EZ Marine set up with 300' of 1/4" rope and a puller system.

Thanks everyone!

I guess i failed to mention i also have a 45lb. rocker style for the Columbia that works great there, but when I tried it in the Sky it just bounced over the rocks.

On my way down to the Lewis, knowing I would fish the Sky often this winter, I bought the heaviest one I could find in longview. It seemed not to hold as good as I thought it should. I do try to back down on it to apply the weight gradually.

Should I add about 10ft of chain to the cylinder or maybe weld some additional flanges or spikes?? I want this sucker to HOLD!

I would try welding on the added flanges to the anchor. Just make them at a 45 degrees to the anchor body. They only need to be a couple inches long. The problem with the chain is the roller on your bow set-up. If it is anything but a metal roller with a good bearing in it the chain will tear it up over time.

Thanks Fish4Fun & et al. :thumbs
I appreciate the good advice & will comply.

Hopefully avoiding a disaster those times I sleep aboard!

Full Freezer