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You need a kayak anchor kit if you tend to do a lot of kayak fishing in dynamic currents or winds. It allows you to make a stop at various points on flowing water and you can conveniently take some time to make a catch or two – all without worrying about floating away from your target!
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I have written this post to cover EVERYTHING you need to know about anchor kits for your fishing kayak. In this post, I’ve included all the helpful, not to mention useful, information and have fragmented it into small sections so it becomes understandable and easy to follow!
I’ll start by describing some of the basics associated with a general kayak anchor kit. Then, I’ll list down some important points teaching you how to use a kayak anchor kit – if you follow these points, you’ll be up and running in no time!
The following section includes a list of ALL of the MOST important features that you need to consider when buying a kayak anchor kit. If you find an anchor kit that has most, or even better all, of these features, then you’ll almost certainly be completely thrilled with your purchase!
Afterward, you’ll get to know highlights of what I feel is the best kayak anchor kit, including an in-depth review for your convenience and better understanding. Look, by no means is this particular model the ONLY awesome kayak anchor kit – but it is certainly among the best and has served me quite well!
To guide you further, I’ll also list down the pros and cons – I like learning from pro and con lists, so I hope you do too. All this information will be available in the section titled “My Experience”. Ok, ready to get started?
Related: Interested in kayak fishing when the temperatures turn cooler? Check out our guide on Kayak Fishing in Cold Weather!
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A kayak anchor kit is one of the most important tools for you to consider when you are building out your collection of kayak fishing gear. You can easily drop your anchor wherever you want to stop and start fishing a particular spot. Therefore, it is a must-have accessory for any kayak fisherman – regardless of level of skill or experience. In fact, it is one of the purchases we suggest making at the very beginning of your kayak fishing career!
Now, it does require some experience when it comes to installing the kayak anchor kit on the kayak itself. Most of the kits come with their own instruction guides, but you’ll definitely want to be sure of this before making the purchase decision. Closely following these guidelines will get you through the process with ease! We like to think our checklist (below) provides a bunch of helpful hints as well – just in case you get stuck!
Using a kayak anchor kit is pretty simple – great news for you and me! You just have to drop the anchor at a suitable point and pull it back up after finishing – not bad huh? There are different kinds, shapes, and sizes of kayak anchor kits available on the market. Just make sure that you pick the right one for your kayak – and don’t worry, we are here to help you!
DO NOT go for excessively large and heavy anchor kits. Their large weight and size will disallow you from using them comfortably or really even effectively for that matter. You also need to be watchful about its cleaning and maintenance. Yes, rusting and corrosion can be an issue. Most kayak anchor kits are made of metals, but some of them are also made of plastic (we suggest the metal ones, as you’ll learn below).
Side Note: Want to take your small child onto the water with you? Get them started by showing them how to use a Kayak Fishing Net! We have even written a thorough review on the Best Kayak Fishing Net!
Installing a kayak anchor kit is nothing different from installing a kayak anchor trolley on your kayak. You just have to add the anchor at the end of the rope, and that’s all. If you are an experienced kayak fisherman then this is just a piece of cake for you. But there are some technical measurements for a beginner! Let’s take a look at each of them.
In addition to your included instructions, here is a step by step guide to everything you need to know about installing your kayak anchor kit:
Side Note: If you liked this “how to” guide, you might also like learning How to Use Kayak Outriggers, How to Use Kayak Paddle Grips, or How to Use a Kayak Fishing Net!
There are several important points to consider before buying a kayak anchor kit! I have listed them below to make sure that you pick the right anchor according to your needs. If you find an anchor kit that has a majority of these features, you can rest easy in knowing that it is well suited for kayak fishing purposes!
You have to be sure that the design of your kayak anchor kit is straightforward, enough so that it becomes effortless for you to use!
Even if you are “hands-on” in handling these things, you will still benefit from an anchor kit that is easy to install, deploy, operate, lift and finally, clean!
Therefore, the materials should be top-notch so the anchor kit can continue to work no matter what. Go for a nylon rope as it can hold up very well against the continued dampness that this accessory is likely to see in its lifetime. The pulleys and rings must be made of hard plastic or rubber – they stand up better to the test of time.
The question, “What materials have been used in the creation of these kayak anchor kits,” is very important.
Your kayak anchor kit will be exposed to the outdoors. Water and sun will be the elements that it will have to interact with the most – it is kayak fishing, after all!
If these pieces are are made of metals, they must have some protective coating on them! The anchor itself needs to be made of metals and it must also have some kind of coating over it to prevent any water damage. Metals are prone to rusting (if left wet for extended periods of time). Be sure to combat this by wiping the anchor dry after each use (before storing it in a cool, dry place).
The anchor kit needs to be very flexible in design so you can comfortably install and use it irrespective of the flow of water or the direction of the wind. Most kids have some kind of variability in terms of use, but you’ll want to avoid the anchor thats that do not.
As a kayak fisherman, you’ll need to be able to adjust to changing wind and water currents – a quality kayak anchor kit will accord you the flexibility. A lesser quality kayak anchor kit will leave you hung out to dry!
Also, make sure that you go for a kayak anchor kit that is compatible with the design of the stern of your kayak! Otherwise, you will have a lot of problems using your anchor kit – and your kayak won’t be too happy with you either!
For this, you need to make sure that a kayak anchor kit is compatible with your kayak design. We include some tips below but, in advance, you should knot that it largely depends on aligning the size of your kayak with the weight of your kayak anchor kit! Don’t mix a light kayak with a heavy anchor, and vice versa!
Side Note: If you are here, you are serious about taking your kayak fishing game to the next level. See if a Sit-In Kayak Seat Cushion is the accessory you need to stay on the water longer! Learning How to Install Kayak Paddle Grips is another great step in furthering your kayak fishing “know how”!
The kayak anchor kit that I recommended (depicted above) is also one of the best kits for entry-level use! It is made of good quality materials and it will withstand the outdoors quite well – to to mention a little “punishment” from being dropped or dinged from time to time).
The kit is next to effortless to set up – certainly one of the most straightforward kits on the market in terms of ease of installation. You’ll find all the installation instructions in the manual that comes with your purchase. It is pretty helpful in getting things done (though you’ll want to check our “how to” guide above for any areas where you have uncertainty).
The kit also includes all the hardware that you need to install it! This is really, really important. You DO NOT want a kayak anchor kit that doesn’t have the included mounting hardware. Believe it or not, some kits are sold WITHOUT this hardware – AVOID!
Just keep in mind that this kit is for shallow waters as it features a lightweight anchor. You’ll also want to pair it with a light to medium weight kayak. It would not be a suitable kayak anchor kit for heavy currents and deep waters!
This kayak anchor kit can brilliantly withstand the external elements. The nylon rope is pretty sturdy and the anchor itself is built to last, featuring foldable blades that make it very easy to store (a great bonus for kayak fishermen, as “extra space” really comes at a premium).
Nothing in this kit is made of low-quality materials and if you are looking for a good budget option to work at an entry-level then there is nothing better than this anchor kit. It is also very flexible in use and you can maintain different positions on the water while fishing.
It is very easy to install on a range of different kayaks because it goes well with most of the designs. One of the best features of this kit is the instruction manual which I think is good for you to use even if you are a first-time user of these kits.
I hope that this guide about kayak anchor kits proves to be very useful for anyone looking to buy these kits for the first time. I have included all the information that you need to follow and sift through – but if you’ve found something that you’d like some more color on, be sure to post your question in the Comments section below so I can help you out!
You can go with my recommendation in terms of kayak anchor kits or you can try another one that you are interested in. Just know that the showcased model of kayak anchor kit is highly versatile and has the easiest installation I’ve ever seen. You’ll like the neat and clean look!
So do you like my recommendation? Have you ever used a kayak anchor kit before? Maybe you have used the kit that I have recommended above? Or maybe you have used a different one? Care to share your favorite recommendations on this platform…? Please share by posting on the Comments board below! We read and reply to every comment and LOVE interacting with the kayak fishing community!
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