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I have owned freshwater boats for over 40 years and have never had a need for an anchor. I am now starting to do some inshore saltwater fishing and find that at times I will need an anchor. I have searched this forum and find a lot of information about anchors and anchor ropes but not any information as to how to set the anchor. I will be anchoring in water less than 30 feet. Do you just drop the anchor over and let the current take you away from the anchor then tie the rope off? Or is there more that I need to know.
the first way to get a really good anchor set is have the right tackle. If you are going to buy an danforth and they recommend a certain size for your boat, get the next size up. Also use as much chain as the lentgh of your boat. 90% of your anchoring problems are solved already.
I'm sure someone will come along and quote you some finer detailed article, but suffice to say
1. pull ahead of where you want to anchor
2.drop the anchor over and let the line pay out. It helps if someone can slowly back down the boat in reverse.
3. When you have let out at least 60-90 feet of line in 30 foot of water, it should "snug" and the anchor should set. Tie it off and go fishing...
You need to have enough line for 3-5 times the depth you plan on anchoring. The heavier the seas the more scope you need to have. Also figure a good length of chain (minimum 6 feet; preferably 15) between your anchor line and anchor. Most of the boating supplies catalogs have charts for the right size anchor/rope/chain for all sizes of boats.
Do not skimp on the anchor size.
Deployment is as easy as you like to make it. You can drop it over and let the tide take you or point into the tide, drop the hook and power back to set it.
Mostly depends on how precise you need to be on anchor. But for the most part, yes, drop over side, do not throw. If you throw the anchor there is a chance the chain or rode will hang in the flukes and then you will never be able to set the anchor.
Drop anchor, power or just drift back to set the hook , have proper scope (5-7 x's depth of water)
The above advice is correct. One other suggestion, an anchor ball and sliding attachment make retrieving the anchor alot easier. They are available at most marine supply stores and the instructions for use are very simple.
Like the others say, just ease it over the bow and when it hits bottom, let the boat drift back or nudge the engine in reverse a time or two to get a bit of sternway on. You'll feel the anchor set, and then let out enough line so you have around a 5:1 ratio of line to depth (called "scope") before you secure it to the bitt or cleat. If you feel the anchor drag or bounce on the bottom, haul it up and do it again. If the wind is strong, you may be drifting faster than the anchor can hit bottom and set.
If you have an outboard with a cut out transom, DO NOT anchor from the stern, especially if you are in an area with a lot of boat traffic.
Retrieving the anchor is also a learning experience. Haul the line in until it's straight up and down. It should break out from the bottom. You may have to gently nudge the boat forward over the anchor if it's really dug in. As soon as it breaks loose, put the engine in neutral to prevent the line and anchor from coming up quickly and fouling your prop.
I think setting an anchor relies on two main things.........
Scope (length of anchor rope) is very important. At least 5 x's the depth of the water, 30 ft of water =150 ft of scope..........
The correct type of anchor for the type of bottom is also very important. A Danforth style isn't going to set well in hard or rocky terrain, while a Fisherman style works great in rocks, it's heavy as he11.
Another thought about anchors is storage aboard when not in use......
Brittany's and Danforth's swivel and can usually be maneuvered into tight anchor lockers, but the moving parts are NOT finger friendly (Ask my son, the anchor stower).....Bruce anchors, however, are probably easiest to set and work in the widest variety of bottom types but are a little bulky
That's the way I see it anyway, but I've got the purple dinosaur so what do I know?
Be sure to secure the end of the rode BEFORE dropping the anchor in. You can always shorten the scope, but once you at the bitter end of the rode it can be hard to hold onto on any type if current.
Make sure the chain is still attached to the anchor, ie hasn't come loose, before allowing your friend to toss the anchor over. Pretty disheartening to yell stop just as the bare anchor drops into the water never to be seen again.
What kind of boat??? If you fish in-shore in the flats (less than six foot) you may want to look into a power pole. This is alot more convenient in shallow water, saves time and effort, however will not work in depths greater than 6ft depending on model. I have had great luck with my fortress anchor and I use a retrieve ball, great system. Practice makes perfect. Also when wreck fishing learn how to read your bottom machine as it relates to your boat, ie when your machine picks up the wreck where is it in relation to your boat. Many mark the wreck with a float first and drift on a practice run to see how the boat will line up with the float, anchoring at the correct position the first time is a great feeling.
You guys have it ALL wrong. Have you not seen how 90% of boaters do it?
Race up to the area where you want to anchor being sure to rock everyone else who might be in the area.
Stop where you want to anchor.
Run up to the bow because you have not prepared the anchor for deployment.
Get anchor, chain if attatched, & line out of storage locker. It is in a big knotted mess the way you left it last time.
Now you are ready to deploy anchor but the boat has drifted 30' or more form where you wanted to drop the anchor.
No problem. Just throw the whole knotted & tangled mess in the direction you wanted it to be. The anchor God will untangle it on the way down.
Be sure to let out at least 14/1 scope. This way you will be sure to interfere with others in the anchorage IF by some miracle the anchor DOES hold when the weight of the boat pulls on it.
No worry, you will be sure that this does not happen. You will 'set' the anchor by applying at least half throttle in reverse which is something like hurricane force pressure without the engine.
Now that you are happily dragging through the anchorage looking around like everyone else is somehow is at fault it is time to fire up & actually anchor properly.
To do this much hp will be needed as well as the help of crew, preferably somebody you can shout at, to try to cover up your total incompetance at the very simple job of anchoring a boat. The Admiral or a child is best for this stage of the excerise.
To the entertainment of all around, sooner or later you will figure this simple job out or give up & go home blaming the bottom, the anchor, the crew, anyone or thing but yourself or get it stuck after which you will constantly 'check' it for the rest of the day.
Proper method to set anchor 
If you throw the anchor there is a chance the chain or rode will hang in the flukes and then you will never be able to set the anchor.
