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Anchoring While Perch Fishing in Lake ErieYou might be surprised at this article but I see a lot of fishermen being blown around the lake when they are clearly attempting to stay anchored while perch fishing in Lake Erie. This is likely because they are not equipped properly or not familiar with proper anchoring in deep water.
Anchoring in 60 Feet of Water is No Joke!It is extremely difficult to anchor properly in 60 feet of water while perch fishing on Lake Erie because it is usually windy. Wind will blow the boat around and produce sizable waves very quickly. If you want any success at perch fishing on Lake Erie, then it is important to be able to anchor your boat and get your line straight down to the bottom. Therefore, your technique needs to be flawless and safe, particularly if there are a lot of boats around. Recommended Anchor WeightThe first thing you need is a heavy enough anchor that will catch in the mud bottom of Lake Erie. The recommendation for minimum anchor weight is 1lb per foot of boat length. A heavier anchor is better. I use one that is slightly larger than is required for my boat to ensure it grabs the bottom. I also attach a length of stainless steel chain to my anchor and then connect it to my line. The chain keeps the anchor lying flat on the bottom, so it drags horizontally, and is more likely to dig in to the muddy bottom. Recommended Anchor Line LengthThe second and probably most important aspect to anchoring is length of line (rode) required to adequately hold your boat in place. The recommended length of anchor line is approximately 5 times the depth of water. So if you are in 60 feet of water, your line needs to be 300 feet long! This is no exaggeration. When the winds of Lake Erie get kicking, I have found that I have needed every foot! I have been out in some very rough conditions, when the bow is rising 2-3 feet and have remained stationary because I have enough line out on my anchor. Recommended Anchor Line Thickness and TypeThe third important aspect about anchoring is the thickness and type of rope required for anchoring. The rule of thumb for selecting the right thickness (diameter) is 1/8 inch rope diameter per 9 feet of boat length. Therefore a 27 foot boat requires a minimum anchor rope thickness of 3/8 inch. Equally important is the type of rope used for anchoring. You should use nylon rope because it stretches as the boat pulls on the anchor. The longer the line, the more stretching is possible, so this aspect becomes important when anchoring in deep water. This stretching reduces the jerking affect on the anchor and therefore the anchor is more likely to hold the bottom. The boat will also be less jerky and will be more stable in rough weather. For more information on anchoring equipment visit: How Much Anchor Rode Do I Need Here’s to Your Great Times and Tight Lines! Maddalena Environmental Inc. Al Maddalena |
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