TexasKayakFisherman.com est. 2000

[txbirdman01]

wanted to know what type of rope yall use. How long should it be, for either salt or freshwater? what should the weight capacity be for the rope? Or what kind of rope shoudlnt it be. thanks

mike.

[Fin-Addict]

I use 4mm rope for ALL kayak rigging.

[F.O.C.]

I use an old cast net rope or an old ski rope. Then a bungee cord with a piece of pool noodle and a caribiner at the end. The bungee softens the jolt when its windy and helps keeps the anchor from losing its grip.

[Z~MAN]

FOnC...

Any pics of your set up?
Interesting!

[txbirdman01]

ok, so the bungee attaches to one end of the rope, and then the other end attaches to the anchor? what length or rope should i use. What length is commonly used. Also, i bought a twisted poly-pro multi purpose rope. It says medium load, up to 106lb limit. will that do?

[F.O.C.]

FOnC...

Any pics of your set up?
Interesting!

Here are some instructions and pics for you guys. I hope I don't bore you. The rope I use is 14 feet long. Sometimes its way too long, sometimes its not long enough. The order of the pics might be backwards. sorry still learning

[F.O.C.]

FOnC...

Any pics of your set up?
Interesting!

Here are some instructions and pics for guys. I hope I don't bore you. The rope I use is 14 feet long. Sometimes its way too long, sometimes its not long enough. The order of the pics might be backwards. sorry still learning

[sandersvip]

A nylon rope works great, doesn't need to be no larger than 3/8 in. Length depends on the area you fish, it is better to have to much and shorten it if you need to than to not have enough to reach bottom, been there before. I also hook my rope on with a "D" ring and have a float off a fish stringer slide onto the rope so I can unhook the "D" ring and toss the anchor rope overboard if I have a big fish. I have lost big fish when they get wrapped around the rope. The float lets you go for a ride, take care of the fish and then return to your float and secure your anchor line.

[F.O.C.]

A nylon rope works great, doesn't need to be no larger than 3/8 in. Length depends on the area you fish, it is better to have to much and shorten it if you need to than to not have enough to reach bottom, been there before. I also hook my rope on with a "D" ring and have a float off a fish stringer slide onto the rope so I can unhook the "D" ring and toss the anchor rope overboard if I have a big fish. I have lost big fish when they get wrapped around the rope. The float lets you go for a ride, take care of the fish and then return to your float and secure your anchor line.

I do the same thing when I hook up with a big gar. works great!

[Z~MAN]

Thanx for the info and pics!

Z-Man

[txbirdman01]

Thanks for all the comments. The pics reallly help me. Thanks. and keep them coming. It seems that everyone has a really cool and different way to rig thier yak. I was wondering, with the anchor down, woudln't it give you some extra leverage for catching a big fish. (keep in mind that i have yet to catch a big fish on a yak, and that I've never fished at the coast from a yak.)

mike.

[F.O.C.]

Thanks for all the comments. The pics reallly help me. Thanks. and keep them coming. It seems that everyone has a really cool and different way to rig thier yak. I was wondering, with the anchor down, woudln't it give you some extra leverage for catching a big fish. (keep in mind that i have yet to catch a big fish on a yak, and that I've never fished at the coast from a yak.)

mike.

I'm sure mine would help. We used to tie bicycle tubes when I was a kid to the bridge rail and when a gar or big cat would hit it stretched the tube and fought it till it got tired. I would rather go for a texas sleigh ride though!

[sandersvip]

In the surf I wouldn't put an anchor down. My wife has almost been pulled under by big fish that get underneath and make a run, drag setting is very important. She has also been spooled and pulled up and down the beach in big circles from one cut to the next. I think one the last things you want to happen 200 yards off the beach is for a 4 foot blacktip or 60 pound stingray to get rapped around your anchor rope, even if you cut your line the fish may still be tangled with your rope.

[ryderredfish]

For a newnie these are great ideas for rigging, just wanted to say thanks.

[JimD]

Check Captain Jack's article. He has been doing this longer than anyone else. In articles above.

[Kalait]

In the surf I wouldn't put an anchor down. My wife has almost been pulled under by big fish that get underneath and make a run, drag setting is very important. She has also been spooled and pulled up and down the beach in big circles from one cut to the next. I think one the last things you want to happen 200 yards off the beach is for a 4-foot blacktip or 60-pound stingray to get wrapped around your anchor rope, even if you cut your line the fish may still be tangled with your rope.

For this reason, I am considering deploying a drift net when BYB, debating the size I will be using for my Ocean Prowler 13. Thinking of no more than 25-feet of anchor line though.

[Ron Mc]

there's no reason to have a drift sock 25' from your boat.
Most of us run them 4' to 6' behind our boat.
Here's a much more recent discussion of how to incorporate a drift sock with a trolley:
http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2286526#p2286526


The short length working line combined with longer deployment line and trolley lets you get them out of the way in a hurry -
- even a slot redfish on the flats will go around the boat twice, so getting the drift sock into your lap before you get the redfish to the boat is a priority.



btw, a drift sock trolleyed to your stern is the best way to ride out a gale - this wall cloud squall had gusts hitting 35 kts
you can see it ripping water off the surface

[Kalait]

there's no reason to have a drift sock 25' from your boat.
Most of us run them 4' to 6' behind our boat.
Here's a much more recent discussion of how to incorporate a drift sock with a trolley:

viewtopic.php?p=2286526#p2286526


The short length working line combined with deployment line and trolley lets you get them out of the way in a hurry -
- even a slot redfish on the flats will go around the boat twice, so getting the drift sock into your lap before you get the redfish to the boat is a priority.



btw, a drift sock trolleyed to your stern is the best way to ride out a gale - this wall cloud squall had gusts hitting 35 knots

Thanks, that verifies my thoughts, I too will be staying within 6-feet of my yak.

[Ron Mc]

way cool, bro

You can also use your drift sock for sleigh-ride brakes on a big fish, just have to get it in before you get the fish to the boat.

[Kalait]

Getting a 30-inch drift sock from Bass Pro Shop, putting a 10-foot rope on it but having it out only 7 feet max. To prevent sock spin what size floats and weights should I use. The plan put 2 1 oz weights on the bottom webbing to the sock with floats on the top webbing to the sock. The Drift sock will be attached to my anchor trolly, with a back rope tied to the kayak mid-handle.

[Ron Mc]

Getting a 30-inch drift sock from Bass Pro Shop, putting a 10-foot rope on it but having it out only 7 feet max. To prevent sock spin what size floats and weights should I use. The plan put 2 1 oz weights on the bottom webbing to the sock with floats on the top webbing to the sock. The Drift sock will be attached to my anchor trolly, with a back rope tied to the kayak mid-handle.

you really don't need a lot of either - I definitely wouldn't use two ounces of weight - maybe 1/2- or 3/4 oz.
Then you need enough float to support that weight. All you're really trying to accomplish is a keel - I'm using a small cigar float on one side, with no added weight, but I also tend to fish skinny water, where weight might be a problem.

[Kalait]

Thanks, Ron, I will give the cigar float first then add the weight.