How To Rig A Kayak Grapnel “Grapple” Anchor Like A Pro [VIDEO]
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Kayak Fishing, Product Reviews
It’s the worst feeling…
You begin pulling on the anchor line to retrieve your anchor but it won’t move.
Regardless if you are moving to a new spot, pulling anchor to get away from a storm, or just heading in for the day, there is nothing worse that an anchor that is stuck to the bottom.
Especially if you are in a kayak out fishing by yourself.
Regarding kayaks, one of the most popular anchors for a kayak is the grapnel anchor (pronounced “grapple anchor”).
Grapnel anchors are perfect for kayakers because they fold up nicely (see above pic), they aren’t very expensive, and they work incredibly well.
But what we’ve seen is that many kayak anglers aren’t using them correctly.
Check out the video below to see the two different tips on maximizing the use of your grapnel anchor:
- Tying your anchor rope to the bottom while using a zip-tie as a breakaway mechanism in case your anchor ever gets stuck
- Having a buoy plus breakaway rope in case you need to chase down a big fish and don’t want to lose your spot
Note: As anglers, we have a duty to keep our waters clean so only use the breakaway method when you are 100% stuck. The last thing we need is a bunch of zip-ties scattered all over the ocean floor (but we also don’t need a bunch of anchors on the ocean floor either).
Kayak Grapnel Anchor Trick
Conclusion
As you saw in the video, you can easily rig your grapnel anchor into a breakaway anchor with nothing but a zip tie.
Note: We have also used light monofilament fishing line instead of a zip tie (best to use under 10lbs so it breaks without you flipping over your kayak).
You can also hold on to your spot with the use of a small buoy and a breakaway line.
Do you have any cool kayak anchoring tips?
Let us know in the comments.
Related Post: “Cool Trick To Stand Up Fish From Your Kayak Without Spooking The Fish” (watch it here now)
P.S. – If you think your angler friends or fishing networks would like to see this, please Tag them or Share this with them. You Rock! Pa-POW!
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Tony, what size (weight) grapnel anchor do you recommend? I have a 13’ kayak and live in windy Corpus Christi.
Hey Chris!
I use a 3lb. If you have trouble with that style anchor you may want to try a “plow” style anchor.
This tip about 6 months ago would have saved me a few bucks! You don’t know what you don’t know until you need to know it I guess. Going to re-rig my anchors in the A.M., thanks for yet another helpful tip! Also good looking out on the double tie trick to keep the plastic out of the water. Loving the community.
Glad it can help, Josh! Thank you for the great feedback!
Nice short and way helpful.
Thank you for the great feedback!
I have a question about the sliding “cuff” part that you turn to lock in to place once the anchor is open. If the cuff gets locked down (instead of letting it slide freely), then won’t it be difficult or hard to free the anchor after the zip tie breaks? It seems to me that the points would still stay open and not fold back up as you tried to free it. I’m just trying to think this through. Thanks, guys!
Hey Steve,
Once the zip tie has broken, it allows you to pull the anchor from the bottom, so the arms of the anchor don’t necessarily have to close to get it free. Just the act of pulling the anchor from the bottom as opposed to the top allows it to come free. Same concept as if you were trying to pull a hook out of something. You can pull all you want from the eye of the hook and it won’t come free, but if you were to pull from the bottom (or the curve) of the hook, it would come out.
The problem with your idea is that you’re leaving the zip tie in our waterways and the pieces of monofilament I will post some pictures coming up of the proper way without littering our waterways. Should have went down further I seen Michael Eggers post I’m with you
Yep Michael makes a great point. You can use a larger zip tie to hold the smaller one on either to the rope or the anchor itself. Thanks for the feedback Sean!
You can use a heavier zip tie to hold the break away zip tie to the anchor. That way it stays with the anchor not in the water. 😉
Great tip Michael!
Great idea, thanks for the tip..
Great tip on using the zip tie… I’ve had to break a few in the past!! & i always keep an extra bundle of them in my tackle bag!