Done Right shallow water anchor

[fishandkamp]

I run a 2010 Lowe Stinger 170 aluminum bass boat.  I equipped it with a Minn Kota electric anchor winch up next to the trolling motor. That thing works great in lakes, terrific if you want to anchor and retie or go get the truck at a ramp but now that I fish the upper Chesapeake Bay and Potomac Rive,r it is not the answer to boat control alone.  The hull weighs 1000 lbs and is super wide and stable but everything that makes it so hurts me when I want to park next to a dock and make multiple casts under it. The wind and tidal current just moves that boat too much.  I am thinking of installing a Down Right shallow water anchor setup on my trolling motor.  Anyone on here have any experience with one?  I have purchased one used Dig In brand pole , and plan on cutting it and installing the coupler that Max Gain systems sells.  It mates the two halves like a pool cue.  Then I would install a home made bracket to the back of the boat.  I am looking for cheaper alternatives to spending thousands of dollars on a set of power poles. The video looks like it is made well but I have never seen anyone use one.   

[attachment outdated - deleted by admin]

[31airborne]

I haven't seen or used the anchor you're talking about but I have 2 Power Poles on my sled and have used Talons on friends' rides.  Short answer is a shallow water anchor is ~a must-have, esp on the Upper Bay and Potomac.  I had a TX on the river weekend before last - our Power Poles stayed deployed.

As far as homemade options, I've used drift socks and ball-n-chain anchors in the past.  Sometimes they hold, but if the wind gets up they don't.  Boat invariably pivots around the secure point.  I never did this but I suppose you could use two anchors.

[Pferox]

I have used poles, but not that particular brand, and not that fancy.

A push pole stuck into the muck, and then tied off to the cleat works well.  I don't know the brand name, but they make a stick that looks like a "T" handle that ties off that way.  My buddy in Florida has one of these and swears by them.

I always tried to keep away from putting stuff on my TM so it wouldn't collect excessive weeds.  A push pole is a very versatile shallow water tool, you would be amazed what you could do with it when you think about it.

[Princeton_Man]

I've looked at the Stick-It anchor pins. They're a clean, neat, and relatively cheap way to go. The brackets stay mounted the poles can go in a locker or behind seats.

Probably just going to wait till I get the retirement boat...