Perch bite was on thursday.

[West Basin]

Getting the right size anchor for your boat is important, but not as important as knowing how to use / set it. When your boat "bobs" in the water, you want the pulling force exerted on the anchor to be as horizontal to the bottom of the lake as possible. Too little line (scope) out means the anchor is being pulled up in a vertical direction and will come loose much easier than an anchor with a lot of line out where the pulling force is much more horizontal. That's the first rule - put out line at least 5 times the water depth. So off Green Island, soft bottom, say 25 foot depth you should put out at least 125 feet of anchor line (again, called scope). Minimum. Seven times the water depth (add 6-8 feet for boat to water level) is preferred. Next you have to make sure you get the anchor "set" into the bottom. Tossing it out and hoping it "catches" is not the way to do it. Drop the anchor - never toss or throw it - slowly until it hits bottom. If you have wind let the wind take out the amount of scope. Then tie it off. Feel the line to see if it gets stiff and the anchor sets. Sometimes this takes 30-60 seconds. If no wind back up the boat (assuming you anchor off the bow) slowly and do the same, taking the boat out of gear when you reach the proper scope.

Done correctly an anchor that is technically too small for a boat will still probably hold it in light or moderate winds if it's set correctly. A correct size anchor deployed wrong in the same conditions may not hold.

Look up your boat model and I'm sure there is an anchor type, weight and size recommendation. Or try the Coast Guard or ODNR Watercraft.

[buckeyezip]

Great insight. We have a 25' Sport Craft and use a smaller anchor most of the time since we don't usually go out for perch in anything above 2 footers and it's much easier to pull up each time. It's let loose a few times, and it did once today. But once it grabs again, it's fine. Sometimes it takes a little longer to grab, but patience is key

[rickerd]

No relation to "Rickard's Bait." My buddy been calling me that since we met in HS.
Best,
Rickerd