How to Anchor a Boat on a Fishing Spot?

Last Updated on October 1, 2022

For most experienced anglers, being close to a fishing spot isn’t all there is to have a bountiful fishing expenditure; it is more about if you know how to anchor a boat to a fishing spot and doing it right. It requires aligning your boat with the current and remaining at a safe distance from your fishing spot when your anchor holds and settles.

To anchor a boat on a fishing spot is quite easy but takes some experience to do. Sometimes, it is easy to drift too far away from your fishing spot, causing you to try over and over. However, you can save yourself from that stress by marking the fishing spot and allow the current and wind to do their thing. In modern boats, it is easier to achieve this than in boats with no digital technology.

In this article, you will discover how to anchor a boat on a fishing spot, giving you a good distance from the spot and allowing the fish some distance to spot the bait and come in to be part of your experience. We will also outline the techniques you can use to help you achieve this.

What is a fishing spot?

A fishing spot is the part of a water body where fishes are usually most abundant, mostly because of the current and wind direction. A fishing spot is the best place you can have your fishing gear and harvest as many fishes as you can carry in your boat. As an amateur, you’ve probably witnessed boats on the water, bobbing around but not leaving that spot. You’ll also notice that the angler frequently retrieves their fishing line from the water and relieves it of the fish it’s holding. This is because that angler has found a fishing spot.

How to anchor a boat on a fishing spot

Finding a fishing spot is a totally different business from anchoring a boat on a fishing spot. You may be able to find a fishing spot but end up being unable to exploit that spot if you don’t know how to anchor a boat on that spot. Anchoring a boat to a fishing spot involves having the right sense of direction and good distance judgement. In old boats that have no digital display for the distance or velocity of your boat, you will need to make a judgement based on your experience.

Here is how to anchor a boat on a fishing spot without a digital display for distance or velocity.

Mark your fishing spot

Marking your fishing spot is the first thing to do in the process of anchoring a boat to a fishing spot. Ensure that you have a buoy in your boat as that is what will be used for marking.

We assume that you already know how to get your fishing spot. Once you determine the best fishing spot for you, drive your boat to the area and mark the spot with a buoy. The buoy will help you to see the spot you have marked when you are some distance away from it. It will also serve as your pivot during this exercise.

Drive some distance forward from your fishing spot

After marking your fishing spot, continue to drive your boat forward so that you are about 500 feet or more away from the buoy. Turn the boat around and ensure that you are facing the buoy as straight as you can.

Drive some distance backward from your fishing spot

Drive your boat back to the direction you were coming from. This time, drive past your buoy and be as straight to your buoy as possible. This is because you do not want to drift far away from the fishing spot you have marked. Drive in that direction for about 150 feet from your buoy.

Kill the boat engine

Once you feel you have about 150 feet, it could be less, depending on how strong the current is, from the buoy, you should put the boat in reverse, to stop the boat.

Throw the anchor in the water and secure it

At this point, it is when you throw the anchor into the water. Remember that your boat engine is off, the current and wind will be responsible for taking your boat back to where your fishing spot is. Secure the anchor when you are about 100 feet away from the buoy.

Let the boat settle

You will notice that the boat experiences more drag as the anchor is secured and it begins to hold. When it finally settles and holds the boat in place, you will notice that the boat will be about 20 feet, or a little more, from the buoy marking your fishing spot. Also, your boat will begin to bob on the water as it is in line with the current and facing the wind.

For a modern boat, with a digital display that shows your distance from your fishing spot through a screen, you will follow the same process. The only difference is that you do not have to judge the distance you are travelling by experience; your screen will tell you the accurate distance you have travelled. Also, you will find it easier to travel in as straight a line as possible to your buoy as the display screen will guide you.

Conclusion

The concern among new anglers, with sophisticated boats and fishing gear, about how to anchor a boat on a fishing spot is easy to address. The same technique that has been in use for years applies, regardless of how technologically advanced your boat is. Ensure your boat is in alignment with the wind and current after you have marked your fishing spot and enjoy the excitement of harvesting fish for as long as you remain on the water.

For anglers who prefer the old boats, stick to the same principle but ensure you have a good distance judgment. If you don’t, you can always repeat the process till you get it right.