Do you see this often? Or was that a shot at me?

I thought there was a question to this post, not asking for opinions on brush piles getting torn up by anchors.

Some people either can't afford a TM with GPS, or maybe they can't work a TM well enough to fight the wind, stay on a pile and fish all at the same time?

To answer your question Chickenman I use a digger anchor on my boat.
It catches well every time and the flukes fold out so you don't get hung up and lose it.

My uncle and cousin use digger Anchors. You didn't mention the size of your boat, but use one that is heavy enough for your boat.
1. Mark the pile.
2. Get down wind of marker point boat into the wind.
3. Drop an anchor #1 down wind, the depth of the water will determine the distance.
4. Drive past marker up wind and drop anchor #2 up wind. Again the water depth will determine this distance.
5. After making sure anchor #2 is secure on the bottom, let out enough line to reach your marker and secure anchor line #2 to a boat cleat in the front of the boat.
6. Take up slack in the line on anchor #1, the down wind anchor, and secure to a cleat on the back of the boat.
7. Adjust lines to position...

I knew a guide that anchored off on catfish holes at Amistad in 100' depth water with no problem using this method.

Disclaimer: You did mention moderate winds...

I second the Xi5 - with PinpointGPS. I got one last week and it stays on point when you set the Anchor mode!

Lots of good info from posters about how to do the manual anchor system too!

Do you fish Somerville? I place my piles there and see non educated fisherman do it all the time.

You are asking how to do it properly right? You are getting answers and you will now be an "educated fisherman" and should not fall into this category as long as you help others by not tearing up the piles.

I have found a method that is used in Walleye country, back trolling - to be the best. You need splash guards on the transom and a powerful back trolling, trolling motor like the MK Vantage that has articulated steering. The idea is to allow the wind to push you, into the transom, then back into the wind. The stoppage that the transom gives you is good versus the bow that just moves side to side, but water comes over the transom, thus the splash guards. It is so effective you will be able to basically hold over a spot. I have caught many a crappie in brush where other boats can not hang in the wind.

Meanwhile back to anchors you have to use two and a system to allow you get back your anchor when using good holding anchors. The anchor you see in the video is the best for holding but will get stuck.

[video:youtube]http://www.anchorshock.com/[/video]

Ever since they made Austin a mud hole, we've had to become brush pile builders. We've probably sunk 100 trees this year alone.

Between wind and the wake action on the lake, it has been difficult to maintain position even with an anchor. Most places are just silt bottoms.

We started to haul out cinder blocks and drop them where we'd want the anchor to catch in a south wind and in a north wind. The blocks also have the added benefit of holding fish.

Always fun to see an anchor thread.... I use one..... You're dumb..... What? You are....

GPS coordiantes please.

I like the River anchors