My wife and I hired a fishing guide over the holiday weekend. We did both bass and crappie fishing. The guide was using a special "anchor" to keep us close to the submerged trees. Lake Lavon has lots of old trees whose trunks may come just above the water a few inches. This is where the anchor is very effective and quick to use. Unfortunately, he said that it was something that was custom fabricated, and that you probably couldn't buy it anywhere. This is where you come in.

Allow me to describe it. Imagine an iron or steel hoop (like a bracelet), where the thickness of the bracelet was round, and about 1/2�. Then, at 3 equidistant points, chains were welded to one of its flat sides. The chains came off of the hoop and came together at a point, maybe a foot from the hoop. That end was then tied to the rope that connected it to the boat. Hope that wasn't too confusing. So when we pulled up to a stump, all he had to do was drop the ring/chains over the stump, and we were instantly anchored. No rope tying required.

I know this is "off-topic" a little bit to be in a fishing forum, but I was wanting to know:

1. What ring-shaped 'object' could you use for the hoop? It would need to be metal, and about a foot in diameter.

I may just have to find a metal rod of some kind, and have a welder or auto body shop bend it into a circle and weld it. Rebar is a possibility, but I would have to paint or coat it so it isn't rusting all over.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Have one made out of a basketball goal ring.

Have used one at Fork, mainly for cat fishing, for a number of years. Works great over submerged stumps.
Don't recall where I got it. Some local guy with a welder was making them up.