I'm having a problem staying over brush piles in the wind at Canyon Lake. My anchor keeps "hoping" along bottom until I'm out of range. I am using a 20 lb navy anchor which I thought would work well. Silly me. I could move up to a 28 lb, but is that a cure? Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Learn to use your trolling motor and or purchase a trolling motor that has the anchor "spot lock" on it.

Anchors like you are using destroy a brush pile.

I'm thinking that if his anchor is hopping along the bottom, He's not anchoring to the pile.
Not all folks have the means to just jump off and buy new TM... Try 4' of 5/16 chain hooked to anchor, Your anchor rope hooked to that.

Also after adding the chain try anchoring upwind with more rope. Less angle plus the chain should allow you to hold and feed anchor rope till you are on target.
Tight lines
1Fisher77316

You didn't mention what size your boat is but it sounds like you don't have enough anchor rope out.

Anchoring to the pile is the wrong thing to do!!

I'm not anchoring to the pile, just close to it. 15 ft aluminum fishing boat with 20 hp.

So you are saying tie the 4 ft chain to the anchor then tie the chain to anchor line. What does the chain do other than lengthen the anchor line? And "I pilot" or same such is not an option. Thanks for your help.

That chain if nothings else will add more lbs

You may want to consider a Danforth/fluke style anchor. Be sure to use the chain, and be prepared to pay out five times the water depth or more line to get a good set. This may be tough to do if you are trying to stay on top of a spot. The "spot lock" feature on the new trolling motors would definitely be a nice option.

A 20 lb. anchor won't hold a 15 ft. aluminum boat?

I have to guess that you're not using enough line, and setting the anchor before tying off. You can't drop the anchor right on top of where you're fishing and expect it to hold.

Hoping along the bottom usually happens when there is not enough anchor line out. The wave action lifts the front of the boat and the anchor. Let out 3 times as much rope as depth of water; 15 ft deep, then 45 ft of rope. If the wind is blowing over 10 mph, you may need to let out a little more rope. The 20 lber should hold just fine for your size of boat if you back away from it.

It's amazing that people assume that anyone who fishes should have the means to purchase the latest greatest trolling motor set up and also have a boat that is at least 4 times the value of said trolling motor. Guess what? Some people don't care to multi task while crappie fishing! Some people like to anchor and relax fishing. Some cannot see spending that kind of money on a boat much less a trolling motor! I am one of them. Sue me!

To the original post: Like mentioned, it seems that letting out more line is advisable. I use this one, https://www.walmart.com/ip/SeaChoice-41620-Utility-Anchor-10-lbs/32739438 , letting out 3 times the depth in rope in up to 15mph wind. Higher wind, I'd rather just go find some trees to tie to. I have never had any luck with mushroom type anchors with any size boat. OK, those that have weak hearts, stop reading here. On corp piles at Aquilla, I use some home-made hooks to lock onto the brushpile itself, only if wind is minimal. When I get ready to move I pull hard on it and it bends the hook enough to let go. I will bend it back and hook at another spot. The piles are NOT personally put out piles. They were huge pecan and oak trees bulldozed down, piled into 25' wide X 80' long and 20' high piles, had dozers run onto the top of them then logchained to the lake floor before the lake started filling up. There are 6 of these on this lake with one of them being much longer than the other 5. Now, the piles are still 10-14'high after all the compacting and rotting since 1983. I mention this method because I will still anchor and use the trolling motor to swing my boat at an angle to the wind then hook onto the pile. When I want to move down the pile, I will unhook and let the boat swing over 20' or so and re-hook. I can fish 3 spots without re-anchoring. If the wind is blowing to where the pile lines up with the wind, then all I need to do is let out more line, to cover no more than half the pile. Trying any further will get the rope hung up. The angle of the dangle has to be kept in mind.

Well said J Steve. Thanks to all for your input. I think my problem is indeed not enough line out. I'll give that a try and will also pick up a digger. Thanks again.