All of this information Is great. Thanks for each of your input. I have learned a lot. and plan on putting all of it to work. In the perfect world we would never fall out of our Kayak. But we know that this is not a perfect world. So expect the worse.

i agree on this point about where to anchor
so far i have been lucky
do the anchor trolleys work?

yes they do work. I just have to understand exactly how I want to use it. Very easy to install.

Yes they work. Game changer. I would not fish without one.

As note though you do want to be careful if the water is rough at all about where you fix your tie off point. With mine I have a 4 foot "bungee" that fixes to the yak and then to the rope. This allows some flex as waves ride over or around the yak.

Being anchored at a fixed inflexible spot on your yak in any kind of waves is a bad idea.

PS did not know you kayaked Butch! What kind of rig do you have?

I try to keep from commenting on anchor discussions because a lot of people use them and I'm not a fan. Let me explain. There was a kayak fishing forum years ago called KayakFishingStuff.. it had active members from all over the world and was my go to forum for information when I bought my first kayak many years ago. Most of the members were salt water anglers fishing up the northeast coast from New Jersey fishing Jamaica Bay New York. There was this one old guy that always posted NEVER USE AN ANCHOR FROM A KAYAK when newbies would inquire about anchoring issues. I always found it strange that he would say that but would never explain. Of course you would always find most of the posters who used anchors, arguing against his point. He eventually died of health problems years later but it always stuck with me.

With his comment in my mind whenever I used an anchor starting out, it made me much more cautious.. which I believe was his whole point. In all the different situations I've kayak fished over the years, using an anchor has been a part of many of the most dangerous situations I've gotten myself into, and I highly recommend that anyone starting out kayak fishing get some time on the water before using one.

For folks starting out, you should try to imagine every time you drop anchor what could go wrong because eventually it will.

My number one biggest complaint is folks who think the anchor trolley solves all problems. It doesn't. What it does is it allows you to put yourself in much worse predicaments than without one.

Think about it... you have your kayak anchored from bow or stern thanks to the anchor trolley, you can handle more wind and fish deeper water in bigger waves than you could without one. So far so good. Without an anchor trolley you wouldn't be out there. Now imagine fish are really starting to bite, you know its getting rough but you can handle it.. until wind changes direction and it gets really intense... time to go. You quickly start retrieving anchor and just before its straight down under you.. it gets stuck on rock or timber, or trotline. Remember without that anchor trolley you would wouldn't have been there. Waves pick up quick, you're stuck straight up and down.

Imagine what a change in wind direction does to your kayak as its anchored, or a change in tide if fishing the salt, you can easily find anchor rope underneath you and attached to other side of kayak.

Believe me when I say when something really bad happens with anchor stuck you might not have time to retrieve your knife no matter how close you have it available. Ain't no time for sawing that rope I promise.

Learn how to get your lure unstuck from bottom before using an anchor.

Iconn4. I understand exactly what you are saying. The main reason I put a trolley on my Kayak is because I love to drift fish and I would be able to connect my sock to it. You are correct that we tend to be more cautious when anchored. Safety is my #1 goal. I know I need more practice and I plan to. Thank for your words.

Drift socks are a great tool.

LSM. My question is what size sock do I need to get. This is all new to me.

I don't remember the size of mine but a 24" should work well. Here is one for a good price with good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=drift+sock&rh=n%3A3375251%2Ck%3Adrift+sock

i have a Mainstream Patriot Sit In kayak ( not a sink)
i got this for duck hunting, because it will carry more gear
you can spin cast from it
bait cast is hard
i fish Lake Arlington - PK - & Brazos
i am an Old
so my wife has banned me from hunting &The Brazos alone
stability in 1 place has always been an issue
lets go

i would go with you also Senor' Jet

Now that is the best use of an anchor trolley in my mind.

Butch, I have never fished Arlington. But interested. let me get through these Holidays and we can set something up. I love to learn to make things easier and better.

I wouldn't put all the blame as being dangerous on the anchor trolley, since it is more of a common sense problem, and fishing in extreme conditions more than anything.
The anchor trolley is just a tool just like the kayak, which can be dangerous unto it's own. Any time you get out on the water don't leave common sense on the shore.
You never want to launch without a plan, and going out under windy conditions you may need to look for alternate fishing areas, and you definately don't want to get caught having the possibility of maybe having to return to the launch against a stiff wind.
2 or 3 miles per hour paddling speed won't do you much good against a 15 to 20 mph wind in your face, not to mention the high waves.
Exactly why I mentioned in an earlier post that you should keep a sharp knife on your person just in case the anchor gets stuck and won't come loose, or you turtle and get tangled in fishing line or anchor rope. Anchors are cheap and not worth taking a chance!

Amen Jimbo. It didn't take long for me to realize. that i didn't want to be out in 20+ winds. Just like the topic. Safety lesson Learned.