The complete guide
When to anchor and when to keep finning
Constantly finning to stay over a good spot is one of the more tiring, avoidable parts of belly boat fishing — an anchor is the straightforward fix.
When an anchor actually helps
If you've found a specific depth change, feature or holding spot and want to fish it properly rather than drift off it every few minutes, an anchor lets you commit to that position without spending energy on constant re-finning.
Matching anchor weight to conditions
2.5kg is a sensible weight for the light holding demands of a belly boat in calm to moderately breezy water. In stronger wind or current, you may need to reposition more actively rather than relying solely on the anchor to hold firm.
Deploying it safely from a belly boat
Lower the anchor slowly rather than dropping it, and always deploy it from the front or a stable point of the boat rather than leaning over the side, which can affect your balance in a low-sitting craft.
Storage between uses
The four-prong folding design packs down small, but rinse off any mud or weed before storing it in a pocket alongside other tackle — grit on the prongs can otherwise mark other gear over time.