On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 11:30:07 -0500, Charlie Choc wrote:

On 14 Dec 2005 08:15:11 -0800, "riverman" wrote:

OR....

(I just read your request for the tenth time and the light came on)

Why not take a loop of webbing, and bolt it to the deck? One on each
side, off to the side so that the loop extends a bit wider than the
boat. Then you can pass the pole through the loop, and drive it into
the bottom.

That sounds like a great idea, Myron. I have used the handles on the side of my
SOT for similar purposes.

Joe, you say salt marsh, creeks, shallow? How deep is the water? How
much current? What is the bottom like?

When the SOT is pinned to the bottom with a rod, depending on the
location in the hull, where the rod goes through, the SOT would
weathervane around the rod if there is much current. Your Loon
connection would be off center and broadside.

Using web loops off the side of the boat, could result in the boat
broaching to the current or wind, and then wanting to roll on its
side. You could take an unintended swim! Combine this actions with:

The depth of the water would determine the length of the required rod,
which would act as a lever trying to pry the loops off the side of the
boat. The longer the lever, the more likely the possibility that the
boat could be seriously damaged as the boat is hit by current, and the
lever is trying to bend over and pull loose. I have seen large horn
cletes pulled right out of the deck of sailing ships and power boats
when all of a sudden hit by a change in the current and not properly
moored or anchored.

Have you tried using a long pole to hold yourself steady, as in poling
your boat? You will find that it takes all your attention, and
certainly nothing you would want to do while fishing. Also the amount
of energy required is amazing if there is any current at all. Poling
John boats in the swamp where there is negligible current is one
thing, which probably means you would not have any need to anchor
anyway. But if there is any current, there is a reason anchors have
been favored through the eons, the anchor rode and snubbing lines take
the stress induced by current and wind, instead of the boat

As far as the bottom: is whether it would hold the rod stuck into it.
Soft sand and deep mud would be suspect. You would have to drive the
Rod pretty deep. Some reef environments are protected environments,
and you could get into deep doodoo for driving a rod down into the
coral!

If you insist, povertybob may have an idea, combined with the loop
riverman suggested. Tie a closed clothesline loop from the bow to
stern, with a small loop attached to one side of the larger loop. Then
when you drive the rod in to the bottom, attach the small loop to the
rod. (This small loop would need to be free to move up and down the
rod to adjust for wave action, and possible tidal drop.) Then pull the
clothesline loop so that the rod moves to the bow or stern. This way
if there is any current, you will be positioned either facing upstream
or down, and the boat will be free to adjust to the current without
broaching. Then when you are ready to recover the rod, just pull the
clothesline loop to move the side of the boat back up to the rod where
you can reach it.

This setup would keep you from having any anchor rode in the water to
snag your fishing line on, however there would be a small amount of
line on the deck still. But you would avoid the broaching hazard which
could be a real surprise if you were paying attention to the fishing
at the time.

I have thought about ways to do this to spend the night in a boat for
example in the Everglades, and a chickee is not available. I had not
considered using a rod driven down. Usually you would carry an anchor,
but they can get caught in the vegetation, making recovery difficult.
I would not want to have to swim with the 'gators to free an anchor
Because the tide shifts direction through the night, the boat has to
be free to shift direction as well. Being able to stay in the current
means that you are in deeper water possibly, but you will not be left
high and dry on some mudflat by the retreating tide. It might just
work, Thanks OvO