Kayak pole anchors for shallow water anglers are available on the market. They are not inexpensive and typically have a length of 8 feet. You can buy one or your build a custom shallow water kayak pole anchor between 6 and 10 feet.
Building your own custom pole anchor is easy. All you need is some inexpensive materials and basic tools. The build procedure only has four steps!
Materials
- 3/4″ PVC Pipe (thin walls)
- 3/4″ Copper Pipe
- One 3/4″ PVC T Fitting
- Two 3/4″ PVC End Cap Fittings
- 3/8″ x 2 1/2″ Stainless Steel Hex Bolt
- 3/8″ Stainless Steel Washer
- 3/8″ Stainless Steel Nut
- PVC Primer
- PVC Cement
Tools
- Power Miter Saw
- Tape Measure
- Fine Point Permanent Marker
- Safety Glasses
- Power Drill
- 3/8″ Drill Bit
- Adjustable Wrench
- Copper Pipe Cutter
The first step is to build the shaft. Cut the 3/4″ copper pipe and 3/4″ PVC pipe to your desired length. Insert the copper pipe into the PVC pipe.
The second step is to build the handle. Cut two 1 1/2″ lengths from the left over length of 3/4″ PVC pipe. Prime and glue these two lengths to the ends of the T fitting. Glue the two end caps to the protruding ends of the two lengths.
The third step is to build the tip. Insert the stainless steel bolt into the tapered 3/4″ PVC fitting and secure it with a stainless steel washer and nut. For a water tight seal, cover the head of the bolt inside the fitting with a generous amount of PVC cement.
The forth and final step is to join the shaft to the handle and tip. Prime both ends of the shaft. Glue the handle to one end.
Then glue the tip to the other end of the shaft.
The commercial pole anchors work. No question. But, I prefer my custom 10′ anchor, which allows me to fish up to 9 feet of water. Once anchored, I can paddle around the pole until my kayak is in the exact angle that I need to fish the respective structure. During my field test, I literally turned my kayak 180 degrees while anchored. My DIY kayak pole anchor costs 75% less than a commercial pole anchor, but it’s value is priceless. 😉
