Anglers working the Texas flats are most likely looking to catch redfish or spotted sea trout. Their counterparts in Florida are generally chasing bonefish, permit and the venerable tarpon. Regardless of state or fish species the basic needs of flats fishing are the same. Fishermen need to quietly approach spooky shallow water fish to within casting distance. In Florida the target fish are almost always singletons foraging alone. In Texas flats fishing, the reds or trout often school up or hold near minor structure features. Shallow water anchors help the anglers make the most of a school of active fish.
Snook and tarpon can be found in some Texas flats at certain times of the year. Fishermen in the know sometimes catch shallow water redfish in winter. Drifting across the flats is the standard Texas method but sometimes wind and current can make drifting hard to manage. When a group of fish is holding in or near a feature, anchoring and working the area is more effective than drifting quickly across it.
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To hold a boat effectively, a traditional anchor requires a long line. Anchoring a boat with a long line can cause the boat to swing in a wide arc that makes precise presentation almost impossible. Wary shallow water fish will reject poorly presented bait or lures and a swinging boat will create presentation problems. There are solutions for the anchor problem.
The idea of pole-type shallow water anchors originated in the Florida salt water flats. There, the flats guides have used pole for maneuvering their boats for decades. Guides slowly moved to within casting range of a located fish then used the pole to hold the boat in position as the angler cast to the fish.
Several companies offer pole anchors. These range in price from over a thousand dollars to less than three-hundred dollars. Fishermen can choose a simple bracket and a long fiberglass pole or an electro-hydraulic powered unit with remote control. The choice is more a matter of budget and personal requirements than effectiveness. The concept works equally well in either implementation.
There is one slightly different anchor style that is better for anchoring a boat for extended periods. This type is a long pole of five feet or more with an auger-shaped bit on the end. It is "screwed" down into the bottom using the folding T handle. The boat is tied to the eyelet provided on the top with a length of rope. This anchor requires more time to deploy and release than the other fishing anchors discussed here.
Even freshwater fishermen are discovering the benefits of shallow water anchors. When bass are inactive and tucked close in a weed bed practice casting and slow presentation are required. This is best accomplished by anchoring both ends of the boat and concentrating on specific areas. While Texas flats fishing, finding a school of reds tailing in a small depression is exciting. The last thing the fisherman wants is to drift through the school or drift away before getting a cast. A pole anchor will allow the angler to spend more time where the fish are.
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