What anchor type to use?

I primarily fish in lakes and I am trying to figure out which type of anchor to get. I know that the grapple type anchors are very popular with kayak fishermen because they are light weight and portable. But I have used a grapple anchor with my 17t before and it doesn't hold the kayak very well, especially if there is a slight wind catching the Hobie. I am considering a mushroom type anchor and adding several feet of heavy chain to it before attaching to a rope. However, my concern there is having a 15lb anchor while kayaking will definitely effect the overall weight (and tracking) of the kayak.

Thoughts?

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Vegasvec
2015 Pro Angler 17t
Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp
Zieman Trailer w/ Cradles

depends on what the bottom is, I mainly fish sand or mud and use a alb folding or if its supposed to be windy/wavy then ill use a 2.2lb bruce claw and have never had any holding issues. the bruce holds better but I prefer the small size of the folded claw. remember whatever the water depth is to have a minimum of 2-3 times that of anchor line out.

Regardless of the type anchor you use, sufficient "scope" is needed to insure the anchor will grab/hold.......and I suspect that if you were to add 3 feet of chain to the grapple anchor + proper scope, it will hold too.
The rule of thumb for scope is typically 6 to 1........so in 50 feet of water, you need 300 feet of scope.

The main reason kayak anglers and other anglers like the grapple anchor is you can recover it if it's stuck.......that is a common problem when river fishing or in an area with lots of underwater snags.
Lastly, a 15 pound anchor inside a PA-17 is "nothing" since the capacity is 900 pounds.....I for one would not like to haul up a 15 pound anchor, hand over hand in several feet of water......now, if it was a 15 pound Steelhead or German Brown on my rod, that's a different matter

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

So I decided on the typical 3lb grapple anchor. However, given the scope ratio needed, I would like about 300 feet of rope. What is a good gauge of rope to use for such a small anchor? I have some paracord that I really like and it has a rating of 400lbs. I am not sure if I need the typical anchor rope for less than 100 ft of water.

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Vegasvec
2015 Pro Angler 17t
Lowrance Elite 5 Chirp
Zieman Trailer w/ Cradles

The paracord is surely strong enough, but how is it on your hands?
I use a "soft woven nylon rope/cord" that is 1/4" OD as its easy on my hands. I also use 3 feet of galvanized chain connected on the anchor shaft to help it bite in to the bottom.

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

rope: anchoring in 50 ft? Well, if you must.......Google "dive reel" and you will see what you need.
anchor: Depends on the bottom. For sand use a plow type anchor, it will do much better than anything else.
A danforth anchor is a good medium between the sand and rock.
Make sure you put a release set up on it so it can be retrieved if it gets stuck.

I use a claw but not because it is good. I use it because it is easy to stow.

Yep, a "primary dive reel" is what I have purchased, but have yet to use: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I9R1OIS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00 is what I bought, and I can confirm that it is well made and is all stainless constructed. I learned about these from Rob on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFBOrE59jaCUh0XS-pMTHgA. The frame is able to be configured in a variety of positions and has holes that will allow it to be screwed down/attached to a board or other fixed object. If you will be catching BIG fish that might strip your reel, then you'll want to look at attaching a highly visible float to the reel so that if you hook up, you'll be able to quickly chuck the reel overboard (i.e., become disconnected from the yak) for retrieval after the fish catching). Warning, some of the tuna, tarpon, bill fishermen have been dragged around for miles....

A couple of things: proper "scope" is 3:1, 6:1 is overkill. Use a chain, called a rode chain, to weight the tail-end of the anchor down to the seabed, ensuring positive grab. There are good videos on Youtube RE "anchoring a kayak," that go into how to rig the rode chain to the anchor in such a way as to be able to retrieve it if it becomes stuck -- it involves a counter-intuitive chain attachment and zip ties. The chain also reduces wear and tear on the anchor line, which is key if using a dive reel which has very light cord.