Anchor trolleys, Some real world opinions please

Hey everyone,
I have known since the first time I tried to stop and fish anywhere in my kayak that whatever I do, whatever I try and do and whatever I think I have to do I end up facing the wrong way EVERY time and I need an anchor trolley bad!

I have been looking at some different ones and I like the idea of the yak attack lever lock system but a lot of reviews say that the parts are cheap and the pulleys don't hold up. I figured of I was going to get something that's going to break I might as well get the $25.99 amazon choice with a name I can't pronounce. At least it's all stainless and I figure I will use my own hardware and make backing plates for the inside or at least use big washers so nothing pulls through.

Before I pull the trigger is there anybody that can share their experiences with trolley systems? Recommend one brand over another? Pros and cons of what you have? I haven't been able to find any what I would consider reliable reviews from real world users in my online searches and I would hate to drill a bunch of holes in my baby for the wrong product that won't work.

Sorry for the long winded post and thanks for your help folks!

Scotty anchor lock with mount 40 at Canadian tire. Worked well for me when had a kayak.

+1

I use the same

I've used an anchor lock as well recently in a different boat and enjoy it.


But I don't think that is what he needs, those things are pretty stationary, and don't allow you to change your point of entry so that you can choose what way you face in current, like river fishing or windy days.

I have the same yak as his, and I wouldn't put an anchor lock on it, I'd be going with a trolley system as well. I just have zero experience with them.

Thank you thrillhouse and thanks Kev and James for your replies but there are a few reasons the scotty lock won't work for my setup.

I have 4 ft of chain on the end of my anchor line which will not run through the scotty to the best of my knowledge.

I also use a stake out pole which is home made and doesn't fit in my scupper holes so I would like to be able to utilize a trolley when I'm using it so I can point myself in the right direction.

I would think with the scotty lock mounted to the bow I would always be casting into the wind and have to worry about any fish I'm fighting getting tangled up in the line and if it were mounted to the stern I will have to bring the line in past no less than 2 fishing rods in holders at any given time between me and where it's mounted.

Many spots I have found I roll up on trying to play the wind and current to get a good angle to sit I can't and if I try to get to the other side to point the other way I have now blown up the spot and have much less chance of catching.

I would much rather scope out the spot pull up and park then adjust if needed rather than pull anchor and move to the other side and drop anchor again. Basically saying my minds made up on a trolley just don't know which one.

And please don't take this as me being rude I appreciate any amd all input and have heavily considered the scotty but the a ove points keep popping up in my head as to why it's not for me.

(Since this is Kayak forum, I am assuming you are considering this "anchor trolleys" for a kayak)

I have used the SCOTTY anchor lock mount on my kayak for many years together with a DIY anchor trolley "system".

This is BEFORE I had the SCOTTY anchor lock

And this is AFTER I added the SCOTTY anchor lock. Just run the anchor rope through the lock! I can easily pull the trolley line to have the anchor line off the stern or bow of my kayak (though most of the time I'd leave the anchor line off the stern for 1: the wind will come from behind me not into my face, and 2: my fishing line/hook in front of me will NOT catch the anchor line!!!)

one more pic (note the SCOTTY anchor lock is right beside where I sit on KAYAK with easy access. It is not at the sterm or bow. And since it is mounted on the gear track on my kayak, I can easily slide it out of way/towards the front of the kayak when I say need space to paddle

Thanks a lot James! Yes it is for my kayak. So that trolley set up you have is a DIY?
Do you have pulleys at the ends or just carabiner clipped to your carry handles?
I wanted to do that exact same setup but was worried about it hanging down or riding up on top. And with the anchor lock do you just flip the chain and anchor in while moving or drag it around?
I'm just trying to picture how I can set things up and be the least awkward/frustrating because well it's fishing who wants to be frustrated?

Yes my trolley setup is a DIY, and I have pulleys at both ends (at bow and at stern). If I have to paddle to move, then yes I do pull up the anchor.

With this DIY anchor trolleys and the SCOTTY anchor mount, I have fished on my kayak for lakers on Smcoe deep water for toooooooo many times, and I don't feel no awkward/frustrating at all.

I have put the YakAttack Leverloc HD on my last two kayaks and was very happy with it. I bought another to install on my latest kayak but haven't felt the need cause it's a Hobie so I tend to keep moving.

Anyways I like the Leverloc function, and if you have inside access the HD version has backing plates for added strength, It possible to use the backing plates with out inside access (google "rigging bullets") but it's a serious pain in the rear (from personal experience).

Did your lever lock kits have the Harken pulleys or the yak attack stealth pulleys? Because from what I am reading online when they switched from Harken to their own in house brand is when the quality went out the door and they started failing. Interested in selling your spare kit? Lol

The last kayak I had I used an amazon anchor trolley system. It was very generic and used a zig zag cleat to secure the rope.. the quality was fine. I used rivots to secure all the hardware and had no issues.

My new Kayak I have installed the yak attack HD trolley kit.

I feel they work the exact same but the yak attack lever lock HD looks much better and you don't have to mess with the zig zag cleat.

Mounting both systems was a breeze.

The Pic above is the same type I put on my old Kayak.

Did your lever lock kits have the Harken pulleys or the yak attack stealth pulleys? Because from what I am reading online when they switched from Harken to their own in house brand is when the quality went out the door and they started failing. Interested in selling your spare kit? Lol

All three YakAttack trolleys I bought were stealth pulleys. I only installed two of the three, but on those two I never had any issue with the pulleys.