I am plannning on trying springer fishing on the Columbia this year. Early on down by Cathlamet, later up towards Bonneville. Anyone out there with some advice about the best anchoring system for down there? My boat is a 19.5' Bayliner (Capri Classic) that I mostly use in the salt. Approx 2300 lbs before people.
How heavy of anchor needed? Anchor line length?
Buoy ball needed? Is the couple miles below Bonneville area mostly a troll fishery or anchor?
Is this type of boat a bad idea up towards Bonneville? From previous threads planning on fishing wrapped kwikfish or prawns, but have heard some serious rumors about anchoring screwups down there but have never seen any advice about it. Thanks for any tips.

No matter what you do, never tie off to a cleat on the back half of your boat. Even when you pull forward to help pull the anchor. Go off to the side of the line as you move forward and have someone in your boat pull the line in. You will never see a boat go down faster than to have the line tied onto a back cleat and the engine die for just a second. It will spin the boat around and sink it within the blink of an eye. Happens every year on this river.

Thanks for the tips AuntM & Predator. I will definitely stay off the stern cleats! With 300' of anchor line, that's a lot more scope than I would have expected.

In my opinion, the 30-40 pound river anchor mentioned is the popular choice. Fisherman's Marine or several other local Portland or Longview shops have complete systems for sale. As of scope, the usual 4-6 : 1 should work fine, just make sure to back down on the anchor a little to make sure it is holding and adjust scope as necessary. It is critical to keep control or all loose line and to have a knife handy just in case. I keep my line in either a plastic bucket or a milk carton type plastic box.
The lower river is straightforward but it gets tricky up by Bonneville. Your plan to start low in the river and work your way up should be just right.
The two fatal anchoring fatalities I consulted on involved sinking by the stern and a passenger entangled in loose line and pulled over the side. I think that BPA publishes a free anchoring guide that is very good.