I have seen the drift sock advertised and would like to know who uses them/when you use one and do they work bc I ask this question bc I have never been aroun one thanks.
Printable View
I have seen the drift sock advertised and would like to know who uses them/when you use one and do they work bc I ask this question bc I have never been aroun one thanks.
I never use 'em. I just use my tm to offset the wind. If that won't do it, well, I just go find me a place on the lee side of a land mass or go home. :D
aj
i have never used one but some of the people i have seen them use them to slow the boat down when drifting for crappie.
also have seen them make one out of a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom of the bucket let the bucket out the back of the boat or the side of the boat to slow the drift with a v rope tied to the boat and bucket.
I use drift socks regularly. I carry two, and use both if its really howling. Also use a chain, especially in shallow water.
I like to drift with the wind when trolling. It puts you in "stealth mode" because there is no water slapping the front of the boat and the trolling motor is not running. Lots of times I will catch fish going downwind and only catch a third as many when trolling back up into the wind. If the wind is blowing the boat too fast I will throw out a drift sock or a chain.
i agree with luvpt...it is better to go with the wind....cuts down on noise...saves your batteries...drift socks will slow down your trolling speed when needed...a logging chain works too
Depends on the water depth, structure and wind strength. Shallow bare bottoms call for a short heavy dragging chain. Deep water or a lot of submerged structure calls for a sock. If I can use a chain (and I usually can), that's my preference. Controlling Scope (depth X line length) gives you precise speed control, which is more difficult with a sock if the wind is strong enough. Hook that chain line to an electric anchor winch and you've got convenience also. Just bump a switch one way or the other to control Scope.
Start using the socks this year and they have been great. I don't know how I did it before. If I am fishing a small stretch of water over and over it seems like the chains would mess up the fishing dragging along the bottom. I also understand that the sock could not be used in standing timber and the chains would be the best bet.
I have 2 socks that I have used several times when the wind, (here in oklahoma it always) howls and they have worked great. I have used them drifting for stripers on Texoma and it kept us in the fish alot longer had we not had them.
Boat control (speed) is the top priority for drift fishing. Whether it be a driftsock, chain, or 5gallon bucket, a windy day can be salvaged with one of these fishing tools. I would highly recommend anyone to have one or more...
Against lots of other folks mindset, I actually prefer chains. You can get much more precise boat control (speed) with a chain, regardless of depth (unless your talking 100' or more). Regardless of which one you pick, be sure to pick one and you will never regret it...
A chain actually disturbs the bottom layer of mud no more than a catfish or turtle or other critter. Keep in mind that it's moving slooowly along and we're talking 3 or 4 feet of chain here. I've not found that it messes up anything on a bare bottom lake and it isn't bad to foul up on structure if any is discovered. But, different strokes etc....:)Quote:
Originally Posted by callshy
my grandfather loves to drift for crappie on lake hogue. they caught 8 good keepers this morning from 5:30-10:30. One of the keys is always wind. I've went with him a few times and I knew with the wind blowing like it was we had to be going too fast. I would think especially with as hot as it is now in a shallow lake like Hogue that if you could slow the troll down and go with the wind you should still be able to catch the suspended crappie even in the dead of summer?
I have "always" had to use a drift sock fishing walleyes on Lake Erie. It slows the boat and is easy to use and control your boat. If fishing in rough water it is a must to slow and control a boat.