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i was thinking about making me a drag for trolling in the wind. i been using a 15lbs kettle bell but even with it being perfectly round after a distance it will cake up with mud and stop me. (h18 express with 115). my plan was to have 5 lengths of chain cut and hook them all together with a caribiner that way i can take off or add wt based on the wind speed. my question is what size chain. 25' of 1/4 weighs about 23lbs. 25' of 1/2 is over 40. any suggestions????
I use two 7 ft. Lengths of 3/8 normally with 50 ft. Of rope with knots tied every 5 feet. I have two more 7 ft. Pieces I can hook with carbineer if needed.. if that doesn't work..I have two 60 inch wind sox...haven't used the sox in a long time
Length of rope is a key factor in the amount of drag you get. Does not take as much chain with a longer rope.
Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman use 2 10' pieces of 3/8 chain and adjust their speed by the amount of rope out.
BRM
What BRM just said. Use rope length (up to 25 feet) to adjust speed. Longer the rope the slower you go.... 2-10ft pieces of 3/8 chain hooked on the rope in the middle gives you one chain with two 'tails' 5 feet each. Duplicate that on the other side and you're balanced nicely. Works for me like a charm. If the wind is stronger I'm comin in anyway. I have two wind sox but the chain is easier to deploy...personal preference.
I like to have at least 40' of rope available for each chain, especially in the deeper lakes.
Just curious, don't pulling those chains destroy the environment? Was wondering, don't know.
How? I hang drift socks and paddles on power poles way more than I do chains. They just slide through the stumps and other stuff doing little to no damage, can't remember the last time I had mine hung bad enuff I had to go back and get them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker123
As far as what to use, it's all relative to how big a boat you have. I have one 25 foot rope with 7 foot of 3/8ths chain on it, I have another 25 foot rope with 5 foot of 1/4 in chain on it. Then I have another 7 foot piece of 3/8 and a 5 foot piece of 1/4 that I will add if needed. If 12 foot of chain and 25 foot of rope out on both sides won't stop my rig it's time to go. I don't like the rope longer than 25, where I fish just don't need any more.
I prefer drift socks in open water. Chains for timber.
BRM
What I was referring to is dragging across what little grass and hydrilla I can find.
Tracker, Get a piece of chain and try dragging it thru your lawn or better yet thru the shallow end of a clear pond and see for yourself. It does no damage. A lot of the areas these guys are talking about are on the flood control reservoirs and you can get out and walk them during low water times. If damage was being done by chains it would be obvious. Some of these same lakes allow ATV's and 4wd vehicles on the lake beds during low water periods. In my opinion they do much more damage than anything a fisherman could do. Im not try to be a smarty pants or anything like that, and did not perceive your questioning as being so either. Just telling it like it really is, hope this helps clear things up a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tracker123
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Hey any of y’all mind posting a picture of yalls set up I’m new to pulling chains I’m tired of staying home on windy days
I have 2-10’ pieces of 3/8 and 50’ of rope on each. Adjust rope length as needed.
I drag an area, catch fish, turn around and drag the same track and catch fish. It might disturb them for a minute??? but it ain’t running them off.
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I use 2 40’ ropes. Knots at 25’ and 40’. 5’ of 3/8 chain on each. I fish out of a Ranger 188c.(aluminum).
It’s good to 20 mph wind. Past that it’s time to go!!!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee F
Fall in behind someone pulling chains and see what happens, you gonna catch fish almost every time. the stirring of the bottom a little seems to trigger them.
Ronnie Capps and Steve Coleman said that in a seminar years ago. They scuba dive to observe Crappie behavior. Whenever something stirs up the silt on bottom, bait fish rush in there to feed. Crappie come in after the bait fish. Definitely good to fish back through the area chains were just drug.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
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Wakes em up a little bit
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I had that happen to me once. I was in a tournament and really needed 2 or 3 more good fish. A guy pulled just in front of me and dropped a chain. At first I was pissed, but after I caught several nice fish I figured out what was happening.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speck
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