Merch

Hi, when using a drift sock and reeling in a fish will the line tend to get wrapped around the drift sock?

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Maybe

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

[quote=Merch]Hi, when using a drift sock and reeling in a fish will the line tend to get wrapped around the drift sock?[/quote.

Not if you keep your line away from it. If you are trolling for large fish, you just might get tangled up as the fish moves back an forth and side to side. We use a drift sock to slow down the troll speed as needed.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Getaway - why would you not just "go slower" ? You do have speed control on your motor (electric ? Gas ?), don't you ? I am confused as to the practice you describe, and why this "works", please explain. Thanks.

Garry Loc: Wellborn, Florida

I never used a drift sock, but my understanding of it's use is that, on a windy day, in still water, it is used to slow your drift and help control your boat position. I've used a short piece of chain on a rope to do the same thing in current (river fishing)

Skbrownie

A drift sock is generally located on the opposite side of the boat that you are fishing . I set my my drift sock about 4-5 feet off the side of the boat from the wind direction to slow the drift down . And you fish on the opposite side . I have caught a lot of fish with the drift sock deployed and never had a problem. They are a hassle ! And a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled into it does not work , buy a drift sock .

Skbrownie

A drift sock is generally located on the opposite side of the boat that you are fishing . I set my my drift sock about 4-5 feet off the side of the boat from the wind direction to slow the drift down . And you fish on the opposite side . I have caught a lot of fish with the drift sock deployed and never had a problem. They are a hassle ! And a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled into it does not work , buy a drift sock .

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

At times the wind and/or current cause the boat to move too fast even at idle. If trying to troll while fishing on the bottom, the use of a drift sock allows you to use a lighter lead to hold bottom. We slow troll for flounder here at the southern most part of the bay. Catch many more slow trolling than drift fishing. Plus you control where the boat does and can fish exactly the area you feel that the fish will be.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

To slow down a larger boat 26 ft or more, it takes a very large sock to have much effect.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

So Getaway... you used the word "idle", so I have to assume, a gas motor. You might want to check out a product called "Happy Troller", a plate that attaches to the motor to do the very thing you are trying to achieve. They are used rather profusely, here in the PNW, for those who utilize a gas motor for trolling, both on lakes and back-trolling in rivers.
I have long wondered why using a noisy, disturbance-creating tool, a gas motor, is considered practical at all, unless you are trolling at quite a distance, either back or deep, from the boat. I have seen fish scatter on a Humminbird screen at 30-50 feet deep, as we pass, using gas. Using electric, we crept up on biggies sitting in 12' water, no prob. The anomalous behavior is most extended to my buddy Harold, who, while having a nice Motorguide 50lb mounted on his Valco..... usually uses his gas ! No amount of rationalization accounts for that.
Google the Happy Troller, it certainly wouldn't interfere with bringing in a fish.... must not be too expensive, one that appears new-ish is on the local Craigslist for $50..... decent quality drift sock money.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

Used both at one time or another, however this post addressed only the use of the drift sock.

Cleemartin Loc: Hampton, Virginia

And, most of my fishing takes place at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and north or east, out in the ocean.

Benjo

I use a drift sock on my 18 foot Lund even though my 50 hp Honda idles right down. I am usually trolling lead core or down rigging for salmon and Togue (Lake Trout) using spoons or live bait. While flies and hardware allow faster trolling speeds live bait is trolled at 1-1 1/2 mph which is hard to get to with the wind on Sebago Lake. I rig the sock on a float supported bridle off the back of the boat and have never had trouble “steering” a bigger fish to the side of the boat for netting. This drift net is 3 feet across and inflates and deflates very quickly.

Merch

Hi, thanks for answering. Although my boat has a motor and a Minn Kota i have had my best results just drifting and using a dropper rig. However, sometimes the wind is too strong and success is limited, That's why I am contemplating using a drift sock as a way to attain a good drift speed. I live and fish in Massachusetts and I go to Maine as much as possible. Sadly, my wife won't move there. So, if anyone has any suggestions for dropper rigs i would love to know what they are. I'm 77 and I didn't take up fly fishing until i was 68. So, I'm still learning.

Fishing Fool Loc: redding, ca

We use a drift sock on a 36 foot marine diesel for trolling for salmon when the wind kicks up and we need to troll slower. and I have never hooked up to the bag. The fish seem to want to avoid it.