Drift socks?

[slick2526]

How many of you include a drift sock as a essential piece of your fishing equipment? Do you have problems with your line or fish ever getting tangled in them?

First of all I cheaped out on the electric trying to save money and thought I would be happy with just a 45lb thrust stern mount. I should of went 55lb but still not sure if it will have the extra power i want to be able to turn my boat quickly. I am really considering a sock for back trolling to slow the boat down to where I want but still have the power of the big motor for sharp turns.

What brand and size do you suggest for my boat if just buying one sock and using it for back trolling and also off the side to slow down a drift?

[gunner55]

I have at least 1 in the boat at all times.The 1st one I had was a cheap Cabela's one & a pain to use.The other 2 are bright blue,Boat Brakes(?) & rated for bigger boats than ours(18-20).I genarally only use one at a time while drifting.A short rope off the ring,which has a loop on the other end,on front of the sock,& a longer one to draw it closed or almost closed.Toss it out ,pull the longer one until it fills with water 7 loop it off the same cleat.

[Fish Head]

I keep 2 in my boat that are different sizes depending on the application and wind. I don't use them as much as I used to, but I still think they are definitely an essential piece of equipment. Mine are both "Drift Control" brand, but I think there are other good ones out there also. Cabelas and Beckman come to mind.

[slick2526]

I was looking at the lindy ones and also buying the rope with the bouy. But for my size boat they suggest two different sized ones. One for a little wind and one for moderate wind.

In your experience would you go with the bigger recommended size or buy the smaller one? It would mainly be used off the bow to slow my boat down back trolling. My boat drifts very well for the most part ibn the highest wind i plan on fishing. I think i will be ok with the smaller suggested size but I don't have much experience with them. Buy once cry once.

[JohnMickish]

I carry three in the boat at all times. Two mid sized ones and one large one. I very rarely use just one. If I want to drift sideways to jig or live bait rig, I put the big one off the bow and one of the others off the stern. That combo keeps my boat very sideways and keeps it under 1MPH is some pretty tough winds. If I can't keep under 1MPH I will change to different presentation. If I am trolling with the waves I will use the two mid sized ones. I put one out each side to keep the boat from surging. I'm talking 20+ MPH winds at this point and 2-4' waves.

[slick2526]

I don't drift much. But i think i will pick up one to try to slow down my back trolling on the calm days

[djt311]

I use one for depending on the wind to help control my drift, I would definitely recommend buy at least 1 size bigger than recommended. Also it is nice to have two every once in awhile to drift sideways, the buoy rope is also handy

[slick2526]

I use one for depending on the wind to help control my drift, I would definitely recommend buy at least 1 size bigger than recommended. Also it is nice to have two every once in awhile to drift sideways, the buoy rope is also handy

Should i even go one size bigger than the bigger of the two sizes that lindy suggest for my length of boat?

I am sure i will end up with two

[Northlander]

I have found that going at least 1 size bigger than recomended for your boat really helps as does getting it away from the boat more.

[Kyhl]

I have a couple and don't use them very often but never leave the dock without them. Agreed, two different sizes. I only have one buoy connector and only use one sock at a time.

To go sideways I connect it to the side cleat and steer with the bow mount. It's not perfectly sideways but close enough.

Add a bunch of rope. I put them out 10 feet and can have three guys jigging off the same side as the sock on an 18' boat.

I also picked up trolling bags but have only used them once.

[echotrail]

Years ago my brother and I were fishing for walleye and he hooked onto a big one. He fought that thing for about 8 to 10 minutes and it looked like his rod would break. He was sure it had to be a 9 to 10 lbs. Turns out he snagged a drift sock and it was dragging on the bottom and put up a good fight. I never did use it.

[hitthebricks]

Always have them in the boat. For my 20 ft boat I use a 60" drift control with a lighter breeze but with a stiff wind I use a 8' sea anchor. Works great for slowing you down to a crawl on the windy days when boat control is tough.

HTB

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Slick,

I have two socks in my boat at all times! Never used more then one though!

An essential when it is windy and the walleyes are on the flats!

I highly suggest that if you get one do not go cheapest one available and to also buy one size bigger then the package recommends.

I tie my sock off at mid-boat and drift sideways down wind.

They also work very well tied off in the bow and back trolling.

Cliff

[kensom]

I use 2 smaller bags tied off on the front cleats with a 1/2" diameter rope under the bow so that they are centered 1 on each side of the keel. I use this for forward or back trolling using the big motor....it keeps the bow from bouncing and slows it down very well. I have found that if you tie on only one on either side of the bow and try to backtroll you will be fighting the bag as it will want to flip flpo from one side to the other. I rigged it up while up on the trailer and have the bags each about a foot or so off of the center....to use I simply loop one end on a cleat and toss the rope round the front of the boat and then tie off tight on the other side cleat so that the bags end up positioned properly....works great and since the bags are always under the boat they never get in the way and I don't have to worry about them drifting into the prop if I get busy fighting a fish.