Boat Control

[wallter]

What is my best bet? Drifting across mud/gravel/humps or working the edges (live bait rigs)? Assuming the latter, what is the best method to keep your boat of those edges? I have a 150 yami, bow troll motor and a drift sock. How should I use all??? Thanks.

[PerchJerker]

Watch your sonar to see where most of the fish are, but typically the edges and breaks will be better than right on top. But sometimes right up on top is better. And even if there aren't as many fish up on top, they may be more aggresive than the fish hanging on the breaks.

If you're doing live bait rigs you'll want to go slow and will have to leave the big motor off, at least most of the time.

One option is to use your bowmount by itself, or with a driftsock off one of the stern cleats.

Another option is to drift with the driftsock, usually off the bow because the stern drifts slower, but experiment or change up with the driftsock off the stern or the middle of the boat too. Or add another driftsock and do 1 off the stern and 1 off the bow. You may need to use your bowmount or big motor periodically for course corrections, just make sure you keep the drift socks out of the props.

By experimenting with where you tie off the drift sock, and by turning your big motor somewhat and/or using your bowmount, you can usually hold a pretty good line while drifting.

Good luck.

[wallter]

Nice info. Perchjerker. What is a good speed for drifting or edge fishing?

[PerchJerker]

If you're fishing live bait rigs (not spinners) then anywhere from 0.0 up to 1.0 or 1.2 is okay, but 0.8 to 1.0 is a good spot to start. If you're fishing spinners you need to be going fast enough to have the blade turning, 1.8 +/- .2 is okay.

Instead of going slow I prefer to move faster and locate biters, or at least lots of good marks on the sonar, before I slow way down. Sometimes fast will get you lots of fish, somedays fast won't get you any.

[Team Otter]

Well done. Good information.