Drift Socks

[FishinBula]

I was wondering what kind of drift sock I need to get. I have a 21 foot sea ray with cuddy cabin and troll for walleyes but I am trolling to fast. The Sea Ray has a inboard/outboard motor with a lower unit. Not sure if the drift sock would get in the way of the lower unit. Do they drift off to the side so you don't have to worry about that while you troll? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[blademan]

I would look at the largest one you can buy for that big of a boat. Check out Cabela's socks, they are durable and open up faster than the nylon ones on the market. You tie them off to the front, middle or aft cleat on your boat (either starbord or port side), and drifting with the wind they should stay out of your motor. Just make sure you bring it in before you start up your motor move out (been there done that), because they will get tangled up in your prop. The Cabela's ones will hold up to some props but the nylon ones I've used get chewed up. You would also need a bowmount trolling moter to control your boat and keep it sideways on a drift. Otherwise you have to kick your big motor in and out of gear to stay in a certain depth and keep your boat sideways on a drift.

[Johnnie Candle]

Read this article. http://www.driftbag.com/articles/trolling_drift_bags.shtml

This is the system I use on my 20' Crestliner. I am sure it will work wonders on your boat as well. You may want to go with 2 40" bags instead of the 30" ones in the article. There is no better way to slow your boat than this one.

[blademan]

Ok, now I feel like an idot, your trolling not drifting. Nevermind my comments.

[FishinBula]

Thanks for the info that looks really interesting and looks like it would do wonders to slow the boat down while trolling. I see the guys out there with them to the side of the boat and I just think that would get in the way at times. Looks like a process you have to practice to get it down right. Is it easy to do out in lake erie?

[biggeorge50]

I have 2 40" socks for my 25' Pro-Line. I put one off the middle cleat on each side. Lines short enough to keep them away from the prop. A dump line on the bottom is almost mandatory. Works great for me.

[Pond scum]

Check out the trolling bags made by Amish Outfitters here in Ohio. They work great as drift socks also. These things are bullet proof. Many people use them here on Erie. www.amishoutfitters.com.

[bob oh]

I would second the Amish bags -- they are designed for trolling so they are a lot heavier than "drift" socks.

rod bender bob

[Johnnie Candle]

The advantage of the technique described in the article is where the bags are placed. I have done the mid-ship thing and it works wonders to slow the boat down. In fact, my father who runs a charter boat out of Ashtabula still does it that way.

When the bags are placed under the bow, they create a pivot point for steering as well as slowing the boat down. It is incredible what this does in a cross wind. No more crabbing along your path. I can honestly drive like there is no wind at all unitl it really starts howling.

As far as the durability of bags, I will not argue the point. There are many good manufacturers out there. I like the Wave Tamers for many reasons. They have a spring in them to make them open easier. They have a float so they won't twist, and they dry faster than any other bag out there. I have been using my set for three years and they still look like new.

[unreel]

JC,
Maybe I'm missing something, but what is the big difference between tying up 2 bags on cleats on either side vs running the bags under the boat. I think I'd rather have them on the cleats due to 1. not forgetting their there before running, 2. less chance of getting in prop if rope breaks (maybe? hope so)
What your thoughts?
Thanks

[unreel]

JC or anyone else?

[Johnnie Candle]

The difference is where the bags are in relationship to how a boat steers. As for just slowing down, there is no difference.

A boat turns on a point about one third fo the way from the bow to the stern. This is exactly where the bags are with the under boat system. You will not believe the difference these bags make in a cross wind. the bow no longer gets blown to one side. Rather the bags act as a pivot point and you can literally turn into the wind like it wasn't even blowing.

I was a skeptic as well, until I tried the program. Now I use it even in the slightest breeze.

[Ted Takasaki]

Johnny absolutely right...I wouldn't have believed it until I saw it as well. Joe Beech (Wave Tamer) came up to Gull Lake with his 20 foot Lund and I brought my 20 foot Ranger. We set up the system with both boats.

GPS Speed over Ground was cut down by 40 to 50 percent depending upon the size of the socks. 2 -30's were 40 percent and 2 - 40's were almost 50 percent.

What was amazing was the ability to troll cross wind. Joe's Lund has a little higher sides than my Ranger and it made an incredible difference in being able to stay on a breakline crosswind. It dropped his bow down by several inches and allowed almost instantaneous turning possible.

It's also great for tournament anglers...no one knows you're using drift socks as they speed past ya.

Ted Takasaki

[Somethins_Fishy]

Interesting . I use 2 40" bags off of the front cleats on a 24' Sportcraft cuddy and that seems to work great for me . Our boat has a high stainless rail and a bow pulpit so I believe this would be out of the question for me unless I'm misunderstanding the deployment part .

I've not really had any problems with the bags getting in the way when tied off of the front cleats on my boat anyways .


Marc