Drift Socks...

[Skillz]

Just a simple question as to which sock I should get for the upcoming season. A colleague of mine told me to post it here and I will get the best answers, so here goes...

16"8' boat- Thinking about Cabela's Medium "Advanced angler pro series" for $39.99 It has the weights and floats and such...

Or-

"Wave Tamer" with the same basic components for $74.99.

If this is a dumb question, please tell me. I would like the cheaper version, but as I have found too many times in the past, if you go cheap, you will pay for it in the end. Advise????

skz

Good Fishin'!!!!

[KevinA]

All the socks I've seen in most of the common catalogs are grossly overpriced.

Check out http://www.shorewaymarine.com they have a full range of sizes and are good quality for a reasonable price. Their online catalog isn't up yet, just order a catalog. They have decent prices on most things.

[Tom]

i have the cabalas sock i think i paid 39.99 3 years ago i fish out of a 17 ft deep v smokercraft and so far the sock has worked well, no complaints.



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[Skillz]

Question:

My father has the same boat as you. I do not. Either way, does you sock spin or get tangled? If so, how much, and in your opinion, is the spinning and tangling worth the extra $40 I will spend on the wave tamer?

Also- what about mildew and mold? You said yours is 3 years old. Is the material getting, how shall I put this... $hittY?



skz

Good Fishin'!!!!

[Tom]

Skillz
no spinning no tangling and the matarial is fine no signs of aging, i leave it in the boat and don,t take care of it at all besides roll it up into a ball and stuff it in a corner when not useing, i use it on erie and pymytuning and on rivers and so far no problems.





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[AquaMan]

Not sure which size you are looking at, but you can also get the Wave Tamer at Mills Fleet Farm. I think Cabela's might have a larger mark up so shop around.

Either way, you can buy a cheep drift bag this year. Maybe it will last maybe it won't. You can replace it next year and maybe that one will last, maybe not.

But....if you buy the Wave Tamer now, you will very likely have it in 10 years. Mine is 3 years old and looks like the day I bought it. I use it more then I thought because it is easy to use. (about 15-20 times a year) The little blue one I got for free with a rod years ago turned me off because of all the traits a bag has unless it IS a Wave Tamer. Catch my "drift"?

Look at it this way, you won't regret it but if you buy the cheep one....you might so why buy the cheep one? My $.02 = Totally worth the money.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just turning cash into water!

[SteveW]

I have the Cabelas one and the floats and weights keep it from spinning or tangling.

[AquaMan]

OK, but does it have the air port in the top so that traped air can escape??? Without that you will not have an effective drag.

Does it have the plastic ring sewn into the mouth so that is keeps it's shape when drifting? Without that the mouth will deform and you will not have an effective drag.

Ever tried to find a black bag floating in the water that came untied or blew out while running to the next spot???

Speaking of material, put both in your hand and tell me which one you think will last. Look at the stiching.

Wave Tamer does and it's white, heavy duty nylon will last! ;-)

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just turning cash into water!

[Skillz]

Yikes!! Looks like I might have to take a look around. I didn't think this would be as big a topic. One of my students told me that he uses a 5 gallon bucket. I am pretty certain that I won't go that far... I have just a little more class and money than to use a bucket for my drifts...

Aquaman says that the wave tamer has some other "bonus" features. Some sort of lip-circle?? and air vent, and it is white. I must say, I have only seen my father use his twice, and to tell you the truth, it worked fine (one of the blue kind). I don't know what kind he has, but I agree with the notion of losing it, and then trying to find in in dark water or night fishing, or whatever. This type of thing happens to me a lot.... So now the question is whether the white and the extras of the wave tamer are worth the extra $40...

skz

Good Fishin'!!!!

[Dave in Mpls]

I have used pretty much every drift sock on the market. If I would have just bought the WaveTamer from the start, I would have saved some $$ in the long run. Of course, they didn't make them when I started wasting my money....

Regards

[Jbob]

The Wave Tamer is the best drift sock that I have tried. I have 2 at this time. I also have 3 other brands that are in a box for my spring garage sale.

[Waterwolf]

Found a Wave Tamer at Mills Fleet on clearance for $48.00!
Have a good one!
The Wolf

[KevinA]

From Shoreway(2 year old catalog, though I doubt the prices have changed much),

18 inch $15.79, 24 inch $19.99, 30 inch $24.99, 36 inch $31.99, 42 inch $37.99, 48 inch $42.59.

I have two from Shoreway & one from Cabelas (cat# 01-3631). Other than color they look to be the same construction. The Shoreway socks are yellow with red strapping.

[BobEaton1]

I fish many Tournaments each year and use a drift bag all the time. I've tried or been with someone else that has tried just about every bag on the market and the Wave Tamer is far and above the best bag you can own. I also have a couple other bags including the Cabela's bag just collecting dust in my garage. Spend the extra few dollars and you will be happy you did.
Hope this helps you make the right choice. Just my opinion.
Bob NPAA#292

[SnellTier]

SKILLZ,

You got so many good answers to your serious question that I could not resist adding this one. Please forgive my irreverance in advance.

You said "sock" as in ONE. I usually wear them in pairs if I wear them at all. And, I usually I buy them in the 6 or 12-pack version at Wal-mart. White only. Well, ok, I buy single-pack pairs of black socks to wear to funerals of my fishing buddies who continued to fish during lightning storms.

And, as far as lasting the entire season, well, mine last for several seasons, but I usually change them every 3rd or 4th day ... when I change my underwear. The exception, of course, is when I am at fishing or hunting camp. Then a week is ok (for both socks and underwear) because I don't want my buddies calling me a sissy. And, an advantage to having "ripe" socks is that they get so much attention when I stuff them into the mouth of a buddy who is snoring. This usually cures the problem right away. I have not had the courage to use my underwear for this yet ... especially at hunting camp ... some of my buddies can shoot pretty well. Besides, a sock seems to be better-sized and shaped for stuffing.

I hope this helps you in your search for the right sock.

Laughing here.

tomd

[SdDoc]

Too funny!!!!

[WAR_EAGLE_ONE]

I HAVE THE CABELAS SOCK WITH THE FLOAT AND WEIGHTS FOR 3 YEARS AND IT WORKS GREAT I SOMETIMES USE 2 AND IT REALLY SLOWS US DOWN FOR THOSE DAYS WHEN THE FISH ARE REALLY PICKY FOR FINESSE PRESENTATION JUST MY OPINION BUT OPINIONS ARE LIKE AN ANUS EVERYONE HAS ONE. LOLd!!!

[Sparky]

Are these bags just for slowing a drift or are thery heavy enough to slow a boat that won't troll slow enough? I just moved to a larger boat and I'm not sure that it'll troll slow enough for walleye fishing. I want to purchase a set of bags to slow it down if necessary. I've heard that bags used for this purpose need to be built heavier than regular drifting bags.

[Skillz]

THANK YOU BOB!

Made up my mind.

skz

Good Fishin'!!!!