Anyone use a drift sock?

[huntinwithlabs]

I was thinking of getting a drift sock for my boat to slow the wind drift down. I have a Tracker Grizzly and the slightest breeze has me racing down the lake. I have never used one and was wondering if it would be the right way for me to go to add a little control to my boat and slow the drift down. Would it work when just trying to stay off a point to fish? How hard are they to set? Can you use one along with a electic trolling motor?

thanks
RJ

[Duckwheat]

It will slow down your drift. You can attach off the bow, stern.port or starboard. They are not that expensive for that size of boat.

The troller I think could be used if you were pivoting the boat. Would be difficult if you were pulling against the sock and a mess if you were going with it.

There are some that you can collapse and retrieve easily.

Good luck.

DW

[Salmonid]

You can use a drift sock a couple ways. I've used them in the salt mooching for chinook and they have always worked well when the wind picks up. They are also useful when anchoring and the wind is blowing. It keeps the stern from swinging too much.

As for drifting in a lake, I don't think it will hold you on one spot. They are designed to slow the drift, not stop it. I think you will defeat the purpose of the drift sock if for example you have it on the bow and are using your trolling motor against the wind too. The sock eventually will fall and not hold too well.

I have thrown mine out in the summer on the lake just to float around and they work well. I'd get one with the tag line so that when you pull it in, it dumps the water from the drift sock and you don't have to haul all that water in. Good luck.