Rigging Drift Socks

Redhawk-Driver · 03-24-2010, 06:53 PM

Anyone have the "Approved Solution" on the best way to rig up drift socks i.e. do you put a bouy on them in case you drop it, what knots do you use, how long should the rope be etc.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

HammondSeaRanger · 03-24-2010, 06:59 PM

Floats are mandatory. Length or rope is dependant on where you are going to run them from. keep them short enough not to get into your main line when back bouncing. Caribener (sp) clips on the rope so you can clip them on and off easy. I put a large stainless swivel in the main line below the flot so it can rotate in the current.

Metal Head · 03-24-2010, 07:07 PM

Also depending on what kind you get you can run a second rope to the rear of it to pull it in with the ole auto dump

i second the bouy they are to expensive to not put a float on

Redhawk-Driver · 03-27-2010, 05:28 AM

Thanks for the advice. Heading to the store today to get the goods and rig'em up. Thanks

HighSlacker · 03-27-2010, 05:52 AM

Buy a bigger size than you think you will need.

Redhawk-Driver · 03-27-2010, 07:13 AM

I thought so too. I purchased the biggest socks I found at the store. Got the goods, just need to rig. Like the idea of a float and the stainless swivel, makes perfect sense. They do tend to spin. I also like the idea of the rope tied off to help dump the sock....hmmmm

cully · 03-27-2010, 08:09 AM

Just wondering why the float? If the sock is tied or caribenered (sp,me too

) to your gunnel where is it going to go? Seems like an overkill.

eharris · 03-27-2010, 10:19 AM

How big of a float do you use?

Evan

Hooked up · 03-27-2010, 04:07 PM

I have a 15ft. Smokercraft Alaskan. I tied my drift socks [sea anchors], to the front bench seat using a bowline knot. They have been there for 5 years now. No floats needed for me.

RiverMan · 03-27-2010, 07:12 PM

Floats are cheap and they might let you retrieve the sock if you accidently lose one.

RM

Silver Hilton · 03-27-2010, 07:15 PM

You want a little float, because you WILL drop one someday.

pwrline · 03-27-2010, 07:25 PM

Dont forget to pull them in before firing the 5.7 and hammering down

dont ask how I found that out

Redhawk-Driver · 02-23-2011, 05:23 AM

ttt

Beavs12 · 02-23-2011, 05:31 AM

Tie them off to your front cleats so they hang about mid-boat, that way they don't get in the way as much when fighting a fish. And like pwrline said above, don't forget to bring them in before you decide to move somewhere else! Just saying.....

Digifish · 02-23-2011, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beavs12

Tie them off to your front cleats so they hang about mid-boat, that way they don't get in the way as much when fighting a fish. And like pwrline said above, don't forget to bring them in before you decide to move somewhere else! Just saying.....

Interesting idea tying them amidships or at least keeping them forward of the transom. Anybody else do this? Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do....unless its not!

Seefood Man · 02-23-2011, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digifish

Interesting idea tying them amidships or at least keeping them forward of the transom. Anybody else do this? Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do....unless its not!

Another vote for midship

budsfishin2 · 02-23-2011, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digifish

Interesting idea tying them amidships or at least keeping them forward of the transom. Anybody else do this? Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to do....unless its not!

this works fine.but i usually run mine off the back.seems to cut down on boat swing more off the back.i have tried both ways.if your going to use them for slowing the boat down while troling then mid ship defeniatly.so you dont get em in your prop

Redhawk-Driver · 02-25-2011, 04:40 AM

If you tie them off the transom, how do you determine how far back from the transom, or does it matter?

Also, wondering how many guys always use two vs. just hanging one on a side? Pros and Cons?

Thanks

ampersat · 02-25-2011, 05:35 AM

I run mine off the midship cleats on my boat, which seems to position them perfectly for dropping wrapped kwikfish, spinners, etc. into them.

I notice that when I run the off of the stern of the boat, they tend to get pulled into the softer current that is swirling behind the transom and I would assume that would make them less effective. Postioned alongside the boat they are in full current which would theoretically make them more effective.

FanOFishin · 02-25-2011, 05:43 AM

I've always run mine off the back of the boat. I have a jetboat and even with two large ones out my boat can still move side to side pretty good when the wind is blowing. Never thought about putting them midship but am now wondering if I put an additional two out that stay in the full current with the two in the back in windier conditions if that might help keep my boat in better position. Will have to try this. Just an FYI also - the top shop in Longview makes and sells socks for $10 a piece out of Top Gun material if anyone is interested in saving a little money on them. If anyone needs the name and number of the shop just shoot me a pm.

whirlwind · 02-25-2011, 10:08 AM

Here's a tip.
I have sewn a 3 oz. trolling weight to the front edge of the sock in order to help the sock open up in slow water.
This has helped greatly when the wind has picked up, and the current has slowed down.
Anyone sturgeon fishing can tell how the side to side movement can mess with the bite.

FanOFishin · 02-25-2011, 11:27 AM

Excellent tip Whirlwind - will have to do that to my socks.

Trout,myster · 02-25-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammondSeaRanger

Floats are mandatory. Length or rope is dependant on where you are going to run them from. keep them short enough not to get into your main line when back bouncing. Caribener (sp) clips on the rope so you can clip them on and off easy. I put a large stainless swivel in the main line below the flot so it can rotate in the current.

Those are some good ideas right there!

Going to add the clips and swivels to mine.

Also, if you need to use them for trolling, put one off each side of the boat from the front cleats. Makes for a lot easier steering if there's a wind.

schoenberg · 02-25-2011, 11:55 AM

So the purpose of these are to slow you down when you are in high winds. Say for instance you are fishing in odell, the winds pick up but the bite is still on. Would a guy deploy fish socks when trolling with the wind while also applying power forward with a trolling motor to keep the boat pointed in the right direction?

Starfish · 02-25-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoenberg

So the purpose of these are to slow you down when you are in high winds. Say for instance you are fishing in odell, the winds pick up but the bite is still on. Would a guy deploy fish socks when trolling with the wind while also applying power forward with a trolling motor to keep the boat pointed in the right direction?

They do slow down your troll somewhat while trolling downwind, but the biggest advantage of socks is to stabilize your boat while trolling into a headwind or crosswind. Properly used, the socks make it possible to control your boat in conditions you would never think of fishing otherwise.

I like tieing them off to the front side cleats on both sides, with ropes long enough to hang them amidship. Then I take a short rope from the tail of each sock and attach that to a mid or rear side cleat on each side. That way when I reverse, the sock just hangs there instead of ballooning out in front of the boat and messing things up. Also when netting a fish, I can just grab the tail rope and pick up the sock instantly without having to worry about the fish tangling up in it.

Redhawk-Driver · 03-01-2011, 06:35 PM

Great tips all. Thanks.....I am going to try tying them off mid-ship and see how that works......will let you know.

bait boy · 03-01-2011, 08:44 PM

Alot of folks use them while anchored or the columbia or willy while the tide's running to minimize boat movement due to wind.