Ever used a "drift sock"?

[HillbillyGeek]

I picked up a 25 inch drift sock at Joes today and was wondering if anyone else uses them. My little boat gets blown around pretty good even in a slight breeze. I'm hoping the drift sock will slow it down so I can spend more time fishing and less time messing with the trolling motor.

[kevinb]

I havn't but if you end up using it anytime soon,let us know how it works. I may need to get 1 or 2 in the near future.

[Jake Dogfish]

I have not, but I am also interested in how it works. I like to troll in my pontoon boat. Even with just a light breeze if you are not going against the wind its tough to slow down to kokanee speed.

I am going to have to try something like that this year.

[Mike Carey]

I have used one on my saltwater boats to slow down my drift while bottom fishing. They do work, but be careful and don't let them get caught in your prop, it's a pain to get them clear.

I've never tried one while under power with a trolling motor.

[kevinb]

Would drift socks help in anyway with stabilizing a small boat? This might be a dumb question but I have never used one before and just curious.

[HillbillyGeek]

I used the drift sock today at Lake Cassidy and it worked GREAT! Not only did it slow the drift down in a big way, it also kept the bow of the boat from turning in the direction of the wind (the sock was tied to a cleat on the side of the boat).

I highly recommend them for windy days! :thumright

[bassmasterderek]

I used the drift sock today at Lake Cassidy and it worked GREAT! Not only did it slow the drift down in a big way, it also kept the bow of the boat from turning in the direction of the wind (the sock was tied to a cleat on the side of the boat).

I highly recommend them for windy days! :thumright

Thanks for the info I have been debating buying a sock for awhile now. I think I will get one. I talked to one of my friends and he said that I could also just use a 5 gallon bucket and drill a 2-3 inch hole in the bottom. I remember my grandpa using drift socks while fishing for Redfish in the gulf and it worked. I will buy one and test it out.

[HillbillyGeek]

I used the drift sock today at Lake Cassidy and it worked GREAT! Not only did it slow the drift down in a big way, it also kept the bow of the boat from turning in the direction of the wind (the sock was tied to a cleat on the side of the boat).

I highly recommend them for windy days! :thumright

Thanks for the info I have been debating buying a sock for awhile now. I think I will get one. I talked to one of my friends and he said that I could also just use a 5 gallon bucket and drill a 2-3 inch hole in the bottom. I remember my grandpa using drift socks while fishing for Redfish in the gulf and it worked. I will buy one and test it out.

A 5 gal bucket w/holes would be bulky, and retrieving it would be more difficult. The sock is rigged with a single piece of rope tied to the front and rear. The rope is then looped around a cleat so that the section tied to the rear has a little bit of slack. To retrieve the sock, you pull from the rear which makes it collapse and come in very easily.