SLOW DOWN! Help with current

[sirmo]

Have a 16.5' Aluminum bass boat.

As the weather cools, I'll be frequenting a favorite hole that has some pretty smoking current.

Don't really like standing on the TM to push up-stream, and drifting down stream is a pain as the speed of the current, combined with the many twists and turns of the river make handeling difficult.

What would you reccomend for slowing the boat down so I can fish and handle better.

Some suggested a garden hose filled with bird-shot tossed out the back to drag.  Sounds good.  Any advice on that or maybe another method.

Thanks in advance!

Sirmo

[Raul]

Drift parachute may help.

[sirmo]

From what I understand, drift socks and such are only effective in wind.

The drift parachute is going into the same fast moving water my boat is in, and would imagine that it would travel even faster than my boat.

No???

[Way2slow]

The way I fish current is to take the boat past the spot (up stream) you want to fish, then use the trolling motor to control the drift as youi drift backwards down stream so you can fish the area you want.   It does take a pretty good size bow mount TM if you have a very fast current but once you get the hang of controlling the boat, it works.  I've have a couple of rivers I fish that have extremely fast currents and this is the only way I"ve found to fish them.   My 42# bow mount TM will just barely hold my 14' jon boat and will not pull forward in some of the spots I fish.  

[roadwarrior]

Assuming the trolling motor is mounted on the bow, control your drift with the boat facing upstream. This is the ONLY way I fish. When fishing the Tennessee River, we try to keep the bait and the boat moving at the same speed. If you are fishing artificials, you may want to keep the boat stationary which can also be done by facing the boat upstream. Your bait/ lure should ALWAYS be fished downstream even if that means a "neutral" drift, but never upstream.

If you are fishing a very specific spot, I suggest using an anchor. You can lift it occasionally to move a short distance.

[HPBB]

I had the same problem.

working into the current is the only way to have good boat control

I have a 17 1/2 foot Deep V and had a 52 pound minkota on it.

Many of the places I fish are in heavy current and the 52 (12volt) just could not hold up

The way I solved the problem was going with a bigger motor

I ended up getting a 109 pound Motorguide  Tour ( 36 volt)

Now I have no problem with current, wind or running low on power even when I am on the motor hard all day at tournaments.

I am not saying you should get that big of a motor, but getting a motor bigger than the one you have now. will work.

The drift sock will not work, it will make you go as fast as the current. In current the drift sock will ack like a sail underwater pulling you along. The only place they work is in wind to slow the boat down.

Jim

[Guest avid]

You got the tm. Use it. A can full of bird shitt er, I mean bird shot, sounds too hillbilly to even laugh at.

[NBR]

The trout fishermen on Michigan's AuSable river have a heavy chain on a rope. The farther out they let the chain the slower they go.

[sirmo]

LOL....great replies...

Avid, you should have seen the guy who told me about the bird shot.  You nailed it!!!!

My TM is bow mounted, and does have the power to motor upstream, but can't do it all day.  Boat moving with the current is definately ideal in this situation.

The rope/chain solution is similiar to the hose/birdshot method.  Supposedly the hose/birdshot will get hung up less.

Call me what you want, but I'm gonna try it!... ;D

That and anchoring for fish a spot, and pulling to drift to another sounds like where it's at.

Any other bright ideas?

Thanks guys,

Sirmo

[Team_Dougherty]

A length of chain at the end of a rope is an acceptable way of slowing drift due to current. It is not "hillbilly" in any way.

[sirmo]

As fisherman, there's a little "hillbilly" in all of us.

Gonna try that chain thing!

[Team_Dougherty]

As fisherman, there's a little "hillbilly" in all of us.

True

[Bean Counter]

As fisherman, there's a little "hillbilly" in all of us.

Speak for yourself! I am more of a low country cracker.

[dizzy5868]

Being a river angler by heart, I would not recomend throwing anything out there to slow down your drift. You are taking a huge risk in damaging your bow and mostly yourself. You say the current is smokin in the area you fish, just imagine having 30-40' of drag line out and drifting at a fair rate. All of a sudden the chains get hung up and one of 3 things is going to happen, you will be thrown from the boat, Damage the boat or the rope snaps and backlashes at you. Not a good idea at all. Not even with a drift sock. But a larger TM or learn to fish from the drivers seat. We do this all the time on our river. Tighten up the throttle tension and let the engine do the work. You can control the boat pretty easy this way.

Rob

[gatrboy53]

i fish several rivers that have strong current and im no hillbilly but i am a country boy.i bought some 1 1/2 '' tubing 6' long and put a 5/8'' chain in it and tied the rope so it would be in the tubing.the rope is 50' long.the tubing keeps it from getting hung up as much. i let out just enough rope as to almost stop the boat and use my t.m. to move me down river. a country boy can survive!!!