WInd Socks

[jwo1124]

I'm sure plenty of you guys have seen these. They are large pieces of mesh in a cone shape that you through over the side of your boat and it helps keep your boat in place while in the wind.

I have a 12' aluminum that always gets pushed around by the wind, so utilizing one of these would be a big help especially for fishing in more open deeper water.

Any reviews or reccommendations on these things?

[flechero]

I think they are the most overlooked tool in fishing.  You just can't use them in timber, but anyplace else they are great.  There have been a few threads on them... search for "Drift Sock" and any date, and you will find several threads with specific reviews.

I've fished many days that I would have had to stay home if I didn't carry one.  And had a few banner days because of the drift sock.

[HPBB]

with a 12 footer you will not need a big dift sock, a small one will do. and yes they are great. I fish Lake erie alot and I never go out ther with out them. yes I said them. I use two of them. I have a 18 foot deep V and it gets pushed bad by the wind so I use two and it slows the boat way, way down and I know I would have never caught the fish I have in the past with out them. If you fish open water and drift, get one you will not be dissapointed.

Put it this way, this summer Up on Erie I was dragging tubes for smallies, and the wind was pushing pretty good. found my spot. drifting speed was at 1.3 mph on my GPS with no dift sock out, only caught 2 fish at that speed on 4 drifts over my spot, put one drift sock out and the speed drops down to.9mph caught more fish, but stiil a little to fast. put the second drift sock out ( which is alot bigger than the fist one) and speed drops to.4 -.3 mph and I was catching 2 or more fish on every drift. when you need to slow down a drift they are the ticket. I finished that day with a 3 fish limit of 12lb even, my rider had 12 lb 15 oz. He finished 1 I did 2 in that tournament

[Garnet]

I never go anywhere without driftsocks. But only use them in deeper water.

For your application 12ft Tinny I would get 10 ft of galvinized logging chain 3/8 and then cut 3ft sections so you can add/subtract chain. 10 ft works good for full size bassboat.

Get a quick tye cleat and rope and drag the chain on the bottom.

If you are going to slow shorten your rope.

Also remember if you want to drift straight like a row of docks get the chain on the centeline of the boat use your motor for a keel to slid sideways.

The chain will spook less fish letting you drift the same area more times.

Garnet

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I use 2 socks.  I have one for a 16' boat and one for a 21'.  I can fish with control in pretty much any wind up to 20mph. ,.....and that's just a 12' jon

invaluable tool.

Another note about the chain.  Something we get here with Stripers is where the  guys are digging clams,...down current, you can often catch Stripers.  The logic is that the rakes are digging up all kinds of goodies from the Bay floor and they are being carried to the waiting fish with the current.  I bet it's similar in freshwater, a bass is a bass.  That chain just might scare up a cray or some bugs that the smaller fish are attracted to.  Smaller fish consumed with a bunch of sudden, free food,   .......are often watched and preyed upon by "you know who".

[mayassa]

Drift socks are on sale in the cave at cabelas