Drift sock questions

[FlatCrazy]

I picked up my first drift sock this past weekend and I had a few questions for those of you that have experience using them. First is that the directions tell me to tie on a 5' rope to the harness and then hook the rope to the boat. The harness looks like it is about 3' long already. Seems like it would be a little risky having the sock over 8' behind the boat, I can see myself fighting a fish and getting wrapped up in it. Do I really need 5' or can I use something shorter...like just long enough to have it behind my outboard?

Second question is can I hook this thing to one of my tow eyes on the transom or do I need to cleat it to the top of a rail? I was wanting to just attach a stainless spring hook to one of the tow eyes.

Third question is do any of you notice less bites on live bait being drifted behind the boat under a CT when using a drift sock? The sock I picked up is 43", looks huge. Probably looks like one of those big whale sharks swimming with it's mouth open!

I'm not sure if it was a great idea to buy one but during the spring it always seems like the wind blows too hard to slowly fish the flats and I thought this thing might help. Thanks for any input.

[Reel Cowboy]

Mine stays about 8-9' from the boat. If (and that is a big if lately) I hook something big enough to worry about the sock, I can always unhook it and pick the sock up when I get the fish landed. It's no different than a trolling motor, just something in the water and in the way.

I don't see why you couldn't hook it there. I have a loop tied in my rode and I drop it over one of the cleats as it goes over the side.

I don't live bait fish.

It's not a bad idea, you never know when you might break down and need to at least slow your drift while waiting for help.

[Sir reel]

I've used a drift sock for the last 4-5 years. I believe it's probably one of the best pieces of equipment that I have purchased. However, I don't ever drift it off the transom. I secure it off the side because I usually try to set up my drift for a sideways path anyway. If I put it off the transom I would be drifting bow first and I don't fish that way. The length sounds about right, the length of my line to the sock may even be a bit longer. The principle is somewhat similar to having enough chain for the anchor to lay down (imo). If it's too close to the boat it may not be as effective as you want. I've never lost a fish to my drift sock. I remember wondering about it before I purchased mine but now I don't have any more concerns. I use mine a lot for added stability as much as reducing drift speed.

[Tidedancer]

I've used a drift sock for the last 4-5 years. I believe it's probably one of the best pieces of equipment that I have purchased. However, I don't ever drift it off the transom. I secure it off the side because I usually try to set up my drift for a sideways path anyway. If I put it off the transom I would be drifting bow first and I don't fish that way. The length sounds about right, the length of my line to the sock may even be a bit longer. The principle is somewhat similar to having enough chain for the anchor to lay down (imo). If it's too close to the boat it may not be as effective as you want. I've never lost a fish to my drift sock. I remember wondering about it before I purchased mine but now I don't have any more concerns. I use mine a lot for added stability as much as reducing drift speed.

I agree with this too. Attach the drift sock to the side of the boat and drift sideways. You will drift slower and give everyone on board a good shot at water you have not drifted over. I always fish the down wind side.

[DixieReb]

FC,when I use mine I always tie it to the rodholder I have mounted mid-ways down either side, depending on which way I am drifting. The boat tracks better in the wind, but don't make the rope too short or the sock will not open up all the way. I think mine's about 7 ft. It won't get in your way if you fight the fish around it or to the side of it.If yours has poly straps connecting the sock to the rope, check the straps often. the ones I had weather rotted after a few months use and I had to re-tie the whole thing using small ropes. Good luck with it!

[red_yakker]

I tie mine to a cleat on the side of my boat, so as to drift sideways. Mine stays 9 or 10 feet behind my drift, and I've only gotten a fish in it once. You usually cast into the drift, so as long as you don't let the fish run behind the boat, you should be fine.

I never drift live bait, so I'm not sure how it affects that, but I would imagine it has to do with how deep you are. I generally fish in quite a bit shallowewr water than 43", so I personally wouldn't have one that big. Mine is 24 inches, but I only have a 15 foot boat.

[macdaddy]

I have a couple of the colored floats on my rope for just the reason above. If you want to drop it quick it makes it easier to find , especially if you are in 3-5 ft of water because it don't float.

[Bow'd Up]

I've used a drift sock for the last 4-5 years. I believe it's probably one of the best pieces of equipment that I have purchased. However, I don't ever drift it off the transom. I secure it off the side because I usually try to set up my drift for a sideways path anyway. If I put it off the transom I would be drifting bow first and I don't fish that way. The length sounds about right, the length of my line to the sock may even be a bit longer. The principle is somewhat similar to having enough chain for the anchor to lay down (imo). If it's too close to the boat it may not be as effective as you want. I've never lost a fish to my drift sock. I remember wondering about it before I purchased mine but now I don't have any more concerns. I use mine a lot for added stability as much as reducing drift speed.

What he said

[Reel Cowboy]

I generally fish in quite a bit shallowewr water than 43", so I personally wouldn't have one that big. Mine is 24 inches, but I only have a 15 foot boat.

Bigger boat=bigger sock
Mine is only 2' or across but is long.

[FlatCrazy]

Thanks for all the information guys. I really appreciate it.

[DeanMac]

I just bought a sock a few months ago, so I have not given it a try.

I found some on closeout at Cabela's online, I would sent the link, but the firewall want let me at school.

The connecting strip/harness was super cheap with a sock.

[EddieJoe]

As the other guys have written, I tie my sock off to the bow cleat, and the boat drifts sideways. I probably should buy a bigger one because with a t-top my boat sails along.

Anyhow, my only "fish loss to a sock" story is kind of funny. I was set up at K-tower and using a slow drift and Sock with live blue runners for AJ, since I didn't want to anchor up. Buddy and I were catching one after the other, and about to quit as we had our "one fish" in the boat. As my buddy pulled in his latest AJ, a big cobia came up with it. I dropped a big, hot blue runner down in front of the cobia and he took off after the bait. The big runner shot into the drift sock and hid up in the small end before I could control the line, and the cobia went after him. The cobia was way inside the sock and thrashing around trying to catch the runner. The runner managed to exit the small hole, and the cobia was trying to do the same. I decided it was time to try an "immaculate" cobia catch, so I dropped the rod and grabbed the sock line to try and lift the cobia in green and unhooked.

It was sort of fun for a few seconds, while the cobia tore the bag apart, I got soaked, and all the fish involved wound up free. I expect it was a good thing my plan did not succeed, or I might have had to replace the center console, or at least several rods and a human leg or two. In any case I decided the runner had earned his freedom so I unhooked him and let him go. Now and then the sock is a pain. Mostly they work great.

EJ

[red_yakker]

Ha Ha I never thought about trying to use the drift sock as a landing net. I'll keep that in mind, may help me out in a pinch one day.