Drift control socks...are they all comparable?

[Erie660]

Just curious as to which brand everyone uses. Also do you use one or two? I have one of the cabelas brand for a 20 ft Triton and it was ok most of the time but thought I could of used two on a couple of the rougher days. I am fairly new with drift socks so I'm just looking for a few tips.
                                                               Thanks

[Wolf_fisherman]

We have the cabelas brand as well. 1 works fine for a 16ft tracker but on windy days on lk st clair i wish we had 2

[djkimmel]

I normally have two rated for 20+ foot boats. Make sure you tie a really good knot in the lines because they tug and loosen at times working the knots loose. They travel back and down fast if the come unattached... I can vouch for that!

Now I have one, but I'll get another. I don't recall the brands I've had. I just look for the size, something that seems like it will last a while, and has a rope to the small end making pulling in easier and faster.

I've had one tournament I wish I had 3 and have seen a number of the really good Erie guys fish 3 on bad days. I don't like to drift too much. I like to fish spots, but still find a drift sock useful on rough days if it lets me fish a spot a couple minutes longer on a day I don't anchor or try to hold with the trolling motor.

I fished one BFL on Saginaw Bay where I had out 2 drift socks AND my 18 pound anchor on a long line just so I could get a few extra casts over a small rock bar in BIG Saginaw Bay waves. It paid off for my co-angler... very well!! I think I was just too whipped from the driving and hauling, but that is what we had to do that day.

[dmills4124]

  Hey Great topic. Kim and I have had to use our drift sock(sea anchor) once last year and it was not enough. We now have two 36 inch and a 42 for our 19 ft bass boat. All three are made by Lindy. I have rigged some rope rigged for useing these differant ways. I can tie one to any of the cleats and let the boat act as a sail. Use the electric motor to control direction. Useing the wind as your main motor and the electric as a tiller will save the batteries. Plan your attack. Use the wind in your favor. For instance, The lake runs north to south primarily. The winds will be comming from the south southeast all day. Start your run at the southern end of the lake. Drop one or two socks off the rear of the boat. Either center one on a rope behind the gas motor or use two with one on each of your back cleats. Let the wind drive you north (this will work for bank or mid lake) and control direction and speed with momentary usage of the electric motor. Cast along the bank just like normal or drift over a grass bed quietly casting into holes along the way.
  This next example needs some prerigging. While the boat is on the trailer tie a rope to one cleat(left or right) wrap it under the boat to the opposit cleat. Tie two knots in this rope. One at the 1/3 and  at the 2/3 point. Allow enough line to handle the rope from above when the boats in the water. You can secure two socks to this rope one at each knot. This setup will allow you to use the gas motor for slower speed trolling.
  You Big Water Anglers can use these socks off the front in those big rollers to keep the trolling motor in the water and the nose pointed into the waves.   
  Take one of the foam float tubes the kids use at the lake or pool and cut it into 6 or 12 inch sections. Run the main rope from the sock thru it and secure it with a knot or some other method. If the sock comes loose this may stay up long enough for you to grab it and save those replacement dollars for lures.
I hope this helps some. I'm no expert by a long shot. Just my opinion and do it yourself ideas I have had.
Good luck
don m

[yukonjack2]

Ditto on the Great Topic - I run two designed for 20+ boats.  I had two matching yellow ones - not sure where I got them -  red straps to hold it and a single blue to dump it.  Now I have one - remember to pull em both in before taking off on a tourney day.  Could not find the exact replacement, so now have a cabelas black 20ft - 60" I think.   Thye both work good - some days wish I had three - gonna get another one for this season. 

Couple of notes- I use a carbiner clip on the rope end to make connectios fast and easy.  Just remember to wrape with electrical tape to prevbent the clip from marring the boat finish.  Also, the harnesses with a float ont hem are worth every bit - lost one more than once out there in the big waves.  If not, I would suggest making your own with a decent size swim float close to the boat end - you don't want the sock up near the surface.

my $0.02

[Revtro]

Tip: Get one of those bungee style dock lines to use as your rope.  It cushions and takes away the jerkiness when drifting in the rough stuff.  They sell 'em at BassPro.

[TritonTR20]

I use a 60" and a 50" with the harness made by "drift control" on my 20ft Triton.

[dmills4124]

Hey Triton, How and when do you use it, them. under what conditions have you had the best luck useing them?
Just wondering.
don m