Hello everyone. Part two on the importance of boat control, finds us talking about “Drifting”… a very effective method for catching game fish for both tournament anglers & casual anglers alike.

Drifting

So long as you have wind, or any kind of current or tide, you have the option to drift. This method allows you to cover plenty of water, and without burning any gas either. Thus, it’s also a very quiet way of fishing which does not spook the fish.

If for example you are drifting at 3 miles per hour, then you will have covered 1 mile of water every 20 minutes. That’s a lot of water & a lot of different fishing spots. During this time, you may find yourself drifting over various different structures or depths – both excellent fish holding qualities.

Also, fish seem to group together in schools, by age class. If you catch a 2 lb. fish, chances are there are other 2 lb fish around. If you’re constantly drifting over new water & thus new spots, you will have a better chance of coming across different sized fish, as well as a variety of different fish. On a recent trip to Cape Cod, in one drift our boat landed numerous Sea Bass, as well as a few flounder, blues, scup & tautog. Meanwhile, on a trip to the eastern basin of Lake Erie, we managed to land bass, walleye & perch, while on the drift.

An important accessory to have on board while drifting is a drift sock – otherwise also known as a sea anchor. This boating drift sock is basically a “parachute” which you toss overboard & just tie off to your boat. The drift sock will funnel water through it, while simultaneously slowing down the speed of your boat.

If the winds are strong & they are moving you too quickly, you may be loosing contact with the bottom while drifting. A drift sock will slow your speed down & give you more control. Whether you’re fishing the fresh water of the Great Lakes or the salt water of Buzzards Bay, a drift sock is a must regardless of where you fish. If you have a larger boat, 17 feet or longer, then you will also want to consider a second drift sock, for those real windy days. If you have two drift socks out & are still moving too fast, you probably should think about heading in to shore & calling it a day – meaning that it might be to rough for you to be out on the water.

Another advantage of drift fishing, depending on the capacity of your boat, is that you can have many people all fishing off one side of the boat. Whereas if you were trolling, generally only 2 or 3 people would be able to have their lines in the water (unless of course you are using down riggers or planner boards).

If you’re drifting & you get into big fish & many of them, should you have a GPS on board, you will want to mark that spot & then go for another drift… especially if you are in a tournament. Another option in this case would be to use your electric motor, if you have one. While drifting, should you hook into a large fish, you can use your electric motor & work that general area. Once the bite slows down, simply stop using your electric motor and continue drifting.

Drifting is a very productive way to fish. Give it a try next time you’re out for a day of fishing and remember the 80/20 rule… 80% of the fish are in 20% of the water. Find the 20% & drift away!

Wishing you the best of fishing,

Ivo

PS: you can read about Part 3 -> Trolling

PS: you can read about Part 1 -> Anchoring