Drift Fishing questions

[duckboy007]

I read about drift fishing, and how effective it can be, but I don't have the slightest clue as to the mechanics of it. I grew up a bass guy, and I've been using those techniques fairly well on the bay, especially reds. Trying to learn more, and fill up a boat with trout at some point.

My biggest hang up is that I'm used to casting AT something. The way I see drift fishing going like this. Pull up in potential fishing area in middle of bay. Let wind blow you around. Cast completly randomly in all directions.



Am I missing something?

[Robalo]

Yes.



Cast the direction of your drift-you will cover various depths while drifting and keep note of depth when ya catch. NEVER CUT ACROSS SOMEONE'S DRIFTING PATH!!!!! Respect distances and stay away from other boats. Look for mudboils also/water color changes. The bottom changes from shell/mud/sand. Dark bottoms/mud heat up as the day goes on, so likely better along mud flats after noon. read Capt. Greg Francis' tips you can find on this site.

[Robalo]

Read the post by Mallardslayer asking a very similar question-the other fine folks here gave a link to Greg's article as well as capt. Steve Soule's.

[duckboy007]

That post is what got me on this train of thought. All last year I fished structure, points, cuts, bridges, reefs, etc. with moving water on em. I caught a few trout, but haven't had any of the numbers days that I see a lot of guys posting about. Looking to try something new, and I wanted to make sure I was doing it right.


I saw in that article about winter fishing to fish slow. How slow is slow to a slatwater guy with a saltwater assasin? I've been dummy fishing them all last summer, cast it out, reel it straight in, mid water column.

[kenny]

Winter fishing drifting shell/mud many times requires a slow retrieve/hop with a jig over and in the shell. Sometimes if you're not getting hung up some, then you're not catching fish. My better trout are usually hitting higher in the water column on slow sinking plugs, but sometimes they are hugging bottom and requires some practice to keep the lure just above the shell without hanging up. Losing a Corky in the shell always is upsetting, but if you're catching big fish it makes it easier to take.
I remember John Havens telling me about catching big trout, maybe in Louisiana, fishing a certain reef and losing a bunch of Corkys in the shell on one trip.

[Curmudgeon]

Have you seen the Trout Support dvds? They're worth getting and would tell you a bunch about fishing a drift.

[Swells]

I dunno how to fish other than drift fishing now ... although I used to target lake bass just like ya, and still do for snook (I live down south in South Padre). But when the sun warms up the flats and the tide is right, a lot of the bigger fish wake up from their cold winter slumber and come screamin' out over the flats looking for food. You want to be there when that happens.

So it's in the timing of the tide and the sun warming that sets them off. A small change in wind direction can also trigger them, or also shut down the bite. So a lot of that is plain dumb luck. It is very hard fishing this time of year. But hang in there and build up some confidence. One nice thing is that casting downwind, you get a longer cast and you can retrieve slower. That is good right there because winter fish don't like screaming fast bait, like topwaters and crankbaits - that starts in March or April.

Good luck. Drift fishing is where it's at and we even do that offshore.

[bubbas kenner]

Get the wind hehind you, cast over the moon, cover some ground it is very effective,use a drift sock.I drift probably 97% of the time.

[duckboy007]

Have you seen the Trout Support dvds? They're worth getting and would tell you a bunch about fishing a drift.

I bought their shallow redfish dvd last summer. and it was awesome. I think that the trout DVDs are next on the list.

[WestEndAngler]

Invest in a good drift sock or two.

[duckboy007]

Any tips on approximate size sock for an aluminum boat with a 25 hp on her? What makes a good one vs a bad one? Anyone tried the redneck 5 gallon bucket technique?

Only experience I have close to a drift sock is in the trout rivers of north central AR, we would throw out a length of chain to drag the bottom to slow us down.

I'm assuming some days you don't need one based on the wind.

[Gilbert]

get you this one

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_10899_-1__?Ntt=drift+sock&Ntk=All

[duckboy007]

That's right in the price range I like.

Is it possible to drift sideways with just one sock if I've got two people fishing? Or is that a lost cause?

[Gilbert]

yes you can. tie off in the middle of the boat

[reeltime]

drifting is a good way to find the fish and then throw the anchor out(deploy the power pole or talon).