Drift Sock variables

[specstreet]

Buddies and I were discussing drift socks and their potential for spooking fish on the reefs while drifting. Eliminating size from consideration, what are your experiences with color and proximity to boat? Most seem to think shorter distance from the boat the better, but the color issue is a head scratcher. Opinions?

[MobyYakk]

I troll a lot out of my kayak and the sock doesn't spook. Mine is dark blue

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[Robalo]

The sock is where you just drifted over, so it's in 'dead water' since the boat hull already spooked the fish ya drifted over/near. Sock doesn't matter IMO.

[trophytroutman]

The sock is where you just drifted over, so it's in 'dead water' since the boat hull already spooked the fish ya drifted over/near. Sock doesn't matter IMO.

Well said.

[richg99]

Most every sock that I've had has been yellow, or red. Never worried about the color.

[Kingfish Cowboy]

The sock is where you just drifted over, so it's in 'dead water' since the boat hull already spooked the fish ya drifted over/near. Sock doesn't matter IMO.

This is basically what I was also thinking.

[richg99]

re "dead water" that is 100% true.

However, don't give up completely on the "dead water". I used to drag a dead or dying shrimp behind my kayak. Caught a couple of nice fish doing that.

[specstreet]

I reckon we are discussing the 'dead'/sock side of the drift then. I see where fishing artificials you're throwing and retrieving ahead of your drift, but with live bait like croaker soak time is greatly reduced as you're pushing up over your bait and constantly retrieving line. Been drifting the reefs a lot over the last couple months and see the vast majority of other boats, guides as well, on same/similar drifts are mainly fishing that 'dead' side not ahead of their drift.

Saw guide boat box a 4 man limit by 0830 two weeks ago on that pattern. All 4 fishing dead/sock side of the drift.

[richg99]

A walleye guy would call it trolling.

[gsb]

X2 on this

The sock is where you just drifted over, so it's in 'dead water' since the boat hull already spooked the fish ya drifted over/near. Sock doesn't matter IMO.

[imhammer]

I reckon we are discussing the 'dead'/sock side of the drift then. I see where fishing artificials you're throwing and retrieving ahead of your drift, but with live bait like croaker soak time is greatly reduced as you're pushing up over your bait and constantly retrieving line. Been drifting the reefs a lot over the last couple months and see the vast majority of other boats, guides as well, on same/similar drifts are mainly fishing that 'dead' side not ahead of their drift.

Saw guide boat box a 4 man limit by 0830 two weeks ago on that pattern. All 4 fishing dead/sock side of the drift.

I know multiple guides that fish it this way. One caught a 10+ lb trout last year "trolling" behind the boat.

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[plugger]

This is interesting. In regards to spooking fish , consider making a drift and circling around to drift the same spot repeatedly. The fish are usually still there . These school trout may be conditioned to boat traffic and drift socks .

[richg99]

Depending on the depth of your sock, it may well be kicking up shrimp and other critters as it bumps along behind you. That can't be all bad.

[coachlaw]

I've caught too many fish under and at the boat to think they all get spooked. My drift sock is a bucket. I own a drift sock, it's yellow. But I never seem to remember to bring it. But buckets are always in the boat.