Drift/Wind Sock

Recently I was introduced to fishing with a wind sock.  I was fishing with a friend who has an 18 ft. bass boat.  We were on a very open lake with a brisk 15 to 20 mph wind gusting to 30 mph. He brought out a drift sock and fishing enjoyment & catching improved 50%.  A wind sock is relatively inexpensive at $50 to $60, for sock & harness.  Make sure to get both, they are priced separately, but work better as a pair.

Recommended sizes in stores and catalogues seem to vary.  For fresh water lakes in this part of the world, a 36 to 42 inch sock is good for a 16 ½ to 18 foot boat.  If you fish rivers with lots of current or tides, or very large bodies of water, (over 20 miles across) consider a sock 10 inches larger.

Hanging the harness off the bow, stern or mid-ship makes it act as a brake to slow down your drift and keep you on the fish longer. The harness has a release to make it easier to get the drift sock back to your boat. There are several on the market, but look at this one for example. http://www.minnkotamotors.com/Products/MKA-27-PRO-DRIFT-SOCK/

After last season's “year of the wind” try it, you'll like it.