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Sep 3^rd, 2026 at 1:07pm (UTC)

QuietJourney Forums › Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums › Fishing Tips for the BWCA and Quetico › drift socks

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drift socks (Read 12305 times)

Kerry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 427 Location: Toronto Joined: May 13^th, 2010	drift socks Aug 12^th, 2010 at 1:48am	Quote Print Post
	Well, just 3 days until we head out. I’ve been reading about drift socks and wondering if this wouldn’t be a good idea. I’ve heard that the best way to work it is to use two of them, either bow and stern or amidships on either side. But I have no experience with this. First would you all recommend the use of a drift sock (or two) at all. Second, if so, how are they best deployed and third what is an optimal size (I’m paddling a 16-6 Northstar.) I’m going to be doing a pit stop at BPS on the way out of town so I’ll be able to pick up a few things then but I’ll be limited to what they carry. BPS has a number of different models that range in price from $30 up to $100 so I’m not sure where the happy medium is. Any advice or shared experience with these would be greatly appreciated.


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #1 - Aug 12^th, 2010 at 2:21am	Quote Print Post
	We used a sock on an 18.5 ft bell Northwoods and ran it off the stern and it slowed us down very nicely. Enough for us to jig up some eyes. I would be nervous about deploying both off bow and stern. That would put you sideways to the waves AND if the waves are big enough to make you want to deploy a sock in the first place you could be asking for trouble. If it were me I would just get a cheap small sock, add 8' of line to it and tie it off at my seat. Remember you have to bring the thing in again eventually to. This would have have the seas running more or less into your stern which would be safest. Even a small sock will peg your boat plenty. Get to big a sock and you might not move at all. Good luck Kerry. Let us know how you do. P.S. The yellow socks have been known to attract pollyhumpers so be careful.


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Kerry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 427 Location: Toronto Joined: May 13^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #2 - Aug 12^th, 2010 at 2:32am	Quote Print Post
	Pollyhumpers. Yikes! Maybe I should just stay home.


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Snow_Dog Voyageur Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1858 Location: Twin Cities Joined: Jul 11^th, 2003	Re: drift socks Reply #3 - Aug 12^th, 2010 at 12:52pm	Quote Print Post
	I've never bothered with a drift sock. An anchor bag pins me down if the wind is too brisk for a drift. Actually I use the anchor even less now that live bait is no longer legal. I tend to fish Gulp! or other plastics faster than livebait since movement is what makes it look lively enough to eat.


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Preacher Contributer Subscriber Offline Posts: 1327 Location: COTU Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #4 - Aug 12^th, 2010 at 1:34pm	Quote Print Post
	I've heard you could make one from an umbrella and string.


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BnD Inukshuk Offline Posts: 20 Location: IL Joined: Apr 6^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #5 - Aug 12^th, 2010 at 4:02pm	Quote Print Post
	I always take a drift sock with my son and I in Quetico. If you like to fish more than paddle its a must as far as I am concerned. I bought a Cabelas medium size and I use with my Wenonah Champlain and it works like a charm. Find an area you want to fish, paddle to the upwind end, throw out the sock and both guys fish including slowly working jigs, worms, zulus, jerk shads, etc... and other plastics that require steady canoe control. Perfect. Rinse lather and repeat. Just buy the Cabelas medium. roll it up and it fits inside my soft tackle box and saves hundreds, no thousands of paddle strokes per week in the Q. Repeat after me. I got one!!!!!


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Kenny B Inukshuk Offline Posts: 67 Location: Elgin, IL Joined: Feb 26^th, 2007	Re: drift socks Reply #6 - Sep 25^th, 2010 at 2:27pm	Quote Print Post
	Just wondering if when using the drift sock will it cause a problem if you get a fish on and it starts moving around the boat and into the sock ropes or maybe even get caught up on a rock outcropping. Just wondering if it has been a lot of trouble to use.


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Kerry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 427 Location: Toronto Joined: May 13^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #7 - Sep 25^th, 2010 at 3:34pm	Quote Print Post
	In the end I did take a drift sock with me but I never got to try it out because my wife was happy to double as a trolling motor. Talk about lucking out - she likes to come fishing with me but would rather do the paddling than fish.


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #8 - Sep 25^th, 2010 at 5:58pm	Quote Print Post
	Kerry wrote on Sep 25^th, 2010 at 3:34pm: In the end I did take a drift sock with me but I never got to try it out because my wife was happy to double as a trolling motor. Talk about lucking out - she likes to come fishing with me but would rather do the paddling than fish. Kerry Did you ever consider deploying it anyway? "Hey honey, could you paddle just a little faster"?


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Kerry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 427 Location: Toronto Joined: May 13^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #9 - Sep 26^th, 2010 at 8:09pm	Quote Print Post
	[Kerry Did you ever consider deploying it anyway? "Hey honey, could you paddle just a little faster"? [/quote] I would prefer to die of natural causes.


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #10 - Sep 28^th, 2010 at 2:13pm	Quote Print Post
	Kerry wrote on Sep 26^th, 2010 at 8:09pm: I would prefer to die of natural causes. [/quote] Good one Kerry. You have probably heard this one......."I live with fear every day...........sometimes she lets me go fishing" Or my personal favorite..............."My wife just hasn't been the same since that house fell on her sister" Now ladies...I'm KIDDING! Even my supremely tactful wife has a hard time not smiling when I tell that one. Of course she rolls her eyes.... And now......... back to Drift socks. Really good if you have live bait and know where to fish. Even on a windy day it will peg you in place. Let it trail off the stern of the boat though so it will not turn you sideways into the waves. And tie it off so you can retrieve it. Capiche?


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Which-Way-U-Wagon Lucky Member Offline Posts: 14 Location: San Francisco North= Duluth! Joined: Aug 12^th, 2009	Re: drift socks Reply #11 - Oct 1^st, 2010 at 6:00am	Quote Print Post
	I bring & use a drift sock every trip. If you don't currently have a 2" hand clamp that you lock on to the gunwale- serious fishermen need one (IMHO). They weigh less than 5 oz. & can handle the rope for an anchor, drift sock, transducer & stringer ( or any combo all at once, it's like a handle for your over the side fishing stuff that you can take off at a squeeze of the hand! For $0.99 bring 2 ) I tie the sock to a 6' foot leader by, 1/2" cord. I can let it out to 6' (for most drag) or have it at the edge of the canoe, this will vary your drag considerably. Attached to the thwart area of the gunwale the stern & bow can fish from the same side safely & effectively in wind & big water. Simply bring in a few feet of line or the whole thing to up the speed your drifting. Worth a try on a trip any how & very handy in many off boat situations! WWYW


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Which-Way-U-Wagon Lucky Member Offline Posts: 14 Location: San Francisco North= Duluth! Joined: Aug 12^th, 2009	Re: drift socks Reply #12 - Oct 1^st, 2010 at 6:11am	Quote Print Post
	BTW, of course don't attach to the middle of the canoe ( yolk ) where you will be broadside to the lake, but from the rear thwart you are safe as a bedbug. If you feel you are unsafe simply pull the sock in & the canoe will straighten out as the sock will pull your canoe straight from behind. Then paddle where you need to go to be happy. In big water I feel safer with the sock out to steady the canoe while fishing.


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Preacher Contributer Subscriber Offline Posts: 1327 Location: COTU Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #13 - Oct 1^st, 2010 at 1:57pm	Quote Print Post
	As a solo paddler, tieing behind me isn't always the best option. The reach-around is sometimes a tippy situation. However, we soloists can run the line under the stern handle and tie to something a little more accessible. Paul Mason used to have a cam rig on his decks for towing canoes in rapids. He could quickly secure a painter line to start towing & quickly release it if he was getting pulled into the flow.


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db Web-lackey Inukshuk Voyageur Offline Posts: 5465 Location: Just off the beaten path. Joined: Sep 14^th, 2002	Re: drift socks Reply #14 - Oct 3^rd, 2010 at 6:37am	Quote Print Post
	Preacher wrote on Oct 1^st, 2010 at 1:57pm: As a solo paddler, tieing behind me isn't always the best option. The reach-around is sometimes a tippy situation. However, we soloists can run the line under the stern handle and tie to something a little more accessible. I once considered that for a bag o' rocks (anchor) but thought better of it. Tandem paddlers have those two extra hands attached to arms that solo paddlers don't. I could see a drift sock working well with that configuration if it drained. Easy does it?


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8126 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: drift socks Reply #15 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 3:21pm	Quote Print Post
	Never used a drift sock but did use db's bag of rocks method, except it was length of chain, and I was on the Pierre Marquette river on a two day canoe float/camping trip. I would advise anyone that uses any type of drift sock/anchor no matter how it's secured to have a sharp knife handy to cut yourself free if for whatever reason your chosen method fails at the worst possible time. I always carry a razor sharp neck knife or easily accessible straight blade for such times. By the way, a 3 ft hunk of chain makes a excellent way to slow down and not hang up on a river/lake. Of course I wouldn't want to portage it in the back-country.


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: drift socks Reply #16 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 5:40pm	Quote Print Post
	solotripper wrote on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 3:21pm: I always carry a razor sharp neck knife or easily accessible straight blade for such times. Seems like a rather drastic and desparate solution. Suggest you seek counsel from a mental health professional.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8126 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: drift socks Reply #17 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 6:36pm	Quote Print Post
	Old Salt wrote on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 5:40pm: solotripper wrote on Oct 4^th, 2010 at 3:21pm: I always carry a razor sharp neck knife or easily accessible straight blade for such times. Seems like a rather drastic and desparate solution. Suggest you seek counsel from a mental health professional. What are you trying to say OS Surely you approve of always being prepared for the worst. I know we have some Doctors in the house, maybe Wally would give me some counseling, or not


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: drift socks Reply #18 - Oct 5^th, 2010 at 3:27am	Quote Print Post
	The question is, 'wh at are YOU saying?' Of course I am always prepared for the worst and advocate the same. It's the use of a knife on one's neck that is open to question.
	« Last Edit: Oct 5^th, 2010 at 4:45am by Old Salt »

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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8126 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: drift socks Reply #19 - Oct 5^th, 2010 at 2:53pm	Quote Print Post
	OS, A picture is worth a thousand words. I assure you the "neck" refers to one of the carry options, NOT it's intended use (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: drift socks Reply #20 - Oct 5^th, 2010 at 4:29pm	Quote Print Post
	Solo, I had figured as much. Just pulling your string a bit...


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8126 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: drift socks Reply #21 - Oct 5^th, 2010 at 5:59pm	Quote Print Post
	Old Salt wrote on Oct 5^th, 2010 at 4:29pm: Solo, I had figured as much. Just pulling your string a bit... I should know by now


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Old Salt Inukshuk Offline Posts: 4871 Location: Crossville, TN Joined: Jun 17^th, 2004	Re: drift socks Reply #22 - Oct 6^th, 2010 at 12:35am	Quote Print Post
	Back to driftsocks...


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Which-Way-U-Wagon Lucky Member Offline Posts: 14 Location: San Francisco North= Duluth! Joined: Aug 12^th, 2009	Re: drift socks Or Anchors Reply #23 - Oct 17^th, 2010 at 7:32am	Quote Print Post
	Keep a Knife Handy... Really? Yep! In an Emergency 'Cut The Rope "now"'. Any line that keeps you connected to the bottom should be ready to be cut at any time ( ie keep a knife or a slipknot ready ). Including drift socks & anchors . Fact is Drift Socks & anchors, weigh little & on windy days can help or hinder a canoe. Keep the Sock close & remove it when moving the Canoe for a distance. Youz Guyz Know..... -WWUW


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mastertangler Inukshuk Offline Posts: 3111 Location: florida Joined: Feb 1^st, 2010	Re: drift socks Reply #24 - Oct 17^th, 2010 at 12:21pm	Quote Print Post
	Some may question ST and WWUW advice on keeping a knife handy to cut the rope but here is a little story to illustrate such sage advice. I was backcountry saltwater fishing in a gheenoe. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) A super sweet set-up that you can still paddle especially with a current. Anyway, I had some 25 ft of anchor rope as I would usually tie off along the side of the boat in 3 to 5 ft of water. At the end of one trip I decided to try a hole in a pass. It didn't look like it but the tide was moving pretty good and when that anchor finally caught there wasn't enough scope and the current was literally pushing the boat out from under me. With only inches to spare and a few seconds left I grabbed a bait knife and cut the line. Sitting somewhat sideways the boat would of filled and probably sank very quickly and I would of been in a world of hurt back in the middle of nowhere with night coming on. Stuff can happen, be ready for it. I more or less got lucky and didn't have to pay for my stupidity or ignorance or whatever you want to call it.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8126 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: drift socks Reply #25 - Oct 18^th, 2010 at 2:18pm	Quote Print Post
	Some people learn from other's misfortunes/close calls, some either need the experience first hand, or live in denial I use a slipknot on anchor whenever it's deployed, but always have my knife handy. When you see movies or read stories about the days of iron men in wooden ships, you understand that even though they were the masters of ropes and knots, they always had a sharp knife on their person. A knot is essentially a mechanical device. Like all devices, they can fail/foul at the most inopportune times. A knife, assuming it's metallurgically sound only needs to be kept as sharp as possible to perform it's primary function.


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