How to Use a Drift Sock
A drift sock, also called a sea anchor, helps to keep a boat from drifting too fast on windy days. With a drift sock, a fisherman can fish in open water without constantly fighting the wind or worrying about being blown out to sea. A drift sock resembles a big vinyl funnel. It serves not only as an anchor, but can stabilize the bow or stern of the boat while trolling, or help keep a boat from bouncing up and down in choppy seas. You can use a single drift sock or multiples.
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Instructions
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Tie one end of the rope to the loop at the top of the drift sock. Measure 10 feet from this point and tie a loop in the rope. Insert a carabiner in the loop. Tie a second loop 1 foot up from the first. Tie the other end of the rope to the inside of the drift sock at the bottom of the narrowest part of the funnel or cone.
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Idle your boat upwind from the place in the water you want to drift across. Holding onto the rope near the carabiner, toss the drift sock into the water, near the center of the boat. Or you can use two drift socks, one at either end of the boat. Once the drift sock or socks are in the water, wrap the rope around a fixed object on the boat, such as a stanchion or handle, and clip the two loops together with the carabiner to secure the rope.
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3
Turn the boat slightly into the drift sock, which should put the boat broadside to the wind. The boat should drift slowly over the area you want to fish.
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Pull on the end of the rope you attached to the center of the cone to collapse the drift sock and haul it in. You can drive you boat back to your starting point to repeat the process, or travel to a new area to drift.
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Trail a drift sock on either side of the bow on windy days to keep the boat from bouncing as much in choppy water.
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