I have a 20ft Sea Hunt Walkaround and really dont have the option of using a trolling motor(if anyone knows a way please let me know). To compensate I drift. Problem is I always seem to drift too fast. We drifted some grasslines last night casting artificials and couldnt get slow enough. Same with when I am drift fishing for flounder. Do driftsocks work or are they a waste of money? Any insight on inshore drift fishing would be much appreciated.
Drift socks/ sea anchors work better offshore than inshore. They will help to stop a drift caused by wind, and keep the bow pointed into the sea, but they won’t slow a drift that is current induced, which is most of our inshore drifting.
Try dragging an anchor, or a concrete block. Let it out until it just hits bottom, plus a little more line. With adjustments to the weight and line length you should be able to control your drift, or stop it if you get into fish. It’s hard to fish inshore with a large boat.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Concrete block is a good idea, I bet that will be very efficent on my flats boat
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
I had a 20’ walkaround Grady White and mounted a MinnKota electric motor on the bow. Had to have it modified with a 72"extended stainless steel shaft, but it worked just fine for 10 years or so. Mounted it on a piece of SS plate to allow it to extend over the rub rail. It was a little tough putting it in and taking it out under the bow rail but you get used to it. I’ve also seen a bow rail “hinged” so it folds back out of the way when you deploy the electric motor. Another way is to purchase twin motors from MinnKota that attach to your cavitation plate on the outboard. Instead of pulling it pushes which is ok until it gets windy than the bow tends to drift off the wind.
Ice Blue Pathfinder 2200
“Kemosabe”
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Thanks for the advice . I know a walk around Is not ideal for inshore fishining, but small skiff is not in the budget right now…hopefully soon. Just trying to make do with what I have at the moment until I can get a skiff. Enjoy the 4th.
I had the same dilemma in my old 20’ T-top. Conditions had to be perfect to drift properly. I did always dangle my anchor in the water so that when I caught a fish I could easily slip out my anchor line and hold that spot. Helped find and hold a spot without making much noise or recranking the motor and setting the anchor to refish it.
I loved my old boat but don’t miss it. A TOUGH way to fish!
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
Why can’t you use a smaller footprint Minn Kota Trolling Motor with iPilot? That’s what I have and the TM is controlled by either a cable to a footpedal or the iPilot remote. The footprint on your boat is minimal and it has a quick disconnect bracket so you can take it off in about 20 seconds. They make a 60 or 62" shaft for it. iPilot is great, you can set it to keep your boat in one spot as it has an internal GPS and you can just focus on fishing. Check out Minnkota’s web site and look at the Riptide with iPilot. IM me if you have any questions.
Chuck D - Hilton Head, SC
Ranger z21 Intracoastal
I have one on bow of my 21CC Sea Pro, we use them all time up here in upstate for trolling for stripers
See plenty of Walkarounds with them on the bow.
Mine has the 60" shaft, I use it a lot when at IOP
In fact I have even pulled planer boards in the creeks with some success just like we do on the lakes up here
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
Use a foot mounted Mincota 24 V it has 80 # thrust and operates with the steering wheel and hand dial throtel have been using one for over 20 yrs just installed a new one this year love it! I have also drug a log chain with some sucuess!