Drift Control drift socks in moving water, part 2

Anchoring and precision casting is a highly effective year-round presentation for river walleye and sauger. Whether targeting the edge of a sand flat for pre-spawn piggies, a deep hole in a river bend for sumo sauger, or a wing dam for a summer mixed bag bonanza of walleye, smallmouth, white bass, or whatever else the river will offer, “throwing the hook” is something that all river anglers must be comfortable with in order to maximize their catch rates. Most river anglers will anchor off the bow of their boats, even with or above their casting target. In a calm day or in the presence of a downstream wind, the boat will normally maintain its position relative to the casting target. However, in an upstream wind, the wind will catch the stern of the boat and cause the boat to pivot around the anchor line, moving the boat away from the casting target. Even a gentle upstream wind will cause the boat to swing side-to-side, changing casting angles, causing snags, and generally making the angler’s bait presentation less effective. This is another situation where a Drift Control drift sock can help you regain control of your boat. When anchoring, the use of the Drift Control drift sock is quite simple: anchor off the bow of the boat as you would normally, and then deploy a single Drift Control drift sock off the stern of the boat. The sock will fill with water moving downstream, and will help to anchor the stern in position even in the face of a stiff upstream breeze. With the boat remaining in position, your casting angles won’t change, you’ll experience fewer snags and tangles, and your presentations will remain as effective as possible. The result: more fish in your boat, because you have regained control of your boat with a Drift Control drift sock.