Compared to other fishing strategies, drift-fishing isn’t complicated. In many cases, this method only requires choosing an area, dropping the lines over, and waiting for a bite. The fact that this type of fishing can be easy at times, probably prevents many anglers from studying and perfecting the technique.

When you drift, you’re boat is an extension of your rod, reel and terminal tackle. In fact, it’s an integral part of your presentation, whether you’re working the sandy flats for halibut or drifting over rocky structure for bass. It’s important to analyze the way your boat drifts. Every vessel behaves differently, based on a variety of factors such as length, beam, draft, windage, weight distribution and more.

The ideal situation would be for every vessel to drift sideways to the wind, because you tend to move over an area more slowly. Drifting in this manner also provides a good “spread” for multiple lines, while minimizing tangles. In reality, some boats drift bow first or stern first, or somewhere in between. It’s also important to learn how fast your boat drifts under different conditions. The most accurate way to measure your drift speed is with a GPS unit, because the GPS can provide a true measurement of your speed over ground. You can’t rely on your fishfinder or speedometer, which can be affected by water movement under your boat.

What can you to improve the drifting characteristics of your boat? To slow your craft down during the course of a drift, eliminate windage by putting down the Bimini top or removing canvas enclosures on your fly bridge. Depending on conditions, you may also be able to improve your drift angle by adjusting your outboard motor or I/O lower unit position. If you have an inboard boat, you can accomplish the same thing using the rudder. Adjusting to the right or left will help to bring about the stern in the direction opposite to the way the wheel is turned.

If the wind or current are not severe, this tactic may be all that’s needed. However, the surest way to correct your drift angle is to deploy a nylon sea anchor. Popular for keeping a boat bow to the wind in storms, sea anchors are standard equipment for anglers who drift-fish for a living, such as shark fishermen. Sea anchors are relatively inexpensive, and they fold up for convenient storage when not in use. Unfolding like an underwater parachute, a seas anchor works by creating drag. How it affects your boat depends upon where it’s placed on the vessel. For example, if you’re drifting with your bow to the wind, a sea anchor put off the windward stern quarter will help make the boat drift in a more sideways fashion. If you’re drifting stern to the wind, you would place it off the bow quarter.
Even if your boat drifts perfectly, a sea anchor is useful to slow down your drift speed. This can save the day when the winds are howling, or the wind and current are pushing your boat along too quickly. You know if you are drifting too fast if you are constantly feeding out line from your reel in free spool without reaching bottom. This indicates the need to slow down your drift to keep your bait in the strike zone as you move along.

Once you have a feeling for how your boat behaves, you’ll be better at getting in position for a drift. There are two basic factors that make your boat drift – wind and current. To predict where you will go and how fast you will go there, you must take both into account. To help determine the speed and direction of the wind, tie a piece of ribbon or light fabric to your VHF antenna. An easy trick for measuring current is to drop a shiny dime overboard and watch the direction in which it flutters. This will give you a general feeling for the strength and direction of the current.

When it comes to drifting over a particular fish-holding area, such as a reef or hard-bottom area, many people make the mistake of “over-shooting” the drift. If you try to drop your baits right on top of the spot, you’ll be well out of the strike zone when your bait or lure finally hits bottom. This is particularly true when there is strong wind and/or current. Motor well ahead of the spot and position your boat based on the reading of wind and current conditions.

Of course, there will be times when there is no wind or current at all. That’s the time to try “power drifting.” This effective technique is accomplished by kicking the motor in and out of gear to create an “artificial drift.” This will keep your boat and bait moving along in tantalizing fashion, even when Mother Nature refuses to cooperate.

About the Author: Ron Ballanti is a veteran outdoor writer, boater and angler. He also owns and operates Strike Zone Communications, a marine public relations and marketing agency based in Northridge, California. Phone: (818) 349-4608. Fax: (818) 709-5524. e-mail: strikezne@earthlink.net.