Drifting for Cats

[CatKing]

Does anyone use the Driftmaster T-5000 or T5100 for drifting? Anyone have any home-made rod holder ideas? I have a McKee craft 87" across front to back. I use the Santee edition rod holders which are mounted all over the boat when anchored. Need ideas to drift 6 or so rods off the back. Thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Travis

[Earl Phillips Jr]

I drift the James River all the time in the spring, first thing is not to overload the boat with lines when drifting I only use 4 lines drifting, I have 2 straight off the back left/right of center about 4 feet apart then I use a simple down rigger set up on each corner. the center lines are long and "bottom bouncing" and the other two are some what suspended at the depth the fish are holding. I use the same rod holder as you so that is no big advantage or dis advantage and rod holder that will keep them straight is key I use the cannon mini troll series.

[CatKing]

Thanks Earl!

[catfishrus]

Why not drift off the side...I drift 7-8 rods off the side here on the yadkin when I drift with the wind out of a 18-20 ft boat. I use the santee rod holders too. Not the flat models but the tilted ones.

[Earl Phillips Jr]

the James River has tides that can run in or out at over 5 knots sometimes that is why I only go off the back, I tried the sides and just got a big birds nest, The James is not a "wind" drift river, you have to use the tide, I have a method I use for drifting slower from the side, but it is still being perfected, so we are talking two different methods of the same thing, it is just adapting for what works where you are. as far a I know there are only a handful of guys here drifting, most talk about it but can't really do it as they don't practice and try different set ups, they just throw lines out and pull anchor and go where ever willy nilly, that is not drifting that's..... I don't know what that is but I see it all the time, I have figured out how to control the drift to target a hole drifting and place the baits in the "target" zone with out stirring up the hole making the bait look as natural as I can, mostly with eel and slabs of shad.

[Pier Pressure]

I think all of us drift fish a good bit different. If I can drift sideways w/two drift socks, I can run a bunch of lines w/out too much trouble. If I have to troll I'll put out more planer boards than a side drift, to cover more water. Redi rig floats and planers just expand your coverage when you only can use the width of your boat vs. the length. Suspended down rods and bottom bouncers can usually live side by side. Keeping lots of lines straight is easy compared to covering productive water at the right depth for the conditions. That is always the hard part.

[Rookie12]

I dirft 4 or 5 off the side of my boat with a drift sock or when trolling I run 4 off the back and two short ones off the side up front. I use slip corks and I also drift with Santee rigs and down rods. I'll leave the "striper style" catfishing to you Jim......Ha!