5 Tips For Drifting Creeks, Flats, And Shorelines Like A Pro

Is drifting a good way to cover ground when you’re looking for inshore fish?

This is a great question that recently came in from one of our members, George Arndt, from North Carolina.

The short answer is yes, but if you want to maximize your drifts, you’re going to want to keep a few things in mind.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• How to plan out your drifts to catch more fish
• The two tools you need that will make drifting much easier
• The big mistake people make when drifting
• And much more

Check it out below.

How To Drift Flats & Creeks [VIDEO]

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Here are five tips to maximize your drifts to catch more fish:

Tip #1: Choose your drifts carefully

If there’s a south wind, you want to choose a creek or shoreline that runs north and south, and start on the south side.

Tip #2: Have an anchor and drift sock on board

If there’s little current and the wind is powering your drift, a drift sock is a great way to slow yourself down if you’re drifting too fast.

And if you find a spot where there’s a lot of feeding fish, then you’ll want to anchor up to keep yourself there.

I recommend a stick anchor because it’s so quick and quiet to deploy.

Tip #3: Turn your boat perpendicular to the wind to slow yourself down

If the wind is really blowing and you’re moving too fast, turn your boat sideways.

You’ll have more drag in the water, and therefore drift much more slowly.

Tip #4: Use your engine as a rudder to steer yourself

If the wind is pushing you too close to shore or away from the fish, you can steer your boat, even if the engine is off, to keep yourself moving in the right direction.

Tip #5: If you’re not actively paying attention to where you’re going, anchor up

If you have to tie on a new lure or grab a sandwich, be sure to anchor yourself before you do so.

You’d be surprised at how quickly you can get pushed into shore or up on a sandbar when you’re drifting and not paying attention.

Should You Troll/Drift Or Drive Your Boat To Find Feeding Fish?

In addition to the tips above, I wanted to answer George’s other question:

Is trolling or driving a better way to find fish?

When you’re trolling (which is really similar to drifting in this case), you’re making casts and moving slowly and quietly, so you’re much more likely to find fish.

If you’re driving your boat, on the other hand, you’re going to be going much faster, you’ll be much louder, and you won’t have a line in the water, so it’s easy to miss feeding zones.

I recommend driving your boat to a general area, and then trolling or drifting to find exactly where the fish are eating.

Conclusion

Drifting is a great way to cover lots of ground and catch fish, and by planning your drifts carefully, using an anchor and drift sock, and positioning your boat correctly, you can make the most out of each drift.

Have any questions about drifting?

Let us know in the comments below!

And if you want more videos like this where we break down fishing spots and strategies on online maps, then you’ll love our Insider Club’s weekly spot dissections.

Every Monday I get on online maps and dissect a spot from Texas to Florida to Virginia showing where the best places to fish are.

As an Insider, you’ll also get access to our Insider reports where do spot dissections and then go out and fish them and show you what worked and what didn’t.

Plus, you’ll also get discounts to our online tackle store.

Click here to learn more about the Insider Club.

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