Drifting basics

Drifting is a catfishing technique that involves dragging several baits behind the boat at once. This technique allows a fisherman to cover more ground than traditional anchoring. It also allows you to cover multiple parts of the water column, and it gives the fish a moving bait which often triggers a reaction strike.
Drifting is similar to trolling, but drifting is done at much slower speeds. As a general rule, you should drift faster in warm weather and you want to go slower in cold weather. I’ve found the ideal drift speed to be somewhere between 0.2 and 0.8 mph depending on the water temperature. When drift fishing, wind is generally used as the means to move the boat. However, drift speed and direction can be manipulated using drift socks and/or a trolling motor if necessary.
There are several different rigs folks use when drift fishing. Probably the most commonly used rig is called a Santee rig, which allows your bait to stay about a foot or two off of the bottom. This will make your bait less likely to get snagged as you drag it along, while also making it easier for the catfish to see. Other popular drift rigs include three way rigs, downlines, planers boards, and slip bobbers. I will be posting videos over the course of the next year, highlighting how, when, and where to use these different rigs.
The last thing to keep in mind is that drifting isn’t always the best option. Drifting with Santee rigs requires a relatively clean bottom in order to avoid constant hang ups. Drifting is also not possible in situations where current is very strong. In my opinion, it is a technique that works best in reservoirs, but it is also effective in some larger slow moving rivers. It should also be noted that drifting takes alot of patience and practice! There is an art to putting out 8-12 rods without creating a tangled mess. It may be wise to start with just a few lines and add more as you feel comfortable. In order to avoid tangling your lines, it is imperative that you stagger your rigs. In other words, put two rigs 120 yards back, put a couple more 80 yards back, and a couple more 40 yards back. This will likely make more sense once I am able to post a video of me putting out my drift setup…but for now, I hope this information will help you get started!