Drift with the wind?

[Mikeps326]

What do you guys prefer drifting or anchoring using herring and live lining, or trolling? I have trolled couple times and really get bored and more tired lol. Would I still be able to catch as much fish drifting if I mark them while they are chasing bait?

[The Birdman]

I would say it depends on how strong the wind is blowing.

On saturday I was drifting over a spot that was about a football field big. had 2 lines out. One with liveline and one with a 1/2oz weight to bring it down. I put both poles in rod holders and threw my jig until i got a hit.
Got 4 smallies in the same area over about 5 drifts. I like drifting over varying depths. for smallies i start at 15 and end at 40ft, with the best action being around 22ft.
I also just got 2 downriggers and got 1 smallie on a very slowly trolled spoon at 40ft water. its boring, and battery draining, but very cool to get a hit on a down rigger. you can cover lots of ground and fish through bait schools with fish feeding.
So if the winds blowing pretty good- i drift. when the wind is slow- i troll. but still do both the same day. i never anchor.

[GetANet]

All three ways will catch fish. I do all three at different times and situations.
The key to all of them is to find the fish! And then stay with them!
Trolling and drifting cover more water. Anchoring works when fish are relating to some type of structure such as a point, hump, or creek channel.
When you anchor remember your in one spot and if they move you need to as well or wait till hopefully the next school passes by ........

[GetANet]

I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE the fact that most of you don't like DRAGGIN BAIT and think trolling is BORING!!!!!

[jimmythegreek]

depends on what your fishing for. If you watch the pro bass guys, they all cast and work spots, thats how bass behave and live. If you watch the pro walleye guys, they all troll 90% of the time, unless they are stacked in a channel or on some structure. Personally if you wanna be a multi species guy learn to troll and move. I can catch just as many bass trolling if not more than u guys casting, sitting in one spot is a rare thing for me unless Im working stripers/eyeballs in deep water or downlining herring, otherwise Im on the move. Drifting works well to get upwind of fish u KNOW are there, and working past them over and over. Remember the 2 biggest keys to fish is presentation and depth. Everything else is secondary. If your bait is at the right depth and ur offering is the right food for the body of water you are on, u will be successful unless crazy weather or some other issue is against you, its a fact of fishing

[flatcreek]

I love drifting, it's my favorite way to fish, sit back and watch my slip bobber. Only problem is a lot of the time the wind won't take you where you want to go. (over productive water) Anyway lately I've been trying a new technique. I drift with small planers as my bobbers and when the wind doesn't move me the way I want or I want to reset my drift. I just pass the two right planers to the right side or starboard side of the boat and troll away to where I want to be. The small planer act like bobbers and maintain good separation of my lines and keep them away from the path the boat just traveled either drifting or trolling.

[GetANet]

That's technically TROLLING isn't it??? HAHAHAHAHA!!!! You have a very efficient system there Phil. It's the best of both worlds and NO TANGLES too.
I must admit I will have a set of em' soon!!!!! Hey, by the way didn't I happen to notice a downrigger hangin of the back of that sea nymph???

Learning from each other makes us all better fishermen!!!!