Gulf Coast Fisherman Magazine Vol 39 No 2 - Spring 2015 | Page 11

Gulf Coast Closeup

by Danno Wise

Quick Drift Strategies
for the Lower Laguna Madre

S

pring along the Gulf Coast
means warmer weather, more
dramatic tidal movement and,
most of all, strong winds. The
higher than normal wind velocity is often
a game changer for coastal fishermen,
many of whom are accustomed to drift
fishing inshore lakes and
bays. The most obvious
effects of the higher winds on
drift fishermen are rougher
water and faster drifts.
Most often, fishermen
simply look for protected
water. However, sometimes
the best concentrations of
fish are not in protected
coves, but rather right out in
the middle of wind-blown
flats. Fishermen hoping to be
able to productively fish
these areas under high wind
conditions should learn to
use spring winds to their
advantage, rather than
looking for a way to avoid
unprotected areas.
Probably the one thing drift
fishermen struggle with the most under
high wind conditions is being able to
thoroughly cover an area with repeated
casts. Essentially, a quick drift speed
means fewer casts in a given area, as the
boat passes over the area too quickly to
allow multiple casts. Of course, there are
various ways to slow the boat in order to
get more casts in over a productive stretch
of water. Anchoring and staking out at
various intervals along a flat will
accomplish this. And, most every
seasoned bay fisherman knows to employ
a drift sock to help slow their drift and
stabilize the boat.
But, at times these measures can be
more trouble than they are worth.
Typically, by late March, the water has
usually warmed sufficiently to make fish
more aggressive, meaning “power
fishing” tactics are in play. So, rather than
spend too much time and energy trying

to fight the wind, anglers should learn to
adapt their fishing style in order to take
advantage of strong spring winds.
A very simple solution to many high
wind situations is something many
fishermen refer to as “power drifting.”
This is basically a mad dash across a flat

while fan casting
and trying to cover
as much water as possible. Power drifting
is effective in two situations: 1) fish are
scattered making it necessary to cover
massive amounts of water; or, 2) fish are
very aggressive and willing to swim a
pretty good distance to attack a bait. One,
or both, of these conditions is often
present during April.
Drift Strategies
In order to be effective with power
drifting, there are a couple of things that
need to be considered. For starters, the
right type of bait or lure is essential.
Because you will be moving a quick clip
during a power drift, finesse baits or any
other lures which require a slow retrieve
are a poor choice. It is far too difficult to
maintain line contact with a slow sinking
or suspending bait when drifting rapidly
toward it. Also, baits which require a lot
of angler manipulation to impart action
are not a good choice. Twitching baits at

a high drift speed usually result in line
twists and tangles. Rather, it is better to
use simple cast and reel retrieve baits
such as paddle tail soft-plastics and
spoons. If using soft-plastic tails, it is
usually best to use a bit heavier (1/4 or
3/8 ounce) jig head than may generally
be