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Topic: Predicting Drift  (Read 1330 times)

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E Kayaker

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I thought I was going to have an easy day at Gerstle Cove today. The forecast was for something around 3@17 from the SW and 3 mph from SSE. The tide was going from .5 to 3.9 to 2.3. Yet when I got otw the drift was so fast I couldn’t use my slow pitch jigs at all and I needed a very heavy jig head to keep my swim bait close to vertical. The fishing was slow but I managed a few small rockfish and a decent cab. What factors determine how fast the drift will be? Is it even possible to predict what the drift direction or speed will be.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


pmmpete

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If your drift is largely due to wind, if you add a wind direction indicator or streamer to your kayak, it'll help you point your bow directly into the wind and pedal or paddle to stay stationary over the bottom.  For pictures of the wind direction indicator which I use, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=18212.msg195603#msg195603 . I find it to be a valuable tool.

If your drift is due to a combination of current and wind, you'll have to pedal or paddle at an angle to both the wind and the current to stay stationary over the bottom.  I let myself drift for a minute, and then pedal or paddle back up the track shown on the GPS screen on my fish finder.


E Kayaker

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Yes I use my FF track to see my drift. I'm trying to figure out what the drift is likely to be ahead of time.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


Nolanduke

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Good question.  On sat at LM, the wind was blowing hard from the SW, but the drift was from the NE.  I had to paddle hard to avoid my lure travelling faster than my boat.  I suppose I could have lightly paddled SW to move backwards, NE, at 1 kt and troll in reverse. :smt044


E Kayaker

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So, nobody knows anything about drift or is it a super secret?
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


yakyakyak

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I use FF and watch to figure out drift speed.  Other than that, I look at my line angle and prepared myself with forecast (which only act as a guideline), but that's it.  I don't try to predict, I look at the current conditions to assess drift and current.

+1 on what pmmpete said about 'test' drift and watching FF.
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E Kayaker

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I use FF and watch to figure out drift speed.  Other than that, I look at my line angle and prepared myself with forecast (which only act as a guideline), but that's it.  I don't try to predict, I look at the current conditions to assess drift and current.

+1 on what pmmpete said about 'test' drift and watching FF.

I’m trying to understand why the drift was fast. The wind was light and there wasn’t a big tidal swing. I’ve been out on the ocean when there was no drift. What makes the difference? Is there some way to know ahead of time how strong the drift will be. Obviously wind speed has an affect on drift speed. Was it a matter of combined light wind and tide added together to add up to a fast drift? A fast drift day is not good for slow pitch fishing. It would be good to know ahead of time what the drift will be like.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


NowhereMan

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This is a great question, and I too would be interested if anybody has a good answer...
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crash

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Use Navionics smartphone app. Go to salt point. Click on the arrow for ebb and flow. It will tell you predicted direction and strength of tidal drift. Adjust for wind and swell taking into account speed and direction. It’s not great but it’s a start. Pics for reference.
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jonesz

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When ever I've been in a fast drift it's during a large tidal swing. ie: big difference between hi and lo tide. That's why you fish halis on a small tidal swing. They don't like the strong currents. If there's no wind then you will keep pace with the current. Add wind and it's a whole new game. Now you have to compensate for the wind's influence if you want to stay vertical to your lure.


E Kayaker

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When ever I've been in a fast drift it's during a large tidal swing. ie: big difference between hi and lo tide. That's why you fish halis on a small tidal swing. They don't like the strong currents. If there's no wind then you will keep pace with the current. Add wind and it's a whole new game. Now you have to compensate for the wind's influence if you want to stay vertical to your lure.

That’s partly why I asked the question. It was a small tide that day and light wind. It didn’t reverse direction with the change of tide.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


Bushy

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3 foot at 17 seconds might be the clue.  Likely a continuation of that south swell from last week the long period denotes very powerful swell.  Frequency + amplitude.  Strong swells are likely to create strong sideshore currents.

My 2¢


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E Kayaker

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3 foot at 17 seconds might be the clue.  Likely a continuation of that south swell from last week the long period denotes very powerful swell.  Frequency + amplitude.  Strong swells are likely to create strong sideshore currents.

My 2¢


Bushy
That makes sense. Maybe it’s the long period added to the wind.
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=42846.msg470404#msg470404

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.  ~John Buchan


Bushy

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The long period means more energy.  That energy transorms from potential to kinetic when the swell hits the shore and becomes braking waves.  More energy= more water moving.

Bushy

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