Opinions on drift chute application

Ok, so I have heard from many in our area that they tend to shy away from using a drift chute due to the "whitie" factor, that they attract Mr.W's attention. I have heard that in Nor Cal this happens, and I would like to hear from anyone who knows this for a fact or has had personal experience of this happening. I have considered adding one of these into my gear to help with the drift factor on windy days, but do not want the unwelcome visit from as they say in Hawaii, "the landlord"....    Mike

I have never heard about them attracting the landlord.  I use mine all the time in the ocean without fear (ignorance is bliss).

I used mine this weekend at Fort Ross and was able to remain fishing in the stiff wind when everyone else had packed it in because the drift was too fast.

I toss it off my bowline and it works great.

EK

I have read and seen pictures posted about GWS getting interested in drift chutes. I think this happened last year at Ano. It was not like the shark launched out of the water and attacked it. Basically it swam around a bit, nudged it, then decided to take a nibble. The guys on the boat didn't care since they where in a fairly large boat. I think if that was to happen in a kayak you would have plenty of time to toss your drift chute away, then clean your underwear while slowly drifting away.

Davenport- last year- Robert Hirsch in a 17' whaler.  He really wants to go kayak fishing with me, but specifically says he will not do Davenport in the yak.  (though we know the landlord can be anywhere he pleases)

Robert  was recounting this to me just last week, and the incident disconcerted him to some extent.  Pretty funny.

Allen

better the drift sock than you! GWS are rare, so if it came up to see
the sock, it would have seen you, sock or no.

and if anything it's probably a deterrent, you ever seen a
seal trailing a drift sock?

there is some other safety in using the drift sock:

if you fall out, and the wind is strong, your kayak will not blow away before you can get to it.

there's some good evidence that those two kayakers killed in the 80's by a GWS
near malibu lost their boats in a strong wind, before or after the attack.

if you are fishing solo and in the wind and out a bit, being separated from your yak is pretty
dangerous, PFD or no. If the wind is up, I like to have a surf leash to attach myself to the boat if travelling,
and the drift sock out if not. a surf board leash in the 8 foot size will reach from your
bow toggle to your ankle and not get in the way much.

thornley doesn't like entrapment/tanglement, but I have had a 15 foot wave pound me while surfing
and being attached to the board is no big deal, just tows you a little, but you come up attached to
something very floaty... a good thing.

I was fishing solo in definite GWS territory on sunday, my drift sock was hooked to my bow, but not
deployed because I was using 5 live gophers and 5 blues (eventually let a couple gophers go)
as a drift sock before the wind really got going. those gophers worked well,   

 

was using 5 live gophers and 5 blues (eventually let a couple gophers go)
as a drift sock before the wind really got going. those gophers worked well,

Ever think that maybe a sea lion would think of that as free meal The last thing we need to do is "train" sea lions to think that kayaks are like cattle boats....hang around one long enough and you'll get a free meal 

I had a drift sock, used it once in the Bay....and it worked. But now I tend to call it a day when there is that need to use one....just remember that drift socks were originally designed for the bigger boats and not kayaks....

But if you do feel that need to ride out the wind and slow down the drift with a chute, make sure you use a bungee cord some where between the chute and your kayak to prevent the sudden "tugging" motion. Got that tip from Josh / Promethean Spark 

Just my 2 cents 

Thanks alot buddy. One drift chute headed to the garbage can. I use mine all the time, don't really see how you can fish in the wind without one but I never heard about it as a shark attractor till now.

swellrider:

I think John's point (and I agree) is that a chute is NOT an attractor, beyond the fact that anything in the water is a potential attractor for GWS.  They are very curious and I think perhaps even intelligent fish.  they will investigate stuff floating on the surface.

Unfortuneately, their means of investigation is kind of like a puppy's.  they will mouth it or bite it to check it out. 

So if you're out there on your yak and it is curious, you might get a nudge, or you might not.  If you have a chute going, it might check out the chute instead of your yak.

I personally would prefer never to see one in the water when i am yakking.

I've been one foot away from them while on a powerboat with the researchers and it was fascinating and very very cool.  We had the option though, of firing up the motors and skeedaddling anytime we wanted to......

Allen

this last weekend  was the perfect time to use a drift chute if you got out late.

no swell, and biting fish, but wind.  my stringer was full by 9 am or I would have deployed it and fished on. and I probably should have considering it was full of gophys  but I had a long day ahead of me with family stuff. at least some gophers went down. 5 Million of them to go! still got a score to settle with the smelt too...

mooch your comment about designed for a bigger boat is pure nonsense, I'm calling BS on that one,  .

getting up early is the best way to avoid using a drift chute, but sometimes one has a late night...


J

J - I don't get it 

Just I think the size of the boat doesn't have much to do with application of a drift chute. the ratio of windage
to resistance in the water is probably similar for a 16 foot skiff and 16 foot kayak.

J

Thanks to all for your thoughts on this. Mike

I've always felt the chute made me look less like food when I have it deployed.   I have worried however (since I have a very large chute) that perhaps a GW might swim INTO the chute, get it stuck on his nose and take me for a sleigh ride...  Perhaps it'd be a good idea to have a breakaway piece of 20-40lb line between the chute and the kayak...

PSparks solution to all problems is either breakaway mono or more tinsel. 

Well, you'd at least want a bungie between you and the shark to make the ride a little less bumpy.