I would be interested to see what is the ideal drift speed people like when softbaiting. For me it’s the slower the better, not stopped but around .5 km. Then I can use lighter jig heads and have more time in the strike zone. Heavier jig heads just hit the bottom to quick instead of letting the bait drift down.

I’ve had many good sessions wrecked by the wind. I fish from a 6mtr tinny and have used some big funnel type sea anchors up to 2.0 mtr diameter but I find the funnel ones are pretty everage, so I Just brought a 7 foot ocean angler handbrake so I see how that gos. Is anyone using one of these and how are guys finding them. Cheers

I think most people find that they need at least one size up from recommended. True for everything from kayaks to big trailer boats.

viscount wrote: I fish from a 6.2m center console and i like around the .4-.6 range so you can cover the ground and use 1/2oz heads and lighter, i use the OA handbrake and it made a huge difference to the drift, i hang it off the stern corners once i get the drift right as i have a casting platform up front. I didn't put on the retrieval line the first time which was a mistake. I gave away my two drouges which i thought were good for soft baiting.

Thanks mate, what size handbrake do you use?

Espresso wrote: I use two big Tagit drogues off the stern, if too windy for those or otherwise - I use the engine idle in reverse to hold position. Or use metal jigs instead of lightweight jigheads.

Yep good idea about using the motor and I did try 2 drogues, took up a bit of room out the back of the boat. Hopefully the OA handbrake will be better. 7 foot / 2.1 mtr in diameter, my last funnel type was 1.8 and wasn’t quite there. Thinking the parachute type might have a bit more stopping power. Their next size is 12 foot / 3.6 metres. Now that’s getting big.

Uncle wrote: The OA I got was great from the start but adding a bungee to it made the performance even better. Stops the handbrake collapsing.

Thanks for that I’ll rig one up.

I got the same as you 7ft, I will do what uncle said and put in a bungy cord to take the surge out

Yup, as everyone says, a length of thick bungee to act as a damper is well,worth it.


I miss my old Stabi 1750.......

Hi guys - how do you add the bungy do your drogues?

Ecko wrote: Hi guys - how do you add the bungy do your drogues?