Reading Water by CURRENT & DRIFT (Not Just Waves)
Most anglers watch waves… very few watch movement. That’s where the edge is.
Q: What is current drift?
A: It’s the sideways movement of water caused by tide, swell angle, and wind.
You’ll see it as:
Foam lines sliding left or right
Bait drifting instead of sitting still
Your sinker slowly walking
Fish love this because food gets carried to them.
Q: Why do fish feed better in moving water?
A: Current does the work.
Fish sit facing the flow and ambush food drifting past — less effort, more reward.
No current = lazy bites.
Too much current = bait won’t settle.
Q: How do I spot a good drift zone?
A: Look for:
Foam lines moving steadily (not racing)
A gutter where water exits back to sea
A calm patch next to fast water (eddies)
These are natural feeding lanes.
Q: Should I cast with or against the drift?
A: With the drift: More natural presentation
Slightly up current: Lets bait settle and drift into the zone
Against strong drift: Avoid – bait lifts and spins unnaturally
Q: What sinker works best in drifting water?
A: Mild drift: Pyramid or bottle sinker
Strong drift: Grapnel (but don’t over-grip)
Too much grip: Bait looks dead — loosen up
Movement attracts fish.
Q: How long should my trace be in current?
A: Slow drift: Shorter trace (30–50cm)
Medium drift: Longer trace (60–100cm)
Fast drift: Float or longer leader to lift bait
Match the speed of the water.
Q: Does wind affect current?
A: Big time.
Onshore wind = pushes bait shoreward
Side wind = increases sideways drift
Offshore wind = can calm surface but speed up undercurrent
Always watch your line angle.
Q: Common mistake anglers make?
A: Casting into “nice-looking water” with no movement.
If foam isn’t moving, food isn’t either.
Takeaway
Don’t fight the current — fish with it.
A bait that drifts naturally gets eaten faster than one that sits still.