did you tie off the back of the bags to the boat? for them to keep you from going side to side you need a trolling bag and not a drift bag. the first time I had drift bags but didnt like then. I went back to using a trolling plate to slow me down. then we found a set and my son got me to try them. and they work great for me so i'm still using them. but the trolling bags has rope that ties off the back of the bags to my rod holder base. if you don't tie off the back of the bags they wont work right.