This will keep it from tangling up and work well while attaching to the cleats of your boat. You will need only about 3 or 4 feet of rope for each sock. The soft braided rope is easy to tie and will not scratch or rub the paint off your boat. It is also easier on your hands when pulling the socks back in. If you don't have a drift bag, I would definitely recommend getting one.
Most breaks have a string at the narrow end to change the speeds.
Closing the string and opening it can make the slightest difference to help catch more walleyes. I prefer the ones made by JNB Originals. They have the most advanced boat brake on the market. Joe and Nancy Beech have spent many hours designing the perfect drift bag.