What baits do you throw on really windy days?

[jb_adams]

My boat is an older boat and small so fishing choppy water when the wind is howling at 15-25mph makes  a lot of work with the trolling motor.  I have a 65lb thrust 24V on a 15ft glass boat and it's still working hard on windy days.

So for a big highland reservoir with clear water, what would you throw, where, and why?

I know wind stirs up baitfish and typically pushes them up on points.  Wind also creates chop, which allows less light penetration.  Wind also creates noise so the loud trolling motor is not as big of a factor as one would think.  You can fish baits like crankbaits, rattle-traps, spinnerbaits, and spooks faster than you typically do.

Am I on the right track?

I typically have a hard time locating fish on the graph much less catching any.  I'm going to give it a try late tomorrow afternoon because the wind will die down some and the topwater bite should pick up.

[River Rat316]

Spinnerbait is my go to search bait in the wind, next would be a crank, which one depends on the depth I was fishing, but typically a bomber fat a or a bandit 200. Next would be a jig depending on how hard the wind is howling

[tbird]

Carolina rig

  T

[Catt]

I would throw out an anchor & quit fighting the wind

[Blue Streak]

I second the c rig.

[endless]

I would throw out an anchor & quit fighting the wind

I know I came close to dropping the anchor on several occasions but instead I fought with it. Like a dummy I was trying to jig.

[Jig Man]

If your lake is Beaver the spinnerbait bite may be like up here (not good anymore).  I go with jigs, senkos, and tubes.  I have them in many sizes so I keep trying until I get the size that allows me to fish the way I want to.

You also should be able to get up some of the streams and lessen the effect of the wind.  I mostly fish Stockton and some days you can not get out of the wind no matter where you go.

[Fishohio]

Spinnerbait is my go to search bait in the wind, next would be a crank, which one depends on the depth I was fishing, but typically a bomber fat a or a bandit 200. Next would be a jig depending on how hard the wind is howling

X2

I like flat side cranks on windy days give off a bit more flash.

It,s hard to beet a spinnerbait in the wind.IMO

[jb_adams]

I think my biggest problem is locating fish.  The wind/waves beat the banks up so bad that it creates a mudline up to 20ft off the shoreline.  On some banks, that makes muddy water 20ft out and up to 30ft deep on steep banks with structure.  I've tried fishing just outside of the muddy water, points, channels, humps, etc.  I still have a hard time finding the fish on the graph.

When it's blowing 15mph + you can't escape the wind no matter where you go on Beaver Lake.  I'll try dropping an anchor on deeper main lake points that hold fish and start throwing the basics and see what works.  That's all you can do I guess.

[AV8TOR]

1/2 - 3/4 spinners

Swimming Senkos with a 1/4 oz nose weight

5" Swimbaits

[brophog]

Anything dense and compact works great.

[OkobojiEagle]

Rattle Trap and spinnerbait

[gobig]

The wind/waves beat the banks up so bad that it creates a mudline up to 20ft off the shoreline.

Fish that mud line. In most cases it's just on the surface and reduces light penetration creating shadows. It makes a prime ambush zone for bass. Even if it goes all the way to the bottom the outside edge should still be productive. Start at the outside edge and work your way in. Just like you would fish a mat.

As for baits... I would start out throwing reaction type baits. Spinner baits, cranks, rip baits, swimbaits etc... If you don't get bit try finesse. Senkos can be killer in this situation. I also have had great success with wake baits in the wind.

[K_Mac]

I will always have a chatterbait ready to go on windy days. Usually 1/2 oz in white, white/chartreuse, or fire tiger depending on water color. I play around with retrieves, but a steady med/fast works more often than not.

[NorcalBassin]

Swimbaits... the hogs put their guards down with that wind.

[iceintheveins]

I have always found really windy conditions to be difficult to fish, especially because it's difficult to work a zone and get a good presentation. In my experiences winds above about 20 - 25 mph just kill the bite.

But I tend to use heavier spinnerbaits during a good wind and still catch a few. A light breeze or calm conditions are almost always better.

[Redhed]

I have always found really windy conditions to be difficult to fish, especially because it's difficult to work a zone and get a good presentation. In my experiences winds above about 20 - 25 mph just kill the bite.

But I tend to use heavier spinnerbaits during a good wind and still catch a few. A light breeze or calm conditions are almost always better.

its hard to do in open water for sure. i have had good success in high wind on points that are blocked by the wind. meaning there is wind all around but a point thats not choppy, surrounded by choppy waters is slamming (there was a 50ft area where the wind could not stir the water. i caught a massive bass hiding in there waiting on prey.  toss it in the bumpy waters and slow retrieve to the calm area. just something that has worked for me in the past.