How Much Wind Do You Consider To Be Windy?

[MIbassin]

Hey guys! How much wind does there have to be for you to call it a windy day? Reason I ask is because some people say to throw spinnerbaits as opposed to swimjig a on windy days... How windy?

[GoneFishi'n]

Try the search button on the right side. I usually find my answers there and if I don't or if its somewhat different I ask it. Here's some answers for almost the exact question you had. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/115051-where-do-you-draw-the-line-with-wind/?fromsearch=1

[MIbassin]

I'm asking more about the lures not boating

[GoneFishi'n]

Alright, sorry about that.

[MIbassin]

No problem! i appreciate it!

[AK-Jax86]

When I can barely cast my lure to where I want it to go

[Bladesmith,]

If there are whitecaps on the water, it is windy. If the wind is strong enough to make my boat drag the anchor, it is windy. If I can't keep my hat on, it is windy. Actually, some of my best days on the water have been windy. It does present a problem with boat control, though. Don't limit your spinner bait fishing to windy days. Spinner baits can work well at other times, too.

[quanjig]

What bladesmith said, if I can control the boat and my baits, it's not too windy!!

[tholmes]

As far as casting, it depends on the lure. Spinnerbaits, big crankbaits, basically anything that has a lot of bulk and/or not much weight I can throw pretty well up to about 15 mph. Once the winds get much stronger, I use smaller profile baits, heavier weights for jigs and t-rigs, spoons, Little Georges etc. My favorite wind-cheaters are the Silver Buddy type blade baits. 

 

Tom

[papajoe222]

The more wind, the better when it comes to spinnerbait fishing and a breeze strong enough to put a good ripple on the water is where it starts.  Something about the reduced light penetration and the fact that windy days normally have some good cloud cover, really kick starts a bass' activity level and that's why I think a spinnerbait works so well then. 

IMO a swimbait will get the same response from a bass, but the spinnerbait covers water a lot faster and when the fish are active thats what you want to do/

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I fish spinnerbaits quite a bit, even when it's not windy but the wind is definitely a plus.  And it seems like whatever the weather says the wind is gonna be, its always twice as much when I get to the lake.

[Bluebasser86]

One of the best days I ever had it was in the mid 40's with steady winds over 30mph and winds gusting over 40mph. Boat control was a pain but the fish were killing spinnerbaits and traps. As far as the spinnerbaits vs swim jig they're both good windy day baits. If the water is muddy you may be a little better off with a big, colorado bladed spinnerbait but other than that they're both good.

 

Living in Kansas fishing in the wind is a way of life unfortunately. 

[WRB]

Hey guys! How much wind does there have to be for you to call it a windy day? Reason I ask is because some people say to throw spinnerbaits as opposed to swimjig a on windy days... How windy?

[WRB]

To be honest I didn't read the reponese to this post!

Wind has little to do with the answer to this question. The question should be related to when to use blades and when not to use blades on the spinner bait verses a swim jig.

I think this is a good question!

Wind.isn't the common denominator, the bass activity level has more to do with the answer. If the bass are active feeding on bait fish schools more flash is a good trigger, the spinner bait is then a a good choice,

If the bass are less active and targeting individual bait fish, the swim jig becomes a good choice.

Tom

[AJMichigan]

Kind of a subtobic but the same subject, can you guys give me any tips for fishing in a windy day? it was pretty windy today and I got skunked in a spot where I usually hit huge bass. Tips?

[papajoe222]

In the summer and fall, I always target the shore, point, etc. that the wind is blowing into unless it just started getting windy.  Just the opposite during the winter and early spring.

[Chris at Tech]

In the summer and fall, I always target the shore, point, etc. that the wind is blowing into unless it just started getting windy.  Just the opposite during the winter and early spring.

So in winter and early spring, you target the banks the wind is blowing FROM? What's the reasoning behind that? I don't think I'd heard of that approach before so I'm curious.

[fstr385]

I think the use of a spinner in windy conditions has more to do with visability going down, and action of baitfish kicking up. Blades have to do with speed, and water clarity. The shine and reflection you want, and the speed and vibration you want. Choppy water has poor visability, at the surface especialy. Noise too. A small crank or esp plastic will hardly be noticable. You want to emulate a small baitfish or school of baitfish and get those big blades to get attention. You have to try and use your best judgemement when the surface is disturbed enough.

[Traveler2586]

Hey guys! How much wind does there have to be for you to call it a windy day? Reason I ask is because some people say to throw spinnerbaits as opposed to swimjig a on windy days... How windy?

 

You didn't say if your fishing from shore or a boat, but my short answer is learn to use the wind to your advantage and you can through any lure you want.

 

Also, learn to cast low to the water where the wind is frequently weaker.

 

Granted, if your a shore angler your options are limited, but you still have options.

 

If you do any long range shooting where you have to compensate for windage you're one step ahead of the game.

[WRB]

Wind can make it difficult to cast if you must cast into the wind. Generally bass will be active on wind blown shore areas when the wind has pushed plankton and baitfish like threadfin shad follow the plankton near shore.

Wind also creates a current condition and stirs up clay or soil making a temporary floating mud line that use to ambush prey.

Fishing from a boat it's easy to cast down wind or across the wind direction to take advantage of a onshore wind. Fishing from shore this isn't an easy task.

Lures like crankbaits and other baitfish type lures work good under the windy conditions. A swim jig would be easier to cast into the wind than a spinnerbait because of the reduced wind resistance, however the spinnerbait flash can draw more strikes under these conditions.

Tom

[Fish Chris]

1 mph will totally impact sight fishing.

 

5 mph just sucks.

 

I freaking despise wind ! Not saying it can't help the bite at times.... I just mean, I personally can't stand wind..... And I live in the windiest area in the US ! No, seriously ! It's known as the Carquinez straights. Look it up....

 

Fish