Fishing In High Winds

[Preytorien]

Here in Indiana, today was likely our last "good" weather day for fishing. It's unseasonably warm, nearly 70, but insanely high winds. I'm guessing between 20-30mph.

 

I couldn't just sit at home with the possibility of one more fishing day before our lakes freeze, so I went out. I figured I'd just bounce some jigs on the bottom.

 

The wind however, made fishing nearly impossible. While I don't believe I had any solid strikes, the wind blew my line so hard that if I would've had a fish mouthing my jig, Texax rigged worm, or C-rig, I'm not sure I would've known it. Additionally, it was too windy for weightless, and when I tried cranks and spinnerbaits the wind blown line made it all but impossible to feel anything and seemed to alter the retrieve and action of my cranks. I resorted to buzzbaits, but the chop was about 4-6 inches, which kept swamping my buzzbait.

 

Should I have stayed home? What would you guys recommend next time in very very windy conditions? I'm not talking about a stiff breeze, I'm talking 20-30mph winds with possibly 40mph gusts.

 

 

[Wayne P.]

I would check the weather forecast and not go fishing when there is a high wind warning, severe thunderstorm watch,  and tornado watch for the entire state.

[Fishes in trees]

drift banks, cast with the wind, use your trolling motor to correct your drift.  When you get to the end of your planned drift, fire up the big motor, run upwind and do the drift thing again.  Sometimes you are protected from wind in the coves and sometimes  you aren't.  Maybe "reaction" baits as opposed to "feel" baits.  I don't know, I do know that the best time to go fishing is when you've got time to go fishing.

 

I'm planning on going Tuesday, it will be freezing at dawn, with temps rising to 50 or so according to Weather.com.  It could get pretty windy.  My response to wind is just to deal with it.   Banks with wind blowing into them are often good. Everyone has their own idea of what is and what ain't safe.  I am planning on fishing a 200 acre or so conservation lake.  I know I won't be driving the boat fast, or even getting on plane, for that matter.  Fishing a larger reservoir, with 3 or 4 foot white caps, I might re-think it and not go.  

 

The first rule of fishing in strong wind is , "Don't do anything dumb".   You get to decide what is dumb.  Be mindful that putting the boat back on the trailer in strong winds can be a challenge.

[ww2farmer]

I like wind.............sometimes. When they are biting, I really don't mind the wind, if there not biting then wind bugs me. I don't have a wind speed or direction that makes me decide not to go, I just go on my gut.

[Dave P]

Not a good day to go out. There was a tourney on Raccoon and I'm glad we decided to stay home. If it's this windy about the only thing I've had any success with is a reaction bait that you can throw cross or down wind so you can keep some contact with it. You are going to have huge difficulties keeping in touch with a bottom contact bait in this kind of wind.  

[Bluebasser86]

Living in Kansas my whole life I'd never get to go if I wasn't willing to fish in 20mph winds. Best day I had all year a couple years ago it was blowing straight 30 with gusts to 45 and never got much over 40 degrees. I just stick to small lakes and try to play the wind best I can. It was a straight north wind so I picked a lake with good fishing on the north side of the lake and it paid off. 

[Bankbeater]

What I like to do is drop an anchor on each end and let the wind straighen out the boat.  After I hit the area pretty good, I pull up the anchors, drift down a bit and then re-anchor the boat.  I can really work an area like that.

[topwaterrob]

I've had to use a drift sock on a few occasions....  Seems like evertime I step foot in Lake Okeechobee the winds swirl up to 20-30mph

[Teal]

My three PBs were caught in heavy wind gusts. Its aggravating this time of year it can be down right miserable but I'm a firm believer in wind..but just be smart about it...don't need to be reading about u in the newspapers

[Chris at Tech]

Anchor up, use a little more weight in your lure to get it down and keep your rod tip as close to the water as you can so there's less opportunity for wind to put slack in your line.

[Glenn]

Either drift with the wind using a heavy carolina rig or heavy jig, or throw heavy (3/4oz) spinnerbaits and/or deep diving cranks (those shallow divers are too light for strong winds).  1/2 oz or heavier lipless cranks work well too.  Some of the best days I've had were fishing windblown banks and riprap with spinnerbaits and crankbaits.  It's best to have a partner on board who can jump on the trolling motor when you're dealing with a fish - so you don't get blown onto the bank.

[KyakR]

Banks battered by wind have been good for me too, but in general very strong winds can be a real horror story for a kayak. If I'm out at all I'll carefully stay near shore. Since Snakewhisperer's PFD story I wear one now (never used to)!

[geo g]

I have fished heavy winds many times in south Florida, once above 20 MPH I use the wind as my friend. 1). Keep the wind to your back as much as possible. 2). Let it blow you down a bank, or canal. 3). always put out a drift sock. It will slow the drift way down, and allow you to approach silently, off the trolling motor as much as possible. 4). makes for an easy day of catching, don't fight it, just control it as much as possible!

[Bob C]

When I had my bass boat it wasn't too bad. Now with an aluminum deep V I get blown around the lake like a sail boat.

[Bass Commander]

Windy equals slight chop. I've heard a wacky rigged senko suspended from a bobber will keep wiggling due to bobber bouncing on the chop. I've never tried it but I've heard it's effective. Good luck

[RipSomeLips]

Because I live in Kansas I would love to hear if this senko and bobber trick is effective. Hopefully somebody could enlighten me on this technique.

[fish365]

I fish in the wind a lot here in east Tn. our lakes seldom freeze over, but TVA draws down most of the upper, water storage lakes in the winter. Not unusual to see a 30-50' elevation change in the winter here. I like to fish the points that the wind is blowing into with a heavier lure like a trap or a football jig. Wear your PFD and keep a boarding step/ladder/rope with loop hanging off side for safety. Had some of my best days ever in 20mph wind in 43-45 degree water