Bank Fishing On Windy Days

[Heron]

What are your best/favorite strategies for fishing windy days - especially while bank fishing?

[Heron]

Windy days just confuse me sometimes.

[J Francho]

Wind typically concentrates bait fish. This concentrates bass. From shore or boat, this usually means fishing into the wind. Not always though.

[CRANKENSTIEN]

Love cranking the windy bank. although I do it from a boat.  If the wind is strong, casting into it can be tough.  I usually cast at an angle to the wind.  You have to keep your cast low.  I haven't done it from the bank, but there has been times when I let the wind blow me into the bank and cast from there.

[wuchr20]

If the wind is against me, I would use a real heavy jig, tube, or shaky head worm. 

[Mccallister25]

Wind confuses me too. I always hear to throw square bills, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc on windy days but I normally can't buy a bite.

[scaleface]

Large waves crashing against the shore creates a  feeding opportunity for game fish. I found this out as a boy when barges would go and down the Mississippi river.  All kinds of lures work . 

[Team9nine]

My general rule of thumb is that if it is windy, I fish the windy banks - at least until the fish say otherwise. It can be a great trigger for feeding activity. What lures depends on the direction of the wind relative to the bank, the overall layout (angle) of the bank being hit by wind, as well as any cover that might come into play. On steeper banks, mid depth or deeper crankbaits get the nod. On flatter banks, squarebills, traps and spinnerbaits can work well. I usually prefer to throw directly into the wind, regardless of angle. Sometimes that's not possible. Crosswinds can be the toughest to fish in. Keep in mind that on some banks, a good undertow can develop where fish will be pegged toward the bottom facing the shore (into the undertow). In those cases, pitching a heavy jig or worm into slightly deeper water off from the bank can be the ticket. 

 

-T9

[doyle8218]

For me it's chatterbaits, spinnerbaits or or jika.

[geo g]

I do this all the time.  I am lucky enough to have eight 30 to 40 acre lakes with access all the way around, all within a mile of my house.  I first check for wind direction, and then I will fish several lakes with the wind to my back.  I can fish as slow as I want without using a lot of weight.  It makes for an easy productive day of fishing.  I'll switch banks when the wind direction changes.  There are loads of pad fields all around the lakes, so treble hooks are out of the question and Texas Rigged Plastics are the way to go.  All these lakes are connected, and all hold decent size bass up to 9 pounds..

[Missourifishin]

Wind typically concentrates bait fish. This concentrates bass. From shore or boat, this usually means fishing into the wind. Not always though.

This! As far as numbers go, some of my best days from the bank have been casting into the wind, even though it can be difficult. As J Francho said though, not always. Windy days can be confusing. 

[CeeJay]

Something worth trying out is what I would do on windy days while bank fishing.

The surface chop is perfect for using a float.  Whatever plastic you have will look alive as the float moves and drifts up and down with the waves.

 

In these situations I've used swimbaits fished under a small brightly colored float, with a split shot or two halfway between lure and float.

Or a jig head rigged with a plastic worm, or a senko rigged wacky style, etc.

 

Perfect float fishing weather when it's windy...but I've always enjoyed using floats so I'm a bit biased towards that method

[Bankbeater]

Casting from the bank on windy days?  I allow for the wind when I cast, and I try and make sure that the line doesn't blow into a bush, or tree limb while the bait is going out.  The waves hide me from the fish a little bit so I worry more about accuracy than distance.

[einscodek]

Casting from the bank on windy days?  I allow for the wind when I cast, and I try and make sure that the line doesn't blow into a bush, or tree limb while the bait is going out.  The waves hide me from the fish a little bit so I worry more about accuracy than distance.

X2 on this

Wind ripples hide me from fish on the banks.. this time of the years its even more important with the vegetation not in full bloom to have the added camo of the wind ripples..

From the bank its very helpful in order to reduce spooking the fish as you approach

Spinnerbait high just under the waves

No need to cast too far as the fish generally are shallower

 

Like Ceejay said.. a float n Fly is a good option during daylight hours on high wave ripple days if you can get the cast off.

 

Not too worried about getting downwind if yer a bankbeater as its not a hard fast rule and esp this time of year as the plankton bloom isnt as high theres nothin for the wind to push

[slimshad]

Willow leaf spinnerbait on the windy bank.  Done and done.  Not confusing at all!

[The Fisher]

Spinning gear is a must for me on windy days from the bank. This helps me avoid backlashes. Try to cast with the wind. Casting with the wind doesn't limit me and I can throw senkos, light crankbaits, baby brush hogs, etc. If I have to cast into the wind or if the wind is coming in from the east and I'm throwing south light line on my spinning reels doesn't get tossed around as much as 12# on my baitcasters. If the wind creates a big bow in my line on a cast, I start reeling as soon as it hits the water to take out the slack.

[HoosierHawgs]

My general rule of thumb is that if it is windy, I fish the windy banks - at least until the fish say otherwise. It can be a great trigger for feeding activity. What lures depends on the direction of the wind relative to the bank, the overall layout (angle) of the bank being hit by wind, as well as any cover that might come into play. On steeper banks, mid depth or deeper crankbaits get the nod. On flatter banks, squarebills, traps and spinnerbaits can work well. I usually prefer to throw directly into the wind, regardless of angle. Sometimes that's not possible. Crosswinds can be the toughest to fish in. Keep in mind that on some banks, a good undertow can develop where fish will be pegged toward the bottom facing the shore (into the undertow). In those cases, pitching a heavy jig or worm into slightly deeper water off from the bank can be the ticket.

-T9

I'm gonna say I'm in agreement with this. I usually don't use contact baits though because I have trouble keeping contact in the wind. I love fishing with a little bit of wind from the bank.

[bigbill]

I have one spot that's a dog leg shape it blocks the wind. But if I move 25 yards to the left I'm in the wind. I throw inline spinners and spinnerbaits.