I HATE the wind :\

[JDH85]

I know that wind can do wonders for the bite and I get why. But I cannot stand the wind and how it effects my ability to feel my bait. It also makes boat control the main focus of my day. I spend more time fiddling with the trolling motor than paying attention to what my bait is doing.

How do you guys go about mitigating some of these issues? How many of you use your anchor? I'm trying to get better at fishing deeper (10+ feet), but find myself getting frustrated quickly since there usually isn't a bank nearby to keep the wind from blowing my boat off the spot.

[quanjig]

I think it depends, if you are really on them and catching good fish, you tend to do what needs doing and stick with it. When you have to really work hard and things become a bit more labored, the little things like boat control and backlashes tend to mount up exponentially!!

If you pay attention to the little things and keep the bigger problems to a minimum, the wind becomes the very least of my issues!!

[scaleface]

Fighting the wind is difficult and there comes a point impossible . Do you use marker buoys ? They make it a little easier .

[WRB]

Learning boat control in high sustained wind 15-20 mph with white capped waves takes practice and a boat heavy enough not to be blown sideways. Keeping the bow pointed into the waves and wind is essential to boat control. Get yourself marker at least 2 buoys and place them about 50 to 75 yards apart at the top and bottom of the area you plan to fish. The buoys help to give you a reference point without needing to watch them every second, letting you concentrate on your fishing. Using heavier weighted jigs snd various rigs like T rigs, C-rigs, drop shot etc., helps. Cast into or down wind not sideways to keep the bow in the line at a minimum. Use just enough electric motor power to maintain your position, don't keep getting on and off the power.

After you get better at boat control GPS markers work OK, however take more consentration to watch the unit, less hastle than buoys with anchors.

Tom

[A-Jay]

How to deal with the wind ? Depends on your approach.  

Many bass anglers today have adopted the fast paced tournament style of bass angling seen on TV where the trolling motor never goes off, the boat is always moving and rarely is an anchor carried, let alone used.  The advent of the newest shallow water anchor systems have helped in some regard but they too have their limitation, mainly depth.

I hate saying it this way but, back in the day, anchoring one's boat was the way we fished - windy or not.  At least that's how I was taught.  Clearly not as convenient as "Spot Lock" or Power Poles - but that's all we had.  And we caught fish.

Learning to "use" an anchor in 10 - 20 ft of water (or more) takes some time. It's easiest learned in mellow conditions rather than when it's blowing a gale.  Knowing how your particular craft rides on the anchor & how to adjust that to best present a bait is a big key to the techniques success.

I fish from a canoe.  I use an anchor (sometimes two) Every Trip.  I fish (and catch) in wind - all the time.  I see anglers on the water who don't know how to, don't have one or won't bother to anchor, sit on the leeward side of the lake in the "Pleasant" conditions - not getting bit.  At the same time, I'm on the hook, blowing around a little but I'm using the net here & there.

If there's a choice (and there almost always is) I ALWAYS fish & do better in some wind.

A-Jay

[Scott F]

On windy days, I'll set up a drift across a big weedy flat and throw a spinner bait.

[Bluebasser86]

A light wind here is anything less than 15mph, so I've just gotten use to it. It was gusting over 50mph on us last Sunday and I was still able to feel strikes on my suspending jerkbait on the pause. Just like anything else in fishing, you have to practice it and eventually it comes to you. 

[Josh Smith]

While I learned how to cast into the wind and use it to help me catch bass, I don't like it.

The point of fishing, is for me, about quiet and enjoying nature.

That's hard to do with wind howling in my ears!

Josh

[Oregon Native]

Having fished on the Columbia river back home usually with lots of wind and waves , these winds out here are pretty easy to get out of or deal with..  Either behind a point or maybe even some docks.  If not its not that big a deal to put the wind at your back and just drift down the bank quietly and if the fishing is good....make the drift and power pack up and do it again.  As some said....some wind gets the bite going a bit better.

[Bankbeater]

If I want to fish cover or structure, and pick it apart, I will drop a 15 pound anchor.  If I am fishing a flat or want to go down a shoreline, I just let the wind take me if it is blowing in the right direction.

[Tucson]

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

A light wind here is anything less than 15mph, so I've just gotten use to it. It was gusting over 50mph on us last Sunday and I was still able to feel strikes on my suspending jerkbait on the pause. Just like anything else in fishing, you have to practice it and eventually it comes to you. 

You're fishing in 50 mph gusts?  That's incredible.  I'm in agreement with Josh Smith. If all I'm doing is fighting to keep position it kills the fun factor.  

[BareHook]

My first kayak and tourney experience was a pond tourney that ended up with 30 mph sustained wind with gusts to 50. Everyone ended up staked out along the shore, and forget about finesse fishing.

It can be difficult, but I've found in many fishing situations, the wind turns-on the fish to feed. My sons recent big bass was caught on a windy day and we were about to give up, because you could hardly even feel a bite, but ...

Ken

[Bluebasser86]

59 minutes ago, Tucson said:

You're fishing in 50 mph gusts?  That's incredible.  I'm in agreement with Josh Smith. If all I'm doing is fighting to keep position it kills the fun factor.  

Maybe, but it wasn't easy. Weather Underground said 51mph gust. Not something I suggest or enjoy, but I do what I have to when the fish are biting. 

 

[Raul]

Get a parachute anchor, does wonders.

[gobig]

As mentioned boat control is learned and wind is just part of the game. One thing that really has helped me stay in contact with my baits in the wind is keeping the rod tip as low to the water as possible.

[kickerfish1]

I am more of plastics and jigs kind of guy. The wind can cause havoc for me too. If I am committed to fishing that day I will just go for the reaction baits for covering water. Baits like chatterbaits, lipless cranks, Spinnerbaits, swimjigs, and maybe a squarebill. 

Here in the Midwest the wind is usually in play. Most of the time 10-20 mph is pretty average. While I try to shoot for nice days weather wise I have to adjust at times to be successful.

[Jaderose]

The little lake I fish in the most has a lot of standing timber in it.  I had a day last year that I was really fighting the wind so I decided to call it a day.  As I was leaving, I noticed an older fella out in roughly the same area I was trying to work (and having some success at) tie the bow of his boat off to one of those trees and fish off the back of his boat.  The wind was very stable and coming across the lake from the same direction the whole time.  As I was leaving I saw him bring in a nice one.  Lesson learned that day.  Why the heck didn't I think of that?  Even if the boat swings a little, who cares?  

[Josh Smith]

The stuff I've been fishing in has been gusting to 45mph. A small breeze is nice, but that's ridiculous!

Josh

[contium]

That's why they make xi5 and Terrova trolling motors. Putting an xi5 on my boat was the best thing I have done for fishing in years. It seems I am always fishing in the wind and its now an enjoyable experience. Can't tell you how many times the wind is blowing straight into a bank I am fishing. With the xi5, I can anchor lock or cuise down the bank standing on the rear deck casting with the wind. There are so many advantages of GPS trolling motors.

[JDH85]

4 hours ago, contium said:

That's why they make xi5 and Terrova trolling motors. Putting an xi5 on my boat was the best thing I have done for fishing in years. It seems I am always fishing in the wind and its now an enjoyable experience. Can't tell you how many times the wind is blowing straight into a bank I am fishing. With the xi5, I can anchor lock or cuise down the bank standing on the rear deck casting with the wind. There are so many advantages of GPS trolling motors.

I have been seriously considering getting a Terrova. They are quite a bit of coin so it may be awhile. Can you mount a transducer to them? 

[lo n slo]

the wind has been blowing every day here for the last two weeks. i've come to expect it every year, this time of  year. unless it's outright dangerous, you deal with it. i'm from the anchor down era i suppose, but sometimes you just gotta get out of it. throwing any kind of bottom contact lure is gonna drive you nuts in high wind. go heavy, and try spinner baits or lipless cranks instead. catch one for me.

[geo g]

I don't like fishing when the wind gusts above 25.  But I try to make it work for me.  

First I get a plan , check the direction and plan my attack.  I will run into the wind and drift back making long effortless casts.  This keeps me off the trolling motor and in stealth mode in the shallow flats.  

Second I put out a drift bag or sea anchor and reduce my drift speed greatly.  This allows me to work the bait without big bows in the line.  Drift bags are also good in shallow weedy areas.   I have done it for years.

Third I look for funnel points where winds blows into the funnel.  I like to fish the back side of the funnel in the sheltered spots.  Fish often sit in these spots ambushing baitfish that come through the funnel with the current.

Lastly, don't fight the wind, let it work for you.

[YourBassIsGrass]

23 hours ago, A-Jay said:

How to deal with the wind ? Depends on your approach.  

Many bass anglers today have adopted the fast paced tournament style of bass angling seen on TV where the trolling motor never goes off, the boat is always moving and rarely is an anchor carried, let alone used.  The advent of the newest shallow water anchor systems have helped in some regard but they too have their limitation, mainly depth.

I hate saying it this way but, back in the day, anchoring one's boat was the way we fished - windy or not.  At least that's how I was taught.  Clearly not as convenient as "Spot Lock" or Power Poles - but that's all we had.  And we caught fish.

Learning to "use" an anchor in 10 - 20 ft of water (or more) takes some time. It's easiest learned in mellow conditions rather than when it's blowing a gale.  Knowing how your particular craft rides on the anchor & how to adjust that to best present a bait is a big key to the techniques success.

I fish from a canoe.  I use an anchor (sometimes two) Every Trip.  I fish (and catch) in wind - all the time.  I see anglers on the water who don't know how to, don't have one or won't bother to anchor, sit on the leeward side of the lake in the "Pleasant" conditions - not getting bit.  At the same time, I'm on the hook, blowing around a little but I'm using the net here & there.

If there's a choice (and there almost always is) I ALWAYS fish & do better in some wind.

A-Jay

Any tips on setting achors? I've been in my canoe and had to anchor in the wind to hold spots, but never really got the hang of how to get it just right and settle on top of my spots while double anchoring.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, YourBassIsGrass said:

 Any tips on setting achors? I've been in my canoe and had to anchor in the wind to hold spots, but never really got the hang of how to get it just right and settle on top of my spots while double anchoring.

Success takes some knowledge about your craft & weather conditions, the right equipment & technique and some practice. 

The vast majority of time I only use one anchor and deal with the swing.  When I have my wife with me and it's a little snotty, we'll go ahead and drop the second anchor.  It keeps the boat from swinging around and depending on the spot & presentation that can help.

I have a relatively heavy 16 ft canoe.  I use a 10lb & a 15lb mushroom anchors both have 100 ft of 1/2 inch double braided nylon line for anchor line.   Double braided line has two parts, an outer cover and an inner core. They are separate & not connected.  I removed the core from the entire length;  so I'm only using the cover.  This makes the anchor line lighter (and Flat) and easier to store.(but still plenty strong)  I keep it in mesh bags which helps it dry.   Many of the lakes I fish are clear & deep.  I'm often fishing spots that are 20 ft deep, but I'm anchoring in 40 or 50 ft.  Hence the long anchor lines.  You may not need that much line but 25 feet's not going to do it either.  I'd plan on at least 75 ft anyway.

  Once I determine how I need to set up on a spot, (considering wind/wave direction)  I'll start some distance away (down wind) and lower the first anchor off the stern to the bottom.  Then while paying out that line I'll slowly head in the opposite direction (into the wind).  I proceed PAST the spot I actually want to finally end up, continuing on to where the second anchor needs to be placed.  Then, let that second anchor down off the bow to the bottom.

Here's the fun part.  Now I pull back on the first anchor line off the stern, while letting line out on the bow.  This will set the stern anchor and move me away from the bow anchor. (wind should help here)  Once I'm half way between both anchors I tie the off Bow /Stern respectively.  If done correctly boat should be bow into wind & waves.

Sounds like a big evolution and the first few times it is. The most common mistake is starting too close to where you want to end up which reduces your anchor lines scope causing one or both anchors to drag.  You'll quickly learn to use the wind rather that fight it - you'll loose every time.  It's easier to do with two people and harder with one, but doable.  And it's all kinds of fun At Night !

If there's ANY wind & waves, I AWAYS anchor bow into the weather;  never put the stern or the port/starboard side of the canoe into the wind & waves,  always the bow.  And here's the tip.  During recovery, simply reverse the procedure and ALWAYS recover the stern anchor first.

Clearly there's quite a commitment to a spot once you deicide to anchor up on it.  One's desire to move to the next spot wanes quickly after 4 or 5 of these, especially alone.  But the reward can be pretty good.  BTW - I don't know how they know but hooked big bass all know right away where both your anchor lines are at and they WILL head right for them - every time.

A-Jay

 

[YourBassIsGrass]

Thank you for the detailed info. Right now I have two grapple anchors on 50ft each. The deep spots on two of my lakes are less than 20' so I have gotten away with the shorter lines. But 75' sounds like it would be a bit better, especially by removing the core of those braided style lines.

My problem more than likely was the starting too close deal. I did always seem to slide out on an anchor that was too vertical and could never keep them tight. Hopefully I can get some time on the water soon and do some practice with the windy spring.