Do you cancel days of fishing because of wind?

[IamNewbie]

Planned on fishing tonight, weather report initially said 5-9mpg winds all day. It's gusting at 20mph now. I don't mind 10-12mph wind but anything past that is horrible for fishing in my opinion. Lures are flying back at me every time I cast and the water's really choppy. Just doesn't make shore fishing very fun. Also don't think I'd wanna risk getting blown in my boat so shallow to where I can't motor myself out and I can't oar myself out because the wind's that strong.

Do you fish in the wind?

[riverbasser]

Depends on where I plan to fish. I can normally find a creek that's half protected by wind but normally anything around 20 I can't even cross the lake so it depends if I can launch close enough. All depends on direction and how bad I wanna go. I have left after about an hour because it was too rough and that makes for a bad day

[Fun4Me]

I live in Kansas. If it's not windy something is generally wrong LOL!! In all seriousness I would only fish from a boat in windy conditions if I'm comfortable with the wind speed. I would always wear my pfd and not take any stupid chances. From the bank? I will fish some pretty windy days. 

[A-Jay]

I used to but not any more ~

Thank You Lund !

A-Jay

 

[Turtle135]

I will fish. I have a couple of locations that offer some wind protection and I am not adverse to popping out of my kayak and wade fishing (that wind can get a summer bite going). My only fishing "kryptonite" is lightning.

[blckshirt98]

As a shore guy myself when it's too windy I go home.  Not only does bad wind make casting tough, it makes feeling the bait tough, it makes placing and holding your baits where you want it tough, and it makes tying knots a nightmare.  Just way too much frustration and aggravation when I fish to relax and decompress.

[buzzed bait]

i have canceled before due to wind, but i fish from a kayak so it can be a little different.  but i'm talking like 15+ MPH before i'm even considering canceling.  

i know, i know the midwest guys are about to come in and say 15-20 MPH winds is considered a good day....  

[Jar11591]

15 mph is the cut-off for me. Anything above that and I'll usually spare myself the inevitable headache unless I'm going to a spot that offers some guaranteed wind protection.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, IamNewbie said:

Planned on fishing tonight, weather report initially said 5-9mpg winds all day. It's gusting at 20mph now. I don't mind 10-12mph wind but anything past that is horrible for fishing in my opinion. Lures are flying back at me every time I cast and the water's really choppy. Just doesn't make shore fishing very fun. Also don't think I'd wanna risk getting blown in my boat so shallow to where I can't motor myself out and I can't oar myself out because the wind's that strong.

Do you fish in the wind?

There aint nothing irritates me more than winds above 15 mph!

Being retired has its advantage's like being able to pick & choose my days!

[MassYak85]

I've had great success in high winds (15-20+) so it's tough for me to just not go because I know I might be missing out. But anything over 15 in the kayak is an absolute nope. Not worth the hassle, I spend more time maneuvering than actually fishing. In a boat or from shore anything under 25 is tolerable if they are biting. Spinnerbaits or noisy topwaters like the whopper plopper or a buzzbait can be deadly in rough water. 

[Ohio Archer]

I watched the wind to determine if I'd go out and then pick what lake I would fish.  My flat bottom bass boat would beat you to death trying to cross the larger lakes around here.  That was before I got my Lowe.  Now, with the deeper sides, windshield and deep V hull, I don't think I will need to worry about that (unless it is a gale).  As far as wind affecting my casts, I adjust.  Shorter casts, slightly heavier lures. 

Wind can pile up baitfish on windward shorelines and points...a smorgasbord for the larger fish. 

And a big plus...less boats out there getting in my way. 

[WRB]

Yep, when wind is forecast to be 30mph with gust to 50mph I stay home, very common in the fall with our San Tana winds.

Tom

[Further North]

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: I can always find a place out of the wind.  Might be a local thing as there's 500+ lakes and three major rivers...and a ton of smaller ones and trout streams...within an hour's drive.

[S Hovanec]

Almost every cancelled trip is because of wind.  Lake Erie can be nasty with 15mph sustained winds.

[flyfisher]

Not usually but it does dictate where i fish.  Being in a kayak i have learned to use the wind to my advantage and usually put down a drag chain if it is really bad and let the wind move me around while i just correct for direction mainly.

[geo g]

The answer is yes.  I will not cancel because of rain, full moon, cold, or 100+ weather, but I will cancel for 20+ steady wind.  The wind makes boat control tough, it will make feeling the bite tough, and it will blow floating vegetation around which will be tough to handle.  The wave action will make standing and fishing a chore.  Since I fish for enjoyment, I can always fish tomorrow.

Many times if its blowing hard I will choose to bank fish.  Since your stationary, fishing with a heavy wind from your back, is easy fishing.  You can cast far and easy, and feeling the bite is no problem.  Bass are often active with all the bait fish stirred up by the wind.

[Bankbeater]

I don't cancel, but I do rethink about where I will fish.  In 10+ mph I will try and find a smaller size lake that is out of the wind, or fish from the shore.

[IndianaFinesse]

Now that I fish out a boat, my cut-off is 30-35 miles an hour.  Back when i fish out of a canoe it was only 15 mile per hour.  It's not a lot of fun fishing in the wind, but my pb was caught in 30 mile an hour wind so that makes it all worth it.

[JustinCT]

Given my limited opportunities to fish I usually will not cancel, just make the best of it.  As others have indicated it will influence where I fish as well as how I fish.  Love spinnerbaits when it's windy.  If we're getting gusts above 30mph it's unusual so it's not typically an issue.

[clh121787]

Yes

[J Francho]

Sometimes...

 

[Siebert Outdoors]

Depends on the lake and how bad the wind is and wave size.  Most of the time the answer is no I do not cancel.   Now something like JFrancho posted.  Yes.  I would cancel. LOL

[WIGuide]

I won't cancel because of win unless it's bordering on the edge of insanity. If I fished the great lakes, absolutely. The wind can make it a pain to fish, but it's usually worth fighting with it. 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Sometimes...

 

That's clearly not fishing weather but it is totally Coast Guard Weather ~

Some years it seemed like that was the what it looked Every Time we left the dock.

It's fun for about 20 minutes, then is not so much.

Got real interesting when there were Volkswagen size Icebergs tumbling around in it.

Skill & Luck started to feel quite a bit alike, especially at night.

A-Jay

[Airman4754]

I don't care what the wind is, I care about how high the rollers are. Anything above 3ft and I'm looking for some calmer water. 

With those new wake board boats with ballasts in them the biggest waves you encounter anymore usually aren't from mother nature.