Fishing In Wind for Bass

[Josh254]

Hello anglers,

Today was a good day. I caught a 1.5- 1.75 pound bass this morning. A little choppy but for the most part calm. I went back and we had a storm approach and the winds picked up that the small lake I was fishing on started to white cap a little. I caught a little dink and that was it although I know there had to have been more out there. So my question(s) are:

 

1. When fishing in windy conditions from the bank, is it best to cast perpendicularly into the wind or parallel? If parallel should it be with back to the wind or with face in the wind?

 

2. How/Where do the bass tend to position themselves in said conditions (15-25) mph gusts?

 

3. Best baits to use in high winds? I used spinner baits 3/8 oz. though I do have 1/2 oz. lipless cranks.

 

4. Boat with no troller motor or electronics?

 

5. This would be pre-spawn to spawn conditions.

 

6. Cetral Texas area---small Fort Hood lakes and local lakes.

 

 

Much appreciated in advance.

[Biglittle8]

16 minutes ago, Josh254 said:

Hello anglers,

Today was a good day. I caught a 1.5- 1.75 pound bass this morning. A little choppy but for the most part calm. I went back and we had a storm approach and the winds picked up that the small lake I was fishing on started to white cap a little. I caught a little dink and that was it although I know there had to have been more out there. So my question(s) are:

 

1. When fishing in windy conditions from the bank, is it best to cast perpendicularly into the wind or parallel? If parallel should it be with back to the wind or with face in the wind?

 

2. How/Where do the bass tend to position themselves in said conditions (15-25) mph gusts?

 

3. Best baits to use in high winds? I used spinner baits 3/8 oz. though I do have 1/2 oz. lipless cranks.

 

4. Boat with no troller motor or electronics?

 

5. This would be pre-spawn to spawn conditions.

 

6. Cetral Texas area---small Fort Hood lakes and local lakes.

 

 

Much appreciated in advance.

My experience has been that a lot of times fish will be on or near the shoreline that the wind is blowing toward to wait for bait that is blown in. In just about any weather, I cast parallel to the bank when fishing from shore. Then I will fan out in an arc if I'm not having any luck. Look for spots where the water narrows and creates a funnel if you will. As far as baits, spinner baits can be difficult to cast in the wind, but I still will use them. A lipless crankbait like a Rat-L-Trap work really well in windy conditions because of the vibration they give off. Also, I find a chatterbait to be a good windy day bait to use for shore fishing. As far as casting with or into the wind, if you're casting parallel with the shore that the wind is blowing towards, you just have to compensate by casting out a little further. There are some anglers on this site that can give you some better tips I'm sure, but this is what I have learned over the years. Good luck!

[Bluebasser86]

Casting straight into a strong wind is difficult, even for experienced casters. If you're going to do it, make sure it's with a bait that isn't going to catch the wind and sail, at least with a baitcaster, or you'll have a mess on your hands.

 

If you can find a mudline, where the water is stirred up and the clearer lake water is meeting the stirred up water, the bass will be around that using it to ambush prey. They'll also get right on the shoreline looking for prey that gets uprooted by the waves crashing into the shoreline. Baitfish do not get pushed into shorelines by the wind, as is commonly said. What actually happens, is baitfish are doing the same thing the bass are doing and following the food. The wind pushes plankton and the baitfish follow it to feed on, and the bass follow the baitfish.

 

Baits as always can vary, but moving baits typically dominate. My favorites include a 1/2oz spinnerbait, bladed jig, lipless crank, squarebill, walking topwater, or buzzbait.

 

In high winds, I'd skip the boat if you don't have a motor, too much risk and hassle. You can catch plenty of fish shore bound.

 

 

[N Florida Mike]

21 hours ago, Biglittle8 said:

My experience has been that a lot of times fish will be on or near the shoreline that the wind is blowing toward to wait for bait that is blown in.

 This ^^^^

[Koz]

BUZZBAIT!!!!!

[jimmyjoe]

   1) Wind affects fishermen FAR more than it affects fish. After all, there is no wind below the water surface. The lures that work when the wind isn't blowing are the same lures that work when the wind IS blowing.

   2) The chief effect of wind in warming water (springtime) is to blow warmed water towards the windward shore. However, in any season, zooplankton follow the wind, baitfish follow zooplankton, and predators follow baitfish.

   3) Wind does not govern which casting pattern I use. I target structure and (sometimes) cover. If I have to fight the wind, I fight the wind. I don't like it, but I do it. Naturally, I use lures that are easier to cast into the wind. However .... if I get lucky and position myself where I can cast with the wind, I'll be one happy fisherman!

   4) As much as I hate casting into the wind (I'm a shorecaster), I fish in wind a lot. The reason is simple; far fewer people out fishing. I love that. Fewer people means less pressure, and less pressure generally means better luck.

 

   Good luck!  ?                        jj

 

p.s.- #2 does not imply that in larger bodies of water bass will abandon their native shore and sashay all the way across the lake.

[schplurg]

When casting parallel to shore in the wind, watch that the wind doesn't blow your billowing line (not the bait) into nearby tree branches. Do a few test casts first maybe.

 

Cast lower when casting straight into the wind. Just rocket it right into the stuff.

 

One pond I fish is protected from wind by the banks, but if you cast high enough the wind will grab it. A lot of people don't realize that they can avoid the wind in that area.

[walleyecrazy]

In general I try to fish the wind blown bank on days like that. I generally fish as close to parallel with the bank as I can, but will fan cast out if I'm not having any luck. As far as baits, jerk baits and chatter baits are my two go to baits to start with in those conditions. 

[Biglittle8]

22 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Baitfish do not get pushed into shorelines by the wind, as is commonly said. What actually happens, is baitfish are doing the same thing the bass are doing and following the food. The wind pushes plankton and the baitfish follow it to feed on, and the bass follow the baitfish.

 

 

 

 

That makes sense. Learn something new everyday. ? I feel kinda dumb I never thought of that.

[TnRiver46]

Thankfully I live in a part of the state with minimal wind and rarely fish wide open water 

[bowhunter63]

Find the Shad busting and throw a spinnerbait. In the spring I fish around the banks getting beat up by the wind. Stirs it up and can turn them on .

[Dwight Hottle]

I have done real well in windy conditions fishing the windward side of ponds using a jointed wake bait. 

[JLBBass]

Actually, my opinion is that the wind doesn't "blow in the bait fish", as much as the wind disturbs the shoreline thus creating a food source, and at that time, the food chain reaction begins. From bait fish eating what the wind blown shoreline produces, to the game fish eating those baitfish.

[huZZah]

I fish mostly windy banks and you get used to the wind. Not sure if it’s “better” than opposite conditions but it does seem that fish are more aggressively searching for food. 

[geo g]

If your fishing from the bank in Florida waters it’s nearly impossible to throw baits with tremble hooks because of all the grass and weeds surrounding the shore line.  We also have a lot of drop offs that are coral rock that will snag treble hooks.  95% of the time I’m throwing senkos or flukes to drops offs and weed lines.  Texas rigged  with 15 pound floro line, I seldom have a problem losing baits fished slow.  If I’m going for a reaction bite I will throw swim baits rigged the same way, weedless and rip and jerk.  Thick pad fields I will work a frog with 60 pound braid.  I never use trebles from the bank, I would lose to many baits.

[WRB]

Wind strong enough to create white caps is difficult to cast into the wind, the direction the bass are facing into. Casting down wind is simple with any lure but may not be effective as bass don’t like lures coming from behind them.

Side wind would be more effective the down wind to catch bass. Lure that not aerodynamic and catch wind are very difficult to cast side or into the wind and have any control.

My suggestion is using bottom lures like jigs , worms and Little George type tail spins that cast easier both side and into the wind to catch more bass. Wind often turns on a good bite.

Tom

 

[Deephaven]

Wind usually ups my bottle bass catch and release rate as well.