Windy conditions

[E-rude dude]

I finally have a TM (hopefully) that can keep my out on windier days. 10-15 winds with possible 20 gusts. It won’t really pick up til the afternoon but in the morning it’s still going to be over 10 mph. On Thursday and Friday 

 

WHAT ARE You CHUCKING AND WINDING!

Spinnerbaits act like a sail in the wind although a lot of people throw them then.

I was thinking compact baits

swim jig 

chatter bait

square bill

 

[Mobasser]

Lipless baits

[E-rude dude]

3 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Lipless baits

Added to the list 

[Smokinal]

Spinnerbaits can be tough but they get bit

[WRB]

Without knowing your regional location it’s difficult to advise what lures to use based on seasonal periods.

Fast moving lures appeal to active feeding bass, low interest in bass that are in the spawn cycle or not active feeding.

Wind creates current, mud lines and added DO, all good except during the spawn cycle.

Tom

[E-rude dude]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Without knowing your regional location it’s difficult to advise what lures to use based on seasonal periods.

Fast moving lures appeal to active feeding bass, low interest in bass that are in the spawn cycle or not active feeding.

Wind creates current, mud lines and added DO, all good except during the spawn cycle.

Tom

We are definitely in the spawn cycle up here in WI. Some got busy early. But I’ve been marking deep fish still and not much shallow. I missed April which is usually not doable up here but it was this year. 
I’ve spent most of the last 2 years on the house too. Haven’t fished much. 

[Bankc]

Add blade baits to the list.  I'd try a spinnerbait and crankbait first, but I wouldn't leave blade baits out of it.  You can toss them far and they can thump pretty hard.

[Darth-Baiter]

I like some wind. It seems to hide my approach from the fish. 

[WRB]

56 minutes ago, E-rude dude said:

We are definitely in the spawn cycle up here in WI. Some got busy early. But I’ve been marking deep fish still and not much shallow. I missed April which is usually not doable up here but it was this year. 
I’ve spent most of the last 2 years on the house too. Haven’t fished much. 

The reason for open ended question is you haven’t indicated where you are located.

 You may be pre spawn so let’s talk about where pre spawn bass are located, depth and activity level.

Wisconsin has a majority of natural lakes a few reservoirs and both Smallmouth and Largemouth bass.

Smallies start the spawn about 58 degree water temps at 3-5’ deep in wind and current protected areas with gravel bottom. Largemouth start to bed about 62 degrees and an make multiple cycles to about 70 degree water temps.

What does this have to do with wind and lures....everything.

Think about where the bass are located and what they are looking for to eat. Answer the questions before selecting lures.

If you like to fish faster a Chatter bait cover lots of water depth and good in the wind. Jigs that replicate crawdads are good. Deep diving crank baits depth depending on the location and bait+depth. Swimbaits are good.

Look for spawning water, the close deep water break nearby is a staging area. Look for crappie, bass prey in the pre spawn.

Tom 

[E-rude dude]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The reason for open ended question is you haven’t indicated where you are located.

 You may be pre spawn so let’s talk about where pre spawn bass are located, depth and activity level.

Wisconsin has a majority of natural lakes a few reservoirs and both Smallmouth and Largemouth bass.

Smallies start the spawn about 58 degree water temps at 3-5’ deep in wind and current protected areas with gravel bottom. Largemouth start to bed about 62 degrees and an make multiple cycles to about 70 degree water temps.

What does this have to do with wind and lures....everything.

Think about where the bass are located and what they are looking for to eat. Answer the questions before selecting lures.

If you like to fish faster a Chatter bait cover lots of water depth and good in the wind. Jigs that replicate crawdads are good. Deep diving crank baits depth depending on the location and bait+depth. Swimbaits are good.

Look for spawning water, the close deep water break nearby is a staging area. Look for crappie, bass prey in the pre spawn.

Tom 

Think I can find a few jigs in the 4 boxes I have

[Koz]

I still throw everything in windy conditions. I just have to change the angle of my cast and accept the fact that some baits will not travel as far, so I make adjustments to where I cast from.

[papajoe222]

I shy away from cranks on windy days as I prefer casting into the wind, with the exception of lipless. Pre-Spawn, on the other hand, is the exception, especially when the bass are pairing up and looking for bedding sites.  Pick a heavy (for a crank), shallow runner as it will cast a little easier when you have to cast into the wind.

I also prefer a swim jig, or paddle tail swimbait on a bare jig over a spinnerbait when it's windy. A stiff breeze, I throw just about everything applicable.

[Bluebasser86]

Man, send some of those gentle breezes this way. If it stays under 20-30 mph, that's pretty light winds. My last kayak tournament it was blowing 20-30 with gust to 40. I caught most of my fish on a Ned rig with a 1/16oz head. 

[E-rude dude]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Man, send some of those gentle breezes this way. If it stays under 20-30 mph, that's pretty light winds. My last kayak tournament it was blowing 20-30 with gust to 40. I caught most of my fish on a Ned rig with a 1/16oz head. 

Casting a Ned rig from a kayak in 40 mph winds? You most have been in a wind break cove? I’d give a dollar to see that?

[Spankey]

I hate the wind. Willing to bet a lot of you guys it’s most of the time that you have to deal with it. Love those glass like mornings on the river. 

[Cyclones]

Where are these mysterious parts of the country where it’s not blowing at least 10mph every single day?   Here in Iowa 10mph is a gentle breeze.  When I was in the service I was stationed in Cheyenne for a few years.  Only place I’ve been that’s windier than here.  I’d love to move to and fish someplace that’s generally calm on a daily basis.  Just need to talk the wife into uprooting the family, moving generally south, and finding new jobs.  

[E-rude dude]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

I hate the wind. Willing to bet a lot of you guys it’s most of the time that you have to deal with it. Love those glass like mornings on the river. 

Dead calm on natural lakes = ? 

Give me a slight ripple and a good top water bite and I’m in heaven 

[TheBasslayer]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

I hate the wind. Willing to bet a lot of you guys it’s most of the time that you have to deal with it. Love those glass like mornings on the river. 

I also like the pretty calm days on the water, especially if it is overcast. If I fish in the wind, I'll throw Crankbaits and the occasional soft plastic paddletail swimbait. I need to buy a spinnerbait!

[Krux5506]

2 hours ago, Spankey said:

I hate the wind. Willing to bet a lot of you guys it’s most of the time that you have to deal with it. Love those glass like mornings on the river. 

 

I always say the nicest boating days are the worst fishing days and vice versa. For me there's definitely a point where the wind is too much though, maybe when it hits 20+ mph? My aluminum Lund blows around pretty easily in the wind. 

 

To answer the question though I like throwing spinner baits in those conditions, or anything else I can fish fast like that. Swimbaits would be my second choice, or a swimbait on an underspin. 

[Hook2Jaw]

Wind often makes me reach for a moving bait.  The moving bait I choose varies according to other conditions as well as location and the stage the bass are in.  The water clarity also plays a role as well.

 

Preferably, I reach for a jerkbait from fall to the beginning of the spawn.  Through the spawn and summer I've gained confidence with a 3.8" paddletail.

[E-rude dude]

1 hour ago, Krux5506 said:

 

I always say the nicest boating days are the worst fishing days and vice versa. For me there's definitely a point where the wind is too much though, maybe when it hits 20+ mph? My aluminum Lund blows around pretty easily in the wind. 

 

To answer the question though I like throwing spinner baits in those conditions, or anything else I can fish fast like that. Swimbaits would be my second choice, or a swimbait on an underspin. 

Underspin would be easier to cast thanks?

[king fisher]

wind = spinnerbaits.

[E-rude dude]

13 minutes ago, king fisher said:

wind = spinnerbaits.

 

[king fisher]

12 minutes ago, E-rude dude said:

 

 

[E-rude dude]

2 minutes ago, king fisher said:

 

Nice one