Fishing in Wind?

[Troutfisher]

I was going to ask your opinion on fishing in windy conditions.  I plan on heading out this afternoon, and although they are calling for mild conditions, the wind is supposed to be a factor.  How do you guys deal with windy conditions?  I've heard the old saying that wind from the east means fish bite the least, however, I read some information in Bassmaster this month discrediting that theory.

Thanks for your input!

-TF

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Use snakes, lol  j/k    ;D

If your protected areas (coves) are not frozen over, I would go there. Fishing in WV this time of year might be a tough chore. Find the deepest structure you can and fish it slow....

I think you probably already knew this, lol.

Wayne

[Bassn Blvd]

Here in S.Florida for saltwater fishing it is "out of the west, Stay home and rest".  As far as freshwater,  If  I'm fishing a N/S canal and the wind is out of the nth then i will head into the wind with the trolling motor. If the wind is out of the east then I will angle the boat (try to, depends on wind spped) and fish the shore of the canal that the wind is blowing to, which would be the west side if wind is from the east.   If it is a lake or pond and the wind is out of the east then I will usually fish the west bank.  These are just my basic ideas where to fish in wind that I use.  I also considere sun direction and what type of structure is on the lake. I would target structure 1st then move to the wind side of the pond.  just my opinion though.  I aint no pro.

[T-rig]

I hate fishing with strong wind but the fish seem to like it. I usually do alot better on days like this especially with north wind.

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

The wind doesn't bother me.  In fact, I almost prefer it.  I make sure I keep the wind to my back when fishing and am always throwing a bait that is heavier than I normally use.

[RoLo]

Since I'm retired, I'm at liberty to choose fishing days when the air temperature is rising (we haven't seen much of that lately).

A warming trend is usually but not always associated with a wind out of the southern hemisphere.

Beyond that, I'm really not concerned about wind direction. My only mission is stay out of the teeth of a big wind

so I can maintain boat control. During a nasty chop I favor the sheltered water along an upwind shoreline, a protected bay,

canal, cove or feeder creek.

We all know that water current is a tremendous catalyst for triggering a bite, but the wind force required

to create just a little water current is quite shocking (a very poor risk/reward ratio).

     I believe it's smarter and get your water current from "under" the water instead of "above" the water.

Elevated water current is found in any bottleneck, whether it's a canal, finger creek, thoroughfare or island cut.

If it's an impoundment, learn the generating schedule and favor the times when water is being released (no wind necessary).

Roger

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I still think the answer lies with using snakes!!!!

[RoLo]

I still think the answer lies with using snakes!!!!

Well....Yes and No.

Since you only fish in the northwest corner of the lake,

during a strong southeaster your Snake will be washed up on the beach ;D

Roger

[Dan:]

This is a good subject for today. Yesterday a cove on my lake thawed out so I was planning to head out today but the wind is blowing too hard. I think I'm gonna wait until tomorrow to head out.

[Troutfisher]

Thanks for the input, guys.  The lake/backwater area I fish does have a feeder creek and cove area that I believe is probably thawed by now.  If the wind isn't too bad, I intend on fishing there.

[Guest Texas_Bass_Pro]

Thanks for the input, guys. The lake/backwater area I fish does have a feeder creek and cove area that I believe is probably thawed by now. If the wind isn't too bad, I intend on fishing there.

Let us know how you do with the wind factor.  

[Troutfisher]

Will do!

[John J.]

I always heard "The wind is your friend". It makes it hard to fish plastic (especially if you are weightless rigging a plastic worm/senko/etc.) Normally when the wind picks up I switch to hard-baits like spinner-baits, buzz-baits, etc. in the summer. For the winter I switch to 1/4-5/8 ounce jigs, and like you would in the winter, fish S-L-O-W. For summer I always use a buzz-bait or topwater, because the wind will blow the water and cause it to be choppy and therefore an outline on the surface will be distorted and noise is really effective.

Another thing for the wind as far as locating the bass. Find a spot or section of the lake where the wind is blowing against the bank or structure. This will push baitfish towards the bank/structure, etc. and therefore attracts bass.

Just a little hint  

Good luck!  8-)

[Troutfisher]

I went out this afternoon, and after I unthaw, let me tell you that weather can be very deceiving.  They called for 50 degrees and windy, and while the wind wasn't very strong, the air temperature dropped from 50 to 35 in a matter of an hour or two.  Top that with the cold wind at times, and the fact that most of the lake was frozen, and I didn't have the best of times.

Now to get that weatherman...

[Dan:]

I had the same experience. And I hate fishing with braid in wind.

[hi_steel_basser]

One of my favorite windy day tactics (necessity being the mother of invention) is to find a point that the wind is blowing into, anchor deep, and cast to the bank with c-rigs, shaky rigs, or other worms on the lighest weight I can get away with. It works.

[Curado]

I love to throw a spinnerbait up on windblown points and flats.

[fezkoe]

I personally don't mind the wind unless i have to fish against it. It provides a nice breeze during the warm weather too. But as long as its not causing really big waves, it never has seemed to cause me any problems. Just when the water gets really bad, like anytimes, it gets harder to fish. HA.

[HPBB]

first off I hate the wind when fishing, but it seems that its windy every time i go fishing. firts off I alway point the boat into the wind and I work against the wind or current. I have more control over the boat than letting it blow me around.

Now if the bite is slow I'll find a point or hump in deeper water, and drift over the point/hump dragging a tube. This works great up at Erie for SM, but I have tried it many  times at other lakes and its worked great. I catch more SM, but do get some nice LM doing this too. I will drag anywhere from a 1/8 oz to 1/2oz wieghted tube. It all depends of the speed of the wind and if there is any cover on the points /humps. If there is cover on them the better, then I go lighter so the bait can glide through the cover without getting hungup. I also have done good dragging a C-rig over humps

[Guest avid]

When I have windy condtions and some cloud cover I like spinnerbaits.

It the sky is clear I have better luck with crankbaits.

This is a good time to use the fat ika instead of the senko.  It sinks forward and a little faster so the slack from the wind is less than with the senko.

[Troutfisher]

Thanks for the help, guys.  Unfortunately, most of the lake is still frozen, except for a good sized area in the creek arm I was bank fishing yesterday.  I doubt I'll catch much of anything because of the cold water, however, I'm going out tomorrow and I am going to try some live nightcrawlers and see what happens.

[Cravin]

I always stayed away from heavy wind but about 7 years ago I took 3rd in a local touney on a very windy bank line next to the main body of the lake. I remember my Dads friend telling me I needed to get up in the cove for some shelter as he and my Dad tubed in the cove. I thought I my as well try a few casts before ruling anything out. I landed two small bass, and a Kentucky (black Bass, wherever your from) that wieghed 3lb 9oz. I know they werent monsters but it was enough to put a little money in my pocket.

It supprised me that they wouldnt even consider fishing in that wind. now I dont rule out anything.

[Clayton]

I am going to Lake Fork saturday Feb 24th and the wind is supposed to be 25-30 mph!!  Do you still keep the same approach as being dicussed or stay off the water?  I would rather go on sunday but my schedule wont allow it.  Its going to be a in and ou trip so any suggestions would be great.  Right now I am planning B/B jigs, orange trap, chart spinnerbait (willow leaf) and a chart jerkbait.  How does that sound guys?

[Fish Man]

i fish a relatively large pond and if the wind is over 15-20 mph we try to stay off and just fish the shore.........as far as casting cast sidearm and stay under the wind. try not to cast normally and get caught up in all the wind  

[Guest avid]

i fish a relatively large pond and if the wind is over 15-20 mph we try to stay off and just fish the shore.........as far as casting cast sidearm and stay under the wind. try not to cast normally and get caught up in all the wind

15 -20 mph is practically typical conditions in SE Florida, especially this year.  The sheltered coves are nice, but if you just blow past those windy points, your missing out on some major opportunities.