Fishing in the wind

[roadwarrior]

Maybe "The wind is your friend," but it's never

been a friend of mine.

:-?

[Tin]

Maybe "The wind is your friend," but it's never

been a friend of mine.

:-?

Clear cold rocky lake + wind + jerkbait = Lots of smallies

(North of the Mason Dixon any way)

[roadwarrior]

Clear cold rocky lake + wind + jerkbait = Lots of smallies

I could be wrong... :

[Tin]

Like I said north of the Line, lol. And I don't know how the wind translates into places with current where you fish.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Clear cold rocky lake + wind + jerkbait = Lots of smallies

I could be wrong... :

Yeah, you are.   ;D

I dont like the wind for the reason of it being a PITA with boat control.

I love the wind for fishing big baits and clear water though.

[roadwarrior]

It comes from being a river rat.

Wind plays havoc and when it's

strong, ruins drift fishing. I can't

think of any advantages for river

fishing.

8-)

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I can, like when the TVA isn't pulling any water.

Probably isn't an issue right below the dam, but midlake I could see it helping.

[Dwight Hottle]

Tin got it right. The wind is a fisherman's best friend 99% of the time. Makes locating them easier and the less visibility makes them more..courageous shall we say. It just makes for tough boat control. And don't forget wind & waves will put the fish shallow & put the fish higher into the water column.

[WRB]

Maybe "The wind is your friend," but it's never

been a friend of mine.

:-?

Clear cold rocky lake + wind + jerkbait = Lots of smallies

(North of the Mason Dixon any way)

This thread started out with a ? about how to fish in 30 mph wind.

Anyone who has ever been on the water in high winds like 30 mph knows it's nearly impossible to maintain boat control with white caps crashing over the bow, let alone cast lures and fish.

A light to moderate breeze up to 20 mph is about as strong of wind you can control a bass and fish. 25 mph wind or higher is considered dangerous.

A light breeze is a fisherman's friend and high wind isn't.

WRB

[Tin]

Come fish what we deal with in New England and on the Great Lakes. They are called 101 36 volt motors. Most of our lakes have a constant sea breeze from March until June and we deal with 15 o 30 mph winds all the time. It is just a part of fishing. You put on the biggest motor you can, put the nose in the wind, crank the brakes and spool tension up, and go. We just picked up a 101 for our 18' Stratos because of wind issues and there are only 6 or 7 lakes in the state where you can turn the key on a motor over 9.9.

This Pic doesn't do it justice but this is on Indian Lake which is about 5 miles from Gansett Bay. This was in easily 25 mph and there were lots of white caps. It is only a 250 acre lake but we do it on our one 1000 acre puddle as well. Ask Matt 5.0 about it, LOL. I swapped armatures out on the TM and turned a 50 pound thrust into an 80 on my 17 foot Tracker. Worst comes to worst you do drifts with drift socks. We have some lakes that are very narrow and almost river lake and are fishable in 40-50mph winds. We don't have much in the way of hills either so it is not like a wind tunnel where the lakes are situated.

[Dave P]

If it's that windy, I generally do the drift. I drag soft swimbaits on or near the bottom.

[stratos 375]

Mr. Tin, if you say that this pic is in 25 mph easily, you're correct, it doesn't do it justice. That water is showing me no more than a Beaufort 3, that's just  a breeze, I don't see any whitecaps, the crests are just starting to break. I can run 55 over that chop all day. If it was a true 25, there would be a sea of whitecaps and you'd have a hard time standing there. Your wind speed estimation needs some work.

Pretty fish.

[Tin]

Granted Beaufort Scale is meant to be on the open water not a 200 acre lake but that would mean I was in 1.5 to 3 footers in a 17 foot Tracker and would love to see you run 55 mph over them. Then again I would like to see a Stratos 375 go 55 mph.

The purpose of this was to show that you can fish in the wind and run a trolling motor when it is windy. Guys drag tubes with 3/4oz heads, drop shot, throw heavy spinnerbaits, and big jerkbaits. It is very possible and a lot of people do it.

[WRB]

there is a big difference between wind gusts and sustained wind. A 21' bass boat with 250 hp is no match sustained wing over 25 mph in open water on a big lake. wind at 20 mph with gust up 50 mph is fishable on some waters, dangerous but possible to fish.

Lake Mead isn't the Great lakes, but this desert lake can be mean with sustained wind over 25 mph; 6 to 8 waves are common.

If the Coast Guard is responsible for navigable waterways and you violate wind warnings like small craft flags, you are at your own risk and no insurance will cover your accident. Use common sense.

We fish in waves over 2' as common place and it's difficult to maintain boat control or stand up front on the trolling. 3' to 4' waves are common with sustain 25 mph wind on most lakes and not fishable, you can't stand up in any bass boat under those conditions.

WRB

[Catt]

There are certain regions of the country where wind is a constant part of fishing and there are certain regions of the country where wind is usually associated with frontal conditions. Each has distinct and separate set of circumstances associated with fishing those regions of the country.

On the wide open lakes of the northern states there are no areas in which one can find refuge from the wind so anglers must learn to deal with the conditions they are given. On the huge reservoirs in the south there are numerous areas in which one can find refuge from the wind and still catch bass.

While to many wind is their friend 99% of the time I believe is more like 75-80% of the time in my region of the country. A north west, north, or north east wind indicates a cold front is approaching which will absolutely shut down the bass. Where as a south west, south, or south east wind indicates a warm front is approaching which will absolutely send the bass into a feeding frenzy.

[WRB]

There are certain regions of the country where wind is a constant part of fishing and there are certain regions of the country where wind is usually associated with frontal conditions. Each has distinct and separate set of circumstances associated with fishing those regions of the country.

On the wide open lakes of the northern states there are no areas in which one can find refuge from the wind so anglers must learn to deal with the conditions they are given. On the huge reservoirs in the south there are numerous areas in which one can find refuge from the wind and still catch bass.

While to many wind is their friend 99% of the time I believe is more like 75-80% of the time in my region of the country. A north west, north, or north east wind indicates a cold front is approaching which will absolutely shut down the bass. Where as a south west, south, or south east wind indicates a warm front is approaching which will absolutely send the bass into a feeding frenzy.

The number of years you have been fishing east Texas your on the water experience is valuable. The few times I have had the opportunity the fish your area,  I'm always surprised how fast weather can change. Out west we have advanced warning most of the time and rarely get caught out on the water in severe wind. Sun downers afternoon or santana winds are predictable.

Tom

[Catt]

It's often said if you don't like our weather wait 30 minutes it'll change 

[90x]

i think i have lost more lures on a windy day than any other. easy to see why. I also become the most frustrated. I have to say I hate the wind and have never caught a fish on a windy day. When it is calm, I am there. If there is wind, i usually dont even try.

(Bank Fisherman).