amishnightmare88 Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 I dont know about any others out there but when its windy, fishing is the last thing i want to do simply because, well, it sucks and i never catch fish. like today, with wind gusts up to 30-40mph. thats a little stupid lol. So what i am wondering, im sure you can catch fish just as you can when it isnt very windy, but when you fishing when the wind is blowing the wind blows slack in your line and it kinda makes it had to watch your line and feel bits when the water is choppy and wind is blowing. so is there such thing as to windy to fish? if not what are your tactics? Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 20, 2012 Super User Posted February 20, 2012 It's too windy to fish once it becomes dangerous. Otherwise go for it. Boat control can get frustrating, but the rewards can be worth the aggrivation. In my experience #'s may drop but the quality of the fish increases. I like to throw a spinnerbait, but if you can find a somewhat protected area never discount a jig. Quote
zip pow Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 Two week ago on guntersville we had sustained winds of 35 mph and that one old boy put 32 lbs in the boat I had to use two drift socks and motor on high just to stay in one spot didn't catch but 24 lbs so if you can stand it and you have the equipment go if not be a fare weather fisher the biggest thing is if your not havi ng fun stay at home no sense in not having an enjoyable outing Quote
NBR Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 The wind will push plankton towards shore and the bait fish follow as the gams fish follow in the parade. I fish unless it is dangerous either from just the waves of from being pushed to close to shore, reefs or rocks. It can be very productive but it can also be very tiring so if I get a breather from active fish I am apt to pull into a cove then after a rest I'm back out into the wind. If I find fish where it is quiet I will likely stay there since it's a lot more pleasant and as I've aged I have become a much more comfort oriented fisherman. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 20, 2012 Super User Posted February 20, 2012 It's too windy to fish once it becomes dangerous. Otherwise go for it. Boat control can get frustrating, but the rewards can be worth the aggrivation. In my experience #'s may drop but the quality of the fish increases. Exactly this. 1 Quote
tholmes Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 It CAN get too windy to fish bottom contact baits, and casting can become an issue, but I've fished (from the shore) in winds of up to 40 mph. Spinnerbaits, lipless cranks, and blade baits (Silver Buddy, etc.) have worked the best for me. I've been on a large reservoir in high winds, and if you stick to the coves and BE CAREFUL, you should be OK. fishing open water with 3' whitecaps isn't a lot of fun. Tom Quote
Diggy Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 When it gets too windy to cast into it Ill make sure the wind is to my back...but Im a shore fisherman 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted February 20, 2012 Super User Posted February 20, 2012 The short answer is yes it can be too windy. As Dirty Harry once said, a man has got to know his limitations. When it comes to fishing knowing the limits of your gear is also vital. As Fluke said having a big TM gives you more options, and fishing in the wind can be fantastic. I lost a very good friend last spring because he failed to take the proper precautions and was fishing in a small boat, alone in heavy wind, on a lake that is notorious for being dangerous in the wind (Baldwin Lake, Randolph County, IL). Ignoring the danger cost him his life. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 20, 2012 Super User Posted February 20, 2012 There's no trolling motor for this: For scale, see the semi in the background on a calm day: Pics by my bud Wade. Quote
NCbassmaster4Life Posted February 20, 2012 Posted February 20, 2012 You have to think, are you going to fish for fun or for $. If it's just for fun then it may be to windy in thus conditions. You can almost any and occasion beat the wind by fishing coves and or points protected by the wind. Quote
amishnightmare88 Posted February 20, 2012 Author Posted February 20, 2012 There's no trolling motor for this: For scale, see the semi in the background on a calm day: Pics by my bud Wade. wow!!! yea i belive that would be a lil hard for a trolling motor lol Quote
Bob C Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 The wind will push plankton towards shore and the bait fish follow as the gams fish follow in the parade. I fish unless it is dangerous either from just the waves of from being pushed to close to shore, reefs or rocks. It can be very productive but it can also be very tiring so if I get a breather from active fish I am apt to pull into a cove then after a rest I'm back out into the wind. If I find fish where it is quiet I will likely stay there since it's a lot more pleasant and as I've aged I have become a much more comfort oriented fisherman. Me too. I have no desire to be a stunt pilot. Quote
TommyBass Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 Too windy for the fish? No. For you? YES. Safety should be your #1 priority. Lake size, depth, and orientation all play into how it will react to the wind. Wind direction also matters for your specific lake. I have one lake near that is almost unfishable with anything over 15 mph sustained from a certain direction, but other directions its fine up to 25mph. Just be careful, watch your forecast, and know your lake. Your boat will play a huge role in this to. Other than that, if your safe and you can manage the sometimes hair pulling stress of boat control, go for it. You may have some of your best outings! Or at least your partner will, since he can just sit in the back and have fun while you fight the wind. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted February 23, 2012 Super User Posted February 23, 2012 I fish smaller bodies of water but I do it from a canoe, so I'm off the water before most. But, my two largest LMB (in this state) came on days that were close to my limits as far as wind goes. So a bit of a blow gets me a little ramped up. A-Jay Quote
fishingfourfun Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 The day after eating Brussell Sprouts! 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 24, 2012 Global Moderator Posted February 24, 2012 When it isn't safe for me to be out there I call it quits unless I think I can fish from the bank and be alright. I usually just pick smaller bodies of water if I know it's going to be windy and think about the areas I want to fish and how affected they are going to be by the wind so I have a plan before I get there so I'm not running around in it more than I have to. One of my best days for big fish last year was on a day the wind was blowing 30-40mph all day long. Boat control sucked but the fish didn't care. I fished a spinnerbait and trap all day and killed them. Quote
brushhoggin Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 it was 77 degrees last thurs, 25-30 mph winds. had to stand on the bank with my feet spread apart so i wouldnt blow over. stood in one spot for a whole hour catching bass after bass casting to the same spot every time. it was the back of a pocket and was also windblown. best day of the year so far. first 6 casts i had 4 fish. i'd imagine a spinnerbait would do fine but i like lipless cranks cause they cast well in high winds. the wind is your friend. Quote
StinkyBass Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 im a firm believer that bass bite when they're hungry. raining, wind, or even blue bird skies, if you throw what they want you'll hook up. some of my best catches were on days that werent pretty! so if you can go...THEN GO! Quote
reo Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 There's no trolling motor for this: For scale, see the semi in the background on a calm day: Pics by my bud Wade. Is your friend Wade from Cleveland??? Quote
Super User Raider Nation Fisher Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 There's no trolling motor for this: For scale, see the semi in the background on a calm day: Pics by my bud Wade. Nope, but there are surf boards! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 Is your friend Wade from Cleveland??? More or less. Quote
Super User Lund Explorer Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 J - Waves like those always reminds me of the words to a song: "With a load of iron ore 26 thousand tons more, than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty......" My answer to the original question is YES! Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 There's some great writing in that song. Quote
Super User Lund Explorer Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 There's some great writing in that song. As well as some real tragedy. A few years ago one of the local news stations replayed the radio calls between the Coast Guard and the Arthur Anderson which was the ship ahead of the Fitzgerald as they were trying to seek shelter behind Whitefish Point. Unbelievable that they turned to in that storm to go back looking for them when they went off radar. I've been in some white-knuckle trips on Lake Michigan in waves a mere fraction of what they faced. Makes me question my sanity every time I pass the end of the breakwalls. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted February 27, 2012 Super User Posted February 27, 2012 Makes me question my sanity every time I pass the end of the breakwalls. I know that exact feeling. Get it sometimes when leaving the Buffalo Harbor on Erie, LOL. Quote
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