| How many times have you heard? "I'll fish in the | | | | other locations. Fish will position themselves and |
| middle of summer or the dead of winter, but I | | | | react in the same manner all over the lake. I try |
| hate fishing when it's windy." I'm not a big fan of | | | | to keep a journal. Some anglers bring a small note |
| it either however, if you can put up with making | | | | pad with them to document catches and the |
| sure everything is secure so it won't blow away, | | | | conditions in which they fished. |
| understanding what the wind does to the water | | | | It doesn't matter if you're fishing from the shore |
| and how the fish react to it can be extremely | | | | or from a boat, knowing what to look for on a |
| beneficial. | | | | windy day can produce some cool results. Just |
| First off, there are a few things to discuss. | | | | remember to cast into the wind and retrieve with |
| Always make sure your trolling battery, or | | | | the current. Try to position yourself downwind |
| batteries, are fully charged. This is always a god | | | | along the shore and pull your lure along those lines |
| idea, no matter what the conditions however, you | | | | of transition, most often, bass will be hiding in |
| will probably need all the power you can get while | | | | ambush and will strike hard. |
| trolling the shores and trying to maintain | | | | Lures that create a vibration and flash are optimal |
| stationary positions in the wind. | | | | for windy days as well as muddy conditions. Wind |
| Anything light or lofty, like tackle boxes and fishing | | | | will also cause mud lines to appear at the |
| nets, should be secured or stowed low if you're | | | | shoreline, structured areas or along wind induced |
| fishing from a boat or dock. Losing your gear or | | | | currents. Big bass love transitional lines in the |
| trying to catch a flying bag of plastic worms can | | | | water. (Shadow lines, Mud lines, Weed lines and |
| get you into some tight spots and might even | | | | Sharp drop offs) Get two or three of these and |
| cause you to lose a fish or worse, take a dive | | | | a windy day together and were talkin' results. |
| into the drink. | | | | As far as bait is concerned, spinner-baits or |
| Losing your gear or having to paddle back to the | | | | rattle-type baits work the best, due to the noise |
| launch is never a fun experience to encounter. | | | | and vibration they produce, especially if the water |
| Trust me, I've been there. By the way, it's also a | | | | is muddy. Bright, noisy, vibrating baits usually work |
| good idea to keep at least one paddle in the boat, | | | | the best in muddy water. I say usually because |
| just in case. | | | | you never know exactly what the fish are going |
| A great new piece of equipment to add to your | | | | to do. However, fish will generally act the same |
| gear is the drift sock. Specially designed for windy | | | | under certain conditions. |
| conditions, the drift sock is used to slowly troll or | | | | In muddy water, dark color crank baits and jigs |
| maintain a spot without using a trolling motor or | | | | work very well. If you use a spinner, go with |
| anchor, which decreases battery usage and cuts | | | | chartreuse or white. There are now glow in the |
| down on noise created by the troller or the splash | | | | dark blades available on the market today. For |
| of and anchor. | | | | obvious reasons, neon or glow in the dark blades |
| The "sock" is usually made of heavy gauge nylon | | | | and lures will produce desired effects in muddy |
| and attaches to the boat with a rope like an | | | | water. |
| anchor. You just drop the "sock" into the water | | | | Top water, splashing baits do quite well also. I like |
| on the windward side of the boat, as the wind | | | | to use two-inch, lipped minnows and poppers to |
| pushes the boat, the sock drags in the water | | | | bring the big ones to the surface. The splashing |
| causing the boat to slow considerably and, in | | | | and popping creates the noises associated with |
| some cases, to even stop. | | | | dying or jumping bait fish. Ripping, top-water |
| Very handy on those windy days and can be | | | | buzz-baits can be very handy on noisy, windy |
| used to drift fish. | | | | days also. I haven't seen many anglers catch fish |
| One fortunate aspect of fishing during windy | | | | with buzz-baits as much as other lures, but that's |
| conditions is that your favorite fishing spot will | | | | because I haven't seen many buzz-baits used. |
| probably be less crowded. That is if your favorite | | | | I prefer not to use them myself, for personal |
| spot gets crowded. Another good aspect is that | | | | reasons. But try them out, who knows, you |
| fish can generally be more predictable. | | | | might have great results with them. |
| Wind creates waves, which in turn breaks up the | | | | Line diameter should also be considered depending |
| surface of the water. This is primary to | | | | on the style of casting you use. You might not |
| understanding what the fish are going to do. Wind | | | | need to change if you flip or pitch cast or if you |
| also cause currents to break up the sediment and | | | | use a heavier lure however, if you use an |
| food; this causes the bait fish to follow the drifting | | | | overhand cast or you go with lighter crank baits, |
| bands of food and cover located in these slight | | | | you might consider switching to a smaller |
| currents on the top of the water. | | | | diameter line to cut down on the amount of drag, |
| And where you find bait fish, you find bass. | | | | which will shorten your casting distance. |
| The waves and debris also break up the patterns | | | | Another factor to take into consideration is that |
| of light shining through the water, which can cause | | | | the wind can often cause the water temperature |
| bass to become more active due to optimal | | | | to change. Currents caused by the wind will often |
| feeding conditions. Fish are also less spooked on | | | | bring the cooler water up from below, which in |
| windy days because of the noise at the surface | | | | turn, changes the temperature at the surface. |
| (chops and splashes) as well as possibly being | | | | Depending on the season, this can cause fish to |
| pre-occupied with searching for prey. | | | | react differently. |
| For the most part, fish face into the current and | | | | One last tip is to try to ignore the conditions and |
| will be more apt to strike prey swimming at them | | | | just fish. If you become familiar with the way fish |
| rather than chasing the prey. Casting into the wind | | | | respond to certain conditions, the rest comes |
| and retrieving with the current can produce a | | | | naturally. As I always say, find what works for |
| number of strikes, especially if you can find | | | | you and go with that. So remember to secure |
| multiple locations with the same characteristics. | | | | your gear on windy days or leave it behind and |
| Remember to note the conditions in which you | | | | until next time, good fishin' to ya. |
| catch a fish in order to reproduce your actions in | | | | |