Fishing in Windy Conditions: Adapting Your Techniques for Success
As many anglers know windy conditions can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to fishing. Not enough wind can create tough bites, while on the other hand too much windy can create dangerous conditions on the water.
Among the various weather elements, wind is one of the most common and influential factors that can affect both freshwater and saltwater fishing. By adapting your fishing tactics and techniques you can have a successful day on the water even in windy conditions.
In this article we will explore how to adapt your techniques and strategies for fishing in the wind. These tips that will help anglers make the most of windy conditions.
Choosing The Right Lures For Fishing In Windy Conditions
Choosing the right lures when fishing in windy conditions can be the difference between catching fish or not. Generally speaking the windier the conditions the heavier the lure should be. Lighter lures are more susceptible to being blown off course by the wind, making it difficult to cast and present your bait accurately.
Using heavier lures allows the angler to have more control while casting and reduces the wind’s impact on your casting distance. Heavier lures also sink faster helping keep tension on your line. This gives you more control while working a bait back on the retrieve.
Jigs, swimbaits, punch rigs, and heavy crankbaits are a few good casting presentations that work well in windy fishing conditions. All of these baits can be casting and fished in windy conditions.
Another thing anglers need to consider is the color of their lure they choose on when fishing in windy conditions. High winds can decrease the water visibility. As the water turns murky lure color becomes increasingly important.
On windy fishing days brighter colored lures tend to preform best. Select lures that have give off flash and stand out in the water. This will allow predator species like walleye and bass to find your bait even in chopper waters.
Casting Techniques For Windy Days
One of the most noticeable effects of wind when fishing is its impact on casting and the presentation of lures or baits. Wind can make it difficult to cast with accuracy, and can decease your casting distance.
Additionally, strong gusts can make it harder to maintain the proper tension on your line. When fishing in windy conditions anglers must adapt their techniques to cope with the challenging weather.
When it’s possible the angler should always try to fish with their back to the wind. Casting into the wind can be difficult and inefficient. Wind can cause slack in the line, leading to slower hooksets or missed strikes.
Another way anglers can combat the wind is by vertically jigging instead of casting. Vertically jigging gives the angler better control of their presentation and keeps the bait in front of the fish.
The fishing line you choose will also impact your casting distance on windy fishing days. Using braided fishing line like Sufix 832 performance braid can help improve your casting ability in windy conditions.
Braided fishing line is preferable in windy conditions due to its low stretch and thinner diameter compared to monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing lines.
Braided line also gives the angler better sensitivity and control. Due to its thin diameter it’s less likely to be affected by wind, reducing the amount of slack in your line.
Shortening your casting distance will also improve your accuracy in windy conditions. Shorter casts allow you to maintain better control over your line.
When fishing in windy conditions try targeting areas closer to the shore or structure where fish are more likely to be concentrated. This will help prevent you from making excessively long casts.
Finding Sheltered Spots To Fish
When facing windy fishing conditions it can make things a lot easier to focus on areas of the lake that are sheltered and protected from the wind. These sheltered locations can make all the difference in the world when it comes fishing efficiently.
Sheltered spots can be found in a variety of places, depending on the body of water you are fishing in. Whether you are fishing in a lake, river, or ocean, there are a few common strategies that can help you locate spots that are shielded from the wind.
Leeward (Windward need to check on this) shorelines of the body of water you are fishing are going to offer good wind protection. The leeward shoreline is the area that is opposite to the direction from which the wind is blowing.
Docks and man-made structures like piers and bridges can also provide good cover from the wind. These places also tend to attract baitfish and predatory species alike, making them good fishing spots as well as a wind barrier.
In larger bodies of water, coves and bays often offer protection from strong winds. These areas are usually more sheltered because they are surrounded by land on multiple sides which can provide a good wind break.
On extremely windy days it can be advantageous to target lakes that are irregular shaped. lakes often have several spots that provide good protection from the wind. Irregular shaped lakes typically provide natural features along the shoreline that can block the wind.
Using The Windy Conditions To Your Advantage
Anglers can use the wind to their advantage in a number of different ways. The first way you can use the wind to your advantage is by fishing with the wind to your back.
Fishing this your back to the wind can help you reach the maximum distance with your cast. This will also help prevent the winds affect on your lure presentation once it’s in the water.
Another way anglers can use the wind to their advantage is by using it to drift fish. Using the wind to drift allows the angler to cover more area while maintaining a consistent speed in their presentation.
By allowing the wind to guide the boat, anglers can fish effectively without having to rely on precise casting. Many walleye anglers are proficient at this, because it’s the best way to use the current that’s created by the wind to your advantage, while simultaneously giving your bait a natural jigging motion.
Understanding How The Wind Effects Fish Locations
The wind can have a great impact on fish locations. Wind generates surface currents in both freshwater and saltwater environments. The direction and intensity of the wind can cause water to move and in return relocates the fish.
An example of this is when the wind pushes surface water toward one side of a lake. This wind blown side will concentrate the baitfish into one location which will attract numbers of predatory species like walleye, bass, musky, and northern pike.
Conversely, a wind blowing away from shore may push fish deeper out to the open basins and onto main lake structure. This may requiring anglers to adjust their techniques and fish for those suspended fish out in the main lake.
As an angler you always want to pay attention to the wind. Take note of the wind direction, and if the wind has blown the same direction for several days in a row, target the wind blown shorelines.
How Windy Fishing Conditions Affect the Mood Of The Fish
Wind can have a huge impact on fish feeding behavior. On the one hand, wind can create surface disturbance that makes it easier for predatory species like largemouth bass and northern pike to ambush baitfish.
On the other hand, strong winds can cause fish to become negative and lethargic causing them to move into deeper, calmer waters, especially in shallow lakes or ponds. Understanding how wind affects fish feeding patterns is key to adjusting fishing techniques.
Tips For Fishing In A Boat In Windy Conditions
If you plan on fishing from boat in windy conditions there are a few tools you can use to improve your boat control. The good old fashion anchor is one of the best ways to stay put on a spot when fishing in windy conditions. Anglers can anchor themselves on a spot letting the fish work to them.
Another tool that can help improve boat control is a drift sock. A drift sock is a simple but effective tool for slowing down your drift in windy conditions. By deploying a drift sock, you can maintain better control over your boat’s movement, keeping you in the strike zone for longer periods.
FAQs
How do I cast in strong wind?
The best way to cast into a strong wind is by fishing with the wind at your back. If you are forced to cast into the wind, using heavier lures and braided line can help improve your casting distance.
What are the best lures to use in windy conditions?
Heavy jigs, large crankbaits, and other lures that are dense and heavy as ideal for fishing in windy conditions. As a general rule of thumb the stronger the wind, the heavier the lure should be.
How does wind affect fish behavior?
The wind can directly affect fish behavior and fish movements. In many instances if there is a lack of wind the bite can be slower for species like musky and walleye. As an angler you will need to adapt to the windy fishing conditions in order to have success out on the water.
Conclusion
Fishing in windy conditions presents a unique set of challenges, but with the right techniques and gear, anglers can still have a ton of success out on the water. By understanding how wind affects fish behavior and location, both fresh and saltwater anglers can use the wind to their advantage to catch a bunch of fish even when fishing in windy conditions.
