Fishing on windy days is not a lot of fun. Whether you are fishing from the bank or from a boat, the windy conditions can make the experience miserable. However, windy days can be productive ones for fishing. If you are like me, you have to fish whenever you can even if that means on windy days. Over the years I have found some things that work for me when fishing in the wind. Here are some tips that I have used successfully and you can try the next time you head out to fish in windy weather.
Heavy Lures
One of the biggest problems with fishing on windy days is that the wind wreaks havoc with casting accuracy. Depending on the amount of wind, it can be difficult to control where you cast your lures. To reduce the effect that the wind has on your casting, use heavier lures that will better fly through the wind. In addition to using heavy lures, avoid long distance casts. Get as close as possible to where you want to cast to minimize the distance that the wind has to work on the lure. When possible, cast sidearm to avoid throwing the lure high into the air which gives the wind more opportunity to blow the lure off course. Another option is to not fish lures, but simply bottom fish bait on windy days.
Loud and Big
In addition to choosing a heavy lure for use on a windy day, choose lures that are easiest for the fish to find. Wind will create waves on the water that reduce the fish’s ability to see and hear a lure in the water. Lures that are flashy, include rattles or have a lot of movement will be the easiest for the fish to locate. The use of attracting scents will also help fish to find lures if the water is not moving so fast to carry away the scent.
Downwind Shores
A heavy wind will create waves on the water. These waves will stir up the water most dramatically on the downwind shore. This means that fish will most likely feed on this side of the water. This is due to the waves washing food sources into the water as well as driving small baitfish to that side of the water. When possible, cast your lure onto the shore and slowly retrieve the lure into the water to mimic a baitfish struggling against the waves to reach deeper water.