Fishing in Windy Conditions

This year has been one of different conditions all year long, the wind started to blow in January and here we are in the middle of July and we are still dealing with continuous winds every day. There is a difference in a breeze and the kind of wind we have been dealing with and it is presenting us with challenges every day.


As a guide we fish with all different ability levels of anglers; one day we fish with solid fisherman and the next we have a novice; then of course we have the folks that think they are pros. The challenge becomes what can we do to accommodate all the different abilities especially when the wind is blowing? The key to fishing in the heat is getting the bait to the bottom and fishing it slow enough to get a bite and nothing is more tormenting to an average fisherman than a wind that requires them deal with trying to keep that bait down.


The first thing you must try to do is fish into the wind; first of all this is the best way to present the bait but it slows you down enough to keep your bait from drifting by your target before the bait gets to the strike zone. You also must increase the weight of the bait your fishing; I know many of us like to go small and lighten up our weight in the heat but if the bait is drifting out of the strike zone you must react. You can still go small with your bait but weights especially fishing a jig or worm must be weighted properly. The best tactic is to go to tungsten as it allows you to keep your weight head small and still present your bait weighted a little heavier. Lastly many of us fish over the strike zone especially in grass so fishing baits you can cast into the wind and move over the top of the grass with repeated drops of your bait can get you great results. Spinner baits, swim baits, swim jigs and top water baits allow you to accomplish this on windy days.


One thing is for sure don’t let the wind intimidate you; use your knowledge to make it your friend; embrace the wind and it will reward you.