3 Tips For Fishing In The Wind

You can’t spell Springtime in our area without “W.I.N.D.”. It’s a real four letter word. It makes all outdoor activities challenging. Fishing is no exception. The good news is that you can use the wind to your advantage while fishing a windy lake. Let’s dive into three key points that will make your fishing game stronger!

Springtime brings out the big fish. Don’t skip out just due to the wind!

Rule number one….fish the wind blown bank!
That’s right. You’re going to have to weather the wind. The blowing wind will stir up the waters along the shoreline. All of that water moving around will stir up the aquatic life and make for a fish feeding fest. Cast out and reel in slow along the shoreline and you’re sure to hook up with something out hunting! Remember big baits catch big fish. In these kids of conditions I like to throw a flashy spoon or a slow moving spinner. The movement and shinymess will attract fish to a struggling baitfish.

Rule number two - lure color matters!
Since the wind stirs up the water, the clarity goes down. That means that presentation of your lure is also going to be a big deal. Certain colors will show up better in turbid waters. Darker lures tend to provide a contrast that most fish will pick up on, however brighter colored lures can reflect well and get fish attention as well. Many times we will fish a combo of a dark lure with flashy and bright accents. We like to have a wide selection of lures available to choose from. Changing conditions will also affect the lure selection. Having a variety to choose from allows you to pivot with the changing conditions.

Rule number three - size and speed matters!
We already covered the fact that color matters. Well, in windy conditions, the size also makes a big difference. Larger lures tend to produce better during windy conditions. They are heavier making them easier to cast into the wind. Larger and heavier baits also tend to be more accurate to cast during the wind. Once in the water, the larger lures will be able to get the attention of the fish. Smaller lures will tend to blend into the choppy water. Larger lures will be much more visible. On the same note….speed of retrieve matters too. Slow with lots of movement is best. If you retrieve too fast, the fish won’t even notice there was anything there. On the other hand, a slow retrieve will allow the bait to play in the water like a wounded bait fish. That’s exactly what we’re looking for! With the right play in the water, predatory fish won’t be able to resist!

The best fishing days are hardly ever nice and sunny. In fact, the best fishing days tend to be the nastiest days on the lake. So, don’t let the wind scare you away from fishing your favorite spot. Using the wind to your advantage can make for some amazing fishing conditions. Let’s review…fishing the wind blown banks, big, dark and shiny lures. Don’t be afraid to try different presentations and see what the fish are responding too.

Good luck out there!

Tight Lines and Happy Trails,

The Trails to Trout Family