WIND? How much is Too Much?

[206]

How many guys look closely at the wind before heading out? I'm not talking lake Ontario just a Kawatha lake per say. When do you decide not to bother?

[BillM]

Depends on direction and speed.

[cram]

If there's a good chop I don't bother at all. If the point of fishing is to relax and have fun, why fight waves?

[captpierre]

Those are 2 entirely different scenarios.

From a safety point of view Kawarthas are frog ponds compared to Lake O.

Can always hide along calmer shoreline or island on a smaller lake.

From the comfort angle, anything over 15-20 km/hr makes fishing/boating frustrating IMHO.

[LostAnotherOne]

Every time I go out either on the boat or on the ice. Those wind gusts will mess you up.

[kickingfrog]

Don't forget depth. Shallow lakes/bays can really build up waves. Sometimes you can fish the lee of the islands or the west side of the lake.

[BillM]

If there's a good chop I don't bother at all. If the point of fishing is to relax and have fun, why fight waves?

 

Some of the best days I've had are during a decent chop.. Fish stack up, get hungry and they're pretty simply to target.

[manitoubass2]

For comfort i like 10-15

 

But i dont think ive ever missed a trip based on the wind. If its 30 or higher ill be trolling.

 

It does matter to me if im shore fishing though. If i got 40k wind in my face forget about it

Edited May 19, 2015 by manitoubass2

[Rizzo]

Kawarthas? I don't worry about it. Always somewhere you can go. For st Clair I think 20 km is about the most I want to deal with...although direction will alter that decision as well as how desperate am I to go...and I'm usually pretty desperate

[cram]

 

Some of the best days I've had are during a decent chop.. Fish stack up, get hungry and they're pretty simply to target.

I know I'm missing out big time fishing wise.

 

Just hate fishing in the wind, especially solo. Would rather find a sheltered area or just stay on shore.

[John Bacon]

Just drift over a weed bed and cast with spinner baits or lipless cranks. I have caught a lot of fish with that technique.

 

Wind will keep off Lake Ontario; but nothing less than a hurricane or tornado is going to be an issue in the Kawarthas.

[Sinker]

Dont fight the wind, use it. I like windy days. Its like cover for fish, they're out and about looking for an easy meal rather than sulking in the shade when its calm.

 

Im going tomorrow and they're calling for 30k winds....yeehaw!

 

S.

[fishindevil]

Well like Shane said use the wind and fish the windward side for walleyes they love that !!!! Some days the windier the better ..... The kawarthas never blow up to the point where it's not fish able but if you don't feel safe then don't go depending on how small your boat is ....

[MCTFisher9120]

If it's blowing 30+ then I stay home. Fishing is always great in the wind, might need to work more for bites, do more drifting etc but always seem to catch fish under rough conditions.

Edited May 19, 2015 by MikeTheBassFisher

[206]

i generally get frustrated if i have to spend more time maneuvering the boat then fishing...I called off Rice today because they called for 25km with 44km gusts I only have a 16 aluminum.

[Gnote]

Ill stay off the big water in the big winds but other than that its go time. I love getting a long drift going in a nice pike chop, at least i dont have to be on the trolling motor.

[craigdritchie]

Can you safely operate the boat and keep it positioned where you want it?

 

If yes, then the wind is ok.

 

If no, stay home.

[kickingfrog]

Now if we could just get the wind to stay the same the whole day...

[adempsey]

20km/h is about my limit. Anything over that and I am not comfortable navigating the boat in. Maybe if I was using a bigger boat, but not the 14-16' tinnies that I have to rent.

[manitoubass2]

I know when its really windy its a good time to drift and mark new spots?

[grimsbylander]

Some of the best days I've had are during a decent chop.. Fish stack up, get hungry and they're pretty simply to target.

 

I agree. Diffused light and water movement = active fish.

[MrSimon]

When it's windy and I'm catching fish .... it's God's gift to anglers

 

When it's windy and I'm not catching fish ..... it's and egg sucking sow

[davey buoy]

My boat is more than safe enough for 20-25 km winds.Without down riggers in open water in my area,I won't even try fishing there in anything above 10km's.Having said that,smaller bays ,casting,windward side is just fine.I guess the equipment you have and the size of the boat sure makes a difference in your comfort zone.

[chris.brock]

Last year on the Attawapiskat during the mayfly hatch, the windward, deep shores was the ticket. Boat control for the guy on the tiller was a nightmare, but that's where the fish where so that's what we had to do.

[can u fish]

As Bill was saying some of the best days of fishing is when you have a good chop on the lake that being said last year on our fly in trip to Anjigaming and Morin Lake we fished 4 days out of the 7 as a major cold front came in with it we had torrential rain fall and it blew a gale for 3 days it was not safe to be out on the water.