How to handle the wind

I've been having a lot of problems recently where I cast and the wind is taking my line and pulling my lure. Even worse, it creates so much slack that I can't feel what's happening on the end of the line. I switched to side arm casting, keeping it low, that helped a bit. What are some good tactics for fishing in high wind or gusts?

I've been having a lot of problems recently where I cast and the wind is taking my line and pulling my lure. Even worse, it creates so much slack that I can't feel what's happening on the end of the line. I switched to side arm casting, keeping it low, that helped a bit. What are some good tactics for fishing in high wind or gusts?

If you are using plastics throw some extra weight onto it so that it keeps in contact with the bottom. Same goes for jigs, size up in heavy winds. Also helps with casting a bit.

Good advice Bobby. If you're fishing from a boat you can always cast downwind. From shore it can be tougher.

Try to position yourself so you are throwing directly into the wind or directly with the wind

All very good info, thanks. Does the wind affect where the bass can be found?

All very good info, thanks. Does the wind affect where the bass can be found?

Yes sustained wind does. Blows around small food sources which bait fish follow which bass follow. If its a swirling wind I don't think there is much you can do with it.

Fishing from the shore on a windy day sucks. Spinnerbaits are my go to in that situation. On the boat I'll always fish the shoreline that the wind is blowing at. My number one choice is a shallow running crankbait

face directly into the wind if you can. use a rudder if you're on a boat. and yes, the wind blow areas can typically be productive areas especially if there's some sort of cover or structure there like brush, laydowns, rocks etc.

The wind is your friend

Wind forced me home today, no one to help me get the canoe on the car, and it looking blustry I headed for some shore fishing. Due to some *cough* regulations I couldn't fish the side of the pond with the wind coming behind me so I was forced perpendicular to the wind as those were the only decent spots left. Wind was playing havoc with my line and as a pretty poor caster anyways not getting to close to shore/trees was impossible.

The wind today was brutal. A good day for NOT fishing, even though the temp and humidity were amazing.

Yeah I thought the same thing slight drizzle overcast humid perfect! not so much only an hr but barely a nibble with the wind it was tough to tell anyway.

my spot has been like a wind tunnel lately but it comes straight at me rather than side to side so its not an issue. ive been throwing weightless wacky senkos on a baitcaster spooled with 8lb fluoro directly into the wind with no ill effects lol just gotta thumb it a little more than usual. the wind has definately been blowing food sources right towards me though cause ive been catching 15 to 30 bass a day all week at this spot right at shore ( dont be jealous though cause out of all of em maybe 2 in the 2 lb range the rest are little guys around 8 inches and hovering around the half pound mark) but right now little bass are better than no bass so im havin fun catchin the little dinks none the less

also my best tip to you for keeping the slack out of your line is if you are fishing slow moving baits as soon as you cast lower your rod tip to the water so your line hits the water surface and sticks before the wind gets a chance to run with it, of course this will only work with certain fishing techniques but its what i do when fishing small light weight baits in the wind and works great, every time you reel in some line make sure to lower your tip back down to the water so your line dosent get taken by the wind. dont really work though if you are fishing reaction baits. good luck

The wind is your friend

i agree 100% if you work with it not against it