How the Wind Affects Fishing
There are probably no more dreaded natural weather phenomena than the wind, it affects everything you do outdoors and fishing is no exception. The wind can make a day on the lake just awful or you can learn the benefits and use them to your advantage! Let me first say that on any reservoir the wind can reach a point where it is not safe to be out there and please don't ignore the signs of dangerous conditions.
Having said that the wind also acts as a current, and affects the fish in similar fashion as if the TVA is pulling water, and when that occurs the wind can be your best friend if you learn to use it! The first thing to remember is current helps fishing for a couple of reasons; first it moves the food around that bait fish eat which is the small particles of zooplankton. The wind does the same thing, it moves the food chain off the banks and as the baitfish move to feed on the zooplankton the bass position themselves to feed on the bait! So the wind creates movement and the bass feed during the current or wind.
There are also some other affects of the wind that benefits fisherman; on a windy day we are generally on the front end of a high pressure system so it is generally sunny when this occurs. The wind acts as cover for bass as the ripples or waves deflect the sun and the bass feed more when they do not have to deal with the bright sun. The wind also helps create oxygen in the water and if you're in a lake with a defined thermo cline the wind can move suspending fish around and turn them on to feed just by creating oxygen in the water.
Lastly boat position can help you catch fish in the wind, because most of the time the bass will face into the wind so they can see bait and feed based on movement toward them. This is a very simple solution for you face the wind with your boat especially out in open areas and you will probable catch more fish. Let the wind be your friend and you will catch more bass and be less frustrated on windy days.
Fish Lake Guntersville Guide Service
www.fishlakeguntersvilleguideservice.com
Email: bassguide@comcast.net
Call: 256 759 2270
Captain Mike Gerry