Do you cancel days of fishing because of wind? 2024

IamNewbie reply :

Planned on fishing tonight, weather report initially said 5-9mpg winds all day. It's gusting at 20mph now. I don't mind 10-12mph wind but anything past that is horrible for fishing in my opinion. Lures are flying back at me every time I cast and the water's really choppy. Just doesn't make shore fishing very fun. Also don't think I'd wanna risk getting blown in my boat so shallow to where I can't motor myself out and I can't oar myself out because the wind's that strong.

Do you fish in the wind?

riverbasser reply :

Depends on where I plan to fish. I can normally find a creek that's half protected by wind but normally anything around 20 I can't even cross the lake so it depends if I can launch close enough. All depends on direction and how bad I wanna go. I have left after about an hour because it was too rough and that makes for a bad day

Fun4Me reply :

I live in Kansas. If it's not windy something is generally wrong LOL!! In all seriousness I would only fish from a boat in windy conditions if I'm comfortable with the wind speed. I would always wear my pfd and not take any stupid chances. From the bank? I will fish some pretty windy days.

A-Jay reply :

I used to but not any more ~

Thank You Lund !

A-Jay

Turtle135 reply :

I will fish. I have a couple of locations that offer some wind protection and I am not adverse to popping out of my kayak and wade fishing (that wind can get a summer bite going). My only fishing "kryptonite" is lightning.

blckshirt98 reply :

As a shore guy myself when it's too windy I go home. Not only does bad wind make casting tough, it makes feeling the bait tough, it makes placing and holding your baits where you want it tough, and it makes tying knots a nightmare. Just way too much frustration and aggravation when I fish to relax and decompress.

buzzed bait reply :

i have canceled before due to wind, but i fish from a kayak so it can be a little different. but i'm talking like 15+ MPH before i'm even considering canceling.

i know, i know the midwest guys are about to come in and say 15-20 MPH winds is considered a good day....

Jar11591 reply :

15 mph is the cut-off for me. Anything above that and I'll usually spare myself the inevitable headache unless I'm going to a spot that offers some guaranteed wind protection.

Catt reply :

On 8/23/2016 at 4:39 AM, IamNewbie said:

Planned on fishing tonight, weather report initially said 5-9mpg winds all day. It's gusting at 20mph now. I don't mind 10-12mph wind but anything past that is horrible for fishing in my opinion. Lures are flying back at me every time I cast and the water's really choppy. Just doesn't make shore fishing very fun. Also don't think I'd wanna risk getting blown in my boat so shallow to where I can't motor myself out and I can't oar myself out because the wind's that strong.

Do you fish in the wind?

There aint nothing irritates me more than winds above 15 mph!

Being retired has its advantage's like being able to pick & choose my days!

MassYak85 reply :

I've had great success in high winds (15-20+) so it's tough for me to just not go because I know I might be missing out. But anything over 15 in the kayak is an absolute nope. Not worth the hassle, I spend more time maneuvering than actually fishing. In a boat or from shore anything under 25 is tolerable if they are biting. Spinnerbaits or noisy topwaters like the whopper plopper or a buzzbait can be deadly in rough water.

Ohio Archer reply :

I watched the wind to determine if I'd go out and then pick what lake I would fish. My flat bottom bass boat would beat you to death trying to cross the larger lakes around here. That was before I got my Lowe. Now, with the deeper sides, windshield and deep V hull, I don't think I will need to worry about that (unless it is a gale). As far as wind affecting my casts, I adjust. Shorter casts, slightly heavier lures.

Wind can pile up baitfish on windward shorelines and points...a smorgasbord for the larger fish.

And a big plus...less boats out there getting in my way.

WRB reply :

Yep, when wind is forecast to be 30mph with gust to 50mph I stay home, very common in the fall with our San Tana winds.

Tom

Further North reply :

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: I can always find a place out of the wind. Might be a local thing as there's 500+ lakes and three major rivers...and a ton of smaller ones and trout streams...within an hour's drive.

S Hovanec reply :

Almost every cancelled trip is because of wind. Lake Erie can be nasty with 15mph sustained winds.

flyfisher reply :

Not usually but it does dictate where i fish. Being in a kayak i have learned to use the wind to my advantage and usually put down a drag chain if it is really bad and let the wind move me around while i just correct for direction mainly.

geo g reply :

The answer is yes. I will not cancel because of rain, full moon, cold, or 100+ weather, but I will cancel for 20+ steady wind. The wind makes boat control tough, it will make feeling the bite tough, and it will blow floating vegetation around which will be tough to handle. The wave action will make standing and fishing a chore. Since I fish for enjoyment, I can always fish tomorrow.

Many times if its blowing hard I will choose to bank fish. Since your stationary, fishing with a heavy wind from your back, is easy fishing. You can cast far and easy, and feeling the bite is no problem. Bass are often active with all the bait fish stirred up by the wind.

Bankbeater reply :

I don't cancel, but I do rethink about where I will fish. In 10+ mph I will try and find a smaller size lake that is out of the wind, or fish from the shore.

IndianaFinesse reply :

Now that I fish out a boat, my cut-off is 30-35 miles an hour. Back when i fish out of a canoe it was only 15 mile per hour. It's not a lot of fun fishing in the wind, but my pb was caught in 30 mile an hour wind so that makes it all worth it.

JustinCT reply :

Given my limited opportunities to fish I usually will not cancel, just make the best of it. As others have indicated it will influence where I fish as well as how I fish. Love spinnerbaits when it's windy. If we're getting gusts above 30mph it's unusual so it's not typically an issue.

clh121787 reply :

Yes

J Francho reply :

Sometimes...

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Depends on the lake and how bad the wind is and wave size. Most of the time the answer is no I do not cancel. Now something like JFrancho posted. Yes. I would cancel. LOL

WIGuide reply :

I won't cancel because of win unless it's bordering on the edge of insanity. If I fished the great lakes, absolutely. The wind can make it a pain to fish, but it's usually worth fighting with it.

A-Jay reply :

On 8/24/2016 at 3:41 AM, J Francho said:

Sometimes...

That's clearly not fishing weather but it is totally Coast Guard Weather ~

Some years it seemed like that was the what it looked Every Time we left the dock.

It's fun for about 20 minutes, then is not so much.

Got real interesting when there were Volkswagen size Icebergs tumbling around in it.

Skill & Luck started to feel quite a bit alike, especially at night.

A-Jay

Mosster47 reply :

I don't care what the wind is, I care about how high the rollers are. Anything above 3ft and I'm looking for some calmer water.

With those new wake board boats with ballasts in them the biggest waves you encounter anymore usually aren't from mother nature.

lo n slo reply :

yep

Attila reply :

As a shore fisherman, there's always some spot that isn't getting pounded by the wind. That said, I like fishing in the wind as it stirs up the water clarity and I find it turns on the bite a fair amount.

Matter of fact, the best day I had came fishing a windswept shoreline with a jerkbait; think I managed 4 fish over 4lbs that day all landed on spinning gear which makes casting a lot easier on a windy day.

soflabasser reply :

It is a extremely rare day that I will cancel one of my bass fishing trips because of the weather. I have fished in +96 degree heat with + 80% humidity, sub 40 degree temperatures (very cold for South Florida),+30 mph winds, and pouring rain,with decent success.I do try to avoid fishing during thunderstorms and hurricane like conditions.

gimruis reply :

On 8/24/2016 at 5:32 AM, Mosster47 said:

With those new wake board boats with ballasts in them the biggest waves you encounter anymore usually aren't from mother nature.

Isn't that the truth! Its been getting worse and worse lately too. Recreational riff raff

I generally look at the weekly weather and try to target days where there's potential rain and/or inclement weather because that's when I know there won't be any wake boarders, jet skis, pontoons, etc. Wind can be a factor if I'm heading to a big lake. It makes boat control very difficult as many have already mentioned here. There are enough smaller lakes and rivers within an hour of my house that I could go out even on a really windy day and find at least a somewhat sheltered cove. The walleye guys around here love the windy, overcast days. The bass guys, not so much.

Darren. reply :

I have, but also been out when winds of 40 MPH
ripped through - and I was in my kayak. Needless
to say I hauled out of there as fast as I could.

Fortunately I was very close to the launch.

But I've fished in white caps on my local reservoirs.
I don't make it a habit by any means, and these days
I've balked when the wind was up in particular directions.

everythingthatswims reply :

My PB was caught when the wind was so bad, I fished 8 hours and spent more than half of that paddling (kayak) to find protected water. In February.

IndianaFinesse reply :

On 8/24/2016 at 5:32 AM, Mosster47 said:

I don't care what the wind is, I care about how high the rollers are. Anything above 3ft and I'm looking for some calmer water.

With those new wake board boats with ballasts in them the biggest waves you encounter anymore usually aren't from mother nature.

I hate those. They were (and often still are) a nightmare back when I fished from a canoe. It seemed like the smaller the boat you were in the less space they gave you, not the other way around. Several times they dumped my canoe, it got to the point I had to start calling security on them.

I usually won't cancel unless it's something suicidel. I caught my second biggest bass at 8.2 pound bass in 30 mile an hour wind with gusts much higher, its a pain to fish in but definitely worth it.

BassAssasinGarcia reply :

I absolutely love fishing wind. I've never not went because of heavy winds. Some of my best days was in 30wind gusts ?

S. Sass reply :

Since I can fish almost every day I generally skip the rougher days. Where I like to fish generally has trees and tree stumps and a lot of them. You really don't want to be the ping pong boat.

Columbia Craw reply :

Only if I feel I'm gong to die. The Columbia River can be frightening. When grain barges are sunk, it's bad.

fishwizzard reply :

On 8/23/2016 at 4:55 AM, Turtle135 said:

I will fish. I have a couple of locations that offer some wind protection and I am not adverse to popping out of my kayak and wade fishing (that wind can get a summer bite going). My only fishing "kryptonite" is lightning.

When I am not in my kayak, I don't fear lightning, but recent local flash flooding has made me look at the wisdom of spending time in river valleys during heavy rain.

I have yet to rig an anchor so a strong wind does make my kayak days a hot mess, but I suspect my 10' bathtub boat has something to do with that.

Scorchx1245 reply :

Fishing in lake Erie, Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga, and Onieda, yeah there are days where it aint worth breaking the equipment, Onieda scared me back a month or 2 ago with 6 footers, my bilge barely kept up on my 18 foot boat.

"hamma" reply :

When I was younger, wind didnt effect my fishing much unless it was unbearable like J Franco's pic. And I liked a bit of wind as it positions bass in a more predictable manner. But now that Im injured and have progressed in years, I have more opportunities to fish when I want (or can due to pain) I chose a much lighter breeze. Fish are still positioned in a predictable manner, just the boat handling is alot easier, and therefore fishing more enjoyable.

DubyaDee reply :

Between my family and work, I get to fish twice a month. Rarely will weather keep me off the water. Fishing in the wind is usually more productive anyway. I don't get how the guys on Erie can drop shot in 20 mph winds and 3 foot waves though.

IgotWood reply :

I have a job, and a family. As much as fishing is a priority to me, my wife is is never hesitant to remind me how much she hates it when I go. I typically get out once, maybe twice a week. I watch the weather forecast every day, and try to pick the best day.

Because I fish when I can, and not when I want to, I normally won't cancel unless the wind is 25+, or thunderstorms (I'm terrified of lightning). I am happy just to be out on the water, so when the weather isn't cooperative, I do my best to enjoy my time on the water, keep my expectations low, try new techniques, and scout out new spots. Over the years, I have had many GREAT days during bad weather. But usually, they are just scouting days.for the most part.

BrianSnat reply :

I fish for fun and when the wind starts topping about 20 mph, it stops being fun.

Reel Guy reply :

I fished today in the wind and didn't do well. So I came home and got on Bass Resources to see what to do on windy days. It was not Coast Guard weather but I will certainly change my tactics after reading the information on windy fishing. I'm glad I found this site! It has been very helpful to me as a new bass fisherman!

Bluebasser86 reply :

I had a great day this spring on a day with low 40mph straight winds and gust over 50. I just stick to the smaller lakes in those conditions and try to pick one that sets up well for the wind direction.

Molay1292 reply :

I have had to cancel a few trips due to the speed of the wind. Understand the wind in KS is probably as bad as most places you will visit, the area I live in our choices for close fishing are limited and sometimes the wind makes the lake unusable.

Oufb90 reply :

I've canceled work for fishing a time or two.

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Do you cancel days of fishing because of wind? 2024

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