Hey guys I have seen some people talking about fishing the northwest parts of a lake in the spring. What about a the northwest part of a lake makes it a better place to target this time of year? Thanks guys!

They are usually protected from cold north winds and they also see the sun before other coves or areas of the lake, so they are warmer. That's all I got.

The sun is on those areas when it's at it's highest and warmest so those areas tend to warm up faster along with the fact that they're protected from the north winds. 

What has been previously stated and the fact that in most locations the prevailing warm weather wind direction is from the southwest. This blows the warmer surface water into the northeast part of the lake.

This concept also needs to be taken with a grain of salt relative to the body of water you are fishing.  If the topography and orientation of your lake is west to east in orientation, then you need to adjust.  If the NW portion of your lake is also where the dam is or the deepest part of the lake, then the logic may not apply.  I've always keyed in on protected shallow areas relative to your lake's characteristics.

 

Where I live in central VA, the winds are predominantly west to east.  As you approach the coastal areas, that wind influence varies more and is highly inconsistent throughout the course of a given day.

 

In my opinion, your best bet is to find shallow coves with deeper main lake access (ie: channels that provide escape routes but also food highways) and then pay attention to the winds over time.  Best way I know how to do that is Google Earth, Navionics webapp when you can't get out on the water, then followed up with on the water time during non-peak windows (ie: winter, mid week, during rain, basically when others aren't around).

 

That's just my .02 worth which won't get you far in this economy

This concept also needs to be taken with a grain of salt relative to the body of water you are fishing.  If the topography and orientation of your lake is west to east in orientation, then you need to adjust.  If the NW portion of your lake is also where the dam is or the deepest part of the lake, then the logic may not apply.  I've always keyed in on protected shallow areas relative to your lake's characteristics.

 

Where I live in central VA, the winds are predominantly west to east.  As you approach the coastal areas, that wind influence varies more and is highly inconsistent throughout the course of a given day.

 

In my opinion, your best bet is to find shallow coves with deeper main lake access (ie: channels that provide escape routes but also food highways) and then pay attention to the winds over time.  Best way I know how to do that is Google Earth, Navionics webapp when you can't get out on the water, then followed up with on the water time during non-peak windows (ie: winter, mid week, during rain, basically when others aren't around).

 

That's just my .02 worth which won't get you far in this economy

Nice !!!

Awesome thanks guys for all the help!

In the dirty lakes I fish , finding the  clearest water is more important than water temp.

The Northwest part of the lake has never worked for me pre spawn in Northeast Nebraska. I always seem to try every spring after reading so many articles suggesting to go there. I dont know what the problem is the fish simply just arent in those regions in our lakes. I am better off fishing anywhere shallow with a steep drop off near by. It seems they are either on the steep flats or sitting right at the drops.

It doesn't stand alone. It's about sun incidence, yet all the shine the sun has to offer won't make poor habitat into good habitat. Let's just say it's a plus -a potential catalyst. In certain places and times, it's well worth being aware of.