Hey all. Just moved to NE WI from MN and I'm trying to learn how to fish smallmouth out on the bay.  Lot of locals have told me to learn how to read the wind when fishing smallies but of course haven't actually explained how to go about doing that.  Figured I'd ask here.  How do smallmouth react to wind (a W vs E wind), where would they stage on a point/flat/shoal with wind in consideration, and what would the overall pattern/migration be?

 

Thanks all. 

I could be wrong about what the locals mean, but on the Great Lakes, reading the wind is more about not being on the water when the wind is blowing toward the shore due to high waves and dangerous boating conditions. 

I would be more inclined to learn techniques to fish in the wind...like a drift paddle (if you have a power pole) or drift socks.

Using the trolling motor into the wind...

Drifting backward (with the wind) using the trolling motor to slow the boat...

Adding weight to line...

 

The wind makes actual fishing a little harder...but the fish catching is always better.

That chop on the water refracts light and fish like it that way.

 

Guide Lines - The Misconceptions Of Fishing The Windy Side Of The Lake - Otter Tail Lakes Country Association 

A lot of time reading the wind is weather related.  Ever hear the saying…”Wind from the west, fish bite the best.  Wind from the east, fish bite the least”?  That’s more of a correlation between wind and weather factors that spur feeding.  And yeah, make sure you look at it from a safety perspective as well.  ?