Need help Understanding wind direction.

[GoneFishingLTN]

Ok let me start off and pick a wind direction like north so it means that’s going to hit the south but I’ve heard of people mentioning not to target any coves in the winter that hits. But how exactly does a north wind even hit a cove. My coves are East and west. 

[RHuff]

In the winter fish wind protected banks and in the summer fish banks with wind and current hitting them.... 

[GoneFishingLTN]

My thing is when looking at a map and you know the wind is coming from the north but all the coves are on the east side or west side how do you know which are affect by the north wind 

[Ktho]

Just now, GoneFishingLTN said:

My thing is when looking at a map and you know the wind is coming from the north but all the coves are on the east side or west side how do you know which are affect by the north wind 

 

Which coves have northern exposure? Trees or elevation can block wind that would otherwise beat down on the water. Sometimes you just have to go take a look and see for yourself. 

[Deleted account]

Reading is fundamental, emphasis on mental...

 

[GoneFishingLTN]

17 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Reading is fundamental, emphasis on mental...

 

Curious on how this is directed?

[Deleted account]

9 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Curious on how this is directed?

 

WNW...

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Ok let me start off and pick a wind direction like north so it means that’s going to hit the south but I’ve heard of people mentioning not to target any coves in the winter that hits. But how exactly does a north wind even hit a cove. My coves are East and west. 

 

48 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

My thing is when looking at a map and you know the wind is coming from the north but all the coves are on the east side or west side how do you know which are affect by the north wind 

First 'wind direction' is not static.

Meaning there are many factors that can & do alter it's direction over land & water.

Both Topography & Fetch both play huge roles with regards wind.

You've heard this a million and a half times,

and if you haven't, and you continue bass fishing, you will.

There's no replacement for time on the water.

Especially YOUR water; the places YOU fish.

Each & every environmental condition is different and a separate occurrence.

And while it Can be the same as a previous event, there's no guarantee that it will be

or that it has to.   #norules.

Wind can & will 'blow' into areas that seem in complete opposition to the overall direction it's coming from.  Meaning a N or S wind can still blow into a E or W facing cove.

And it doesn't end there, sometimes it seems like it's blow from two different directions at once.

I call that 'fishing in the vortex' and I'm not a fan.

Now add all the regular variables associated with where & when bass feed and we've got a real puzzle on our hands.   

Stay Safe.

A-Jay

[fishinbub]

Typically the wind direction according to meteorological reporting and the wind direction on a lake is not the same. Most man-made lakes are giant bowls and/or ditches and will change the wind direction. For example, in a long and narrow river section the wind will probably be blowing either up river or down river. Same thing for a large cove/creek. It's hard to say for sure what banks will/won't be getting wind without being on the water. With time you'll be able to guestimate from meteorological reports as to what areas of your local lake will get the most wind, but you'll probably struggle to do it by just using a map and tomorrow's weather forecast

[Smokinal]

If you don't want to fish the north wind in the winter, fish the north shores of your east and west coves; or go to another lake that has coves on the north shore

[KayakJimW]

On 3/2/2023 at 7:19 PM, fishinbub said:

Typically the wind direction according to meteorological reporting and the wind direction on a lake is not the same. Most man-made lakes are giant bowls and/or ditches and will change the wind direction. For example, in a long and narrow river section the wind will probably be blowing either up river or down river. Same thing for a large cove/creek. It's hard to say for sure what banks will/won't be getting wind without being on the water. With time you'll be able to guestimate from meteorological reports as to what areas of your local lake will get the most wind, but you'll probably struggle to do it by just using a map and tomorrow's weather forecast

Well said.  I try to think about wind direction in bigger terms like weather patterns or fronts blowing through.  Look at the wind map of the entire section of America you're in, not just local weather.

 

I think about this rhyme I heard when I was young, I think Bill Dance said it on his show:

Winds from the North, don't venture forth

Winds from the East, fish bite the least

Winds from the West, fish bite the best, but

Winds from the South blow the bait into the fishes mouth.

 

That being said, I just go when I can and rarely let wind forecasts keep me home.  ...unless the mph is crazy high.  Sometimes wind blown banks are the ticket, some times protected banks are.  Sometimes the same wind blown bank at 6AM turns to glass by 9.  Those are pieces of the puzzle that are hard to prepare in advance for

 

[TOXIC]

If your lake is oriented with coves on the east and west sides and open in the middle (look at Lake Champlain for example) a north wind is going to come straight down the lake from north to south. As has been mentioned, going into coves and fishing the north side would keep you more sheltered.  Assuming you are taking all the other factors into account like season, water temp, depth etc, in my opinion I would be more keyed into sun angle assuming, like on Champlain, you are not taking your life in your hands with a stout north wind no matter the season. 

[Bird]

Wind speed trumps wind direction every time but I do pay attention to what direction warmer surface water is being pushed in colder weather.

My old wise fishing partner won't fish in an easy wind though. Lol

[papajoe222]

On 3/2/2023 at 12:45 PM, GoneFishingLTN said:

 I’ve heard of people mentioning not to target any coves in the winter that hits.

I think those people are more concerned with their own comfort than with how the wind affects the fish.  You also have to consider what one person considers wind and another considers it a breeze.  Either way, the wind factor during the winter is the 2nd least of my concerns (the first being lure color) as it has little effect on fish location IMO. The side of a cove or shoreline that gets the most daylight is a much stronger determining factor then.

[WRB]

Castiac lake is a very challenging body of water in the wind.

Castiac is basically V shaped with 2 arms. The Ski arm runs generally Northwest, the Fish arm Northeast and both surrounded by mountainous terrain.

The word vortex describes wind direction in the secondary  bays ad coves.The lake can be rolling white caps down or up the 2 major arms and swirling changing direction in bays or covers.

On a calm afternoon the wind may be blowing 15 mph with gust to 25 mph. On a windy day double those wind speeds.

Nasty lake at times. Mornings and cloudy days are usually good with winds under 10 mph....flat calm is rare.

Lake Casitas about 40 miles away is usually calm to 10 mph directional winds, easy to fish.

Wind creates current and DO, Bass face into the current, your lures should come to them, not from behind them.

Tom

 

[Catt]

Overall size of the body of water plays a roll.

Geographical location plays a role.

Topography of the surrounding area plays a role. 

 

Few bodies of water lay directly north/south or east/west.

 

[Catt]

This discussion reminds me of that old saying, "the northwest shores warm the fastest".

 

Considering the above map of Toledo Bend which shore would that be?

 

Or during the spring the bass move into the backs of creek channel coves. 

 

Pick one?