In this video, there was mention made of bass being shallow, the indication was that it was because it was windy. 

 

Do bass tend to go shallower with wind? If not, what do they do, if anything, differently when it's windy?

Normally here when it is windy, they head to the windward bank and gorge themselves on the Threadfin chasing surface plankton.

If the wind is sustained for a couple of days, they’ll start holding really tight to structure and get lockjaw until it settles down some.

No expert, but the wind scatters the light which allows them maybe to roam around more to feed. Rather than do it early morning or in the evening.

 

Wind also disturbs aquatic life. Little things that attract small things that attract bigger things...

46 minutes ago, ElGuapo928 said:

Normally here when it is windy, they head to the windward bank and gorge themselves on the Threadfin chasing surface plankton.

If the wind is sustained for a couple of days, they’ll start holding really tight to structure and get lockjaw until it settles down some.

 

This.

 

A Florida biologist told me years ago that with strong steady winds it can push baitfish and other food sources to the windward shore as noted. Some bass follow and take the opportunity to use what the wind is doing to help them feed.

 

Wind can sometimes help fishing because it breaks up the surface and hides our presence there somewhat making us more difficult to see and hear.

 

I have noticed at times in canals especially when a boat motors through it tends to stir things up and for some reason fishing in behind a boat moving through a canal can sometimes trigger fish into feeding activity behind the boat.

 

I often wonder if wind can kind of do the same thing. Stir things up and trigger fish into more aggressive feeding I can only hope.

 

Not sure if wind makes them go shallow, but if it makes seeing and hearing predators harder, then maybe the fish will have more "guts" to move in more shallow. Just an idea. I have caught 3 and 4 pound bass just hanging out behind the lily pads within a foot of dry land in less than 12 inches of clear water. I did not even know the fish was there even in clear water. It blends in too well from that distance. I cast to shore, bump it in right at shoreline in water mere inches deep and bam. A nice hit. No wind. So it was not the wind that put that fish there that I can tell. I think more like laying up maybe warming up just under the surface in the sunshine and waiting quietly for food to swim by.

 

Might not be true, but it sounds good!

If you ever have the chance to fish a howling south wind that's pushing water through a strait, LAUNCH!!!

Produces current which stirs up bait fish activity.  Bait fish are moving the bass are hunting!

Wind is good for the bass and the Bait Monkey, but not always good for me.  I fish often in strong winds.  It is one of the few things I can love and hate at the same time.

 

This is me on some windy days. 

This is me on other windy days.

 

 

 

 

I've never experienced any significant differences in fishing wind blown banks, hear about it alot but sun direction works better for me in most cases.

Light wind is very different than a gusting wind.

Light wind is tolerable and gives me an excuse to throw a spinnerbait.

Strong winds gives me an excuse to stay home.

 

First three comments nailed this. I personally like fishing a windy day for all these reasons 

I don't like wind. I think the fish are mostly indifferent. it is nice to drift spinnerbaits and crankbaits long distances though if it pushes you 1-2mph. 

I am a BIG Fan of the wind.

Not taking hurricane force, but fishing in an uncomfortable stiff breeze,

stuff that might keep the casual basshead at home, has help account

for some of my most memorable catches.

A pair of 12 ft Minn Kota Talons can be quite beneficial in these deals as well.

Truth be told, I will not even pretend to know why, as most of my own 'reasons' are at best,

just guesses. 

However, both early season & later in the summer (like now) and through the fall, 

it's sort of hard to deny the results.

https://youtu.be/W2jqCf7BVAE?feature=shared&t=15

https://youtu.be/Z95g3H4qmp0?feature=shared&t=83

https://youtu.be/NpVmd8ll1Dg?feature=shared&t=168

A-Jay

29 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I am a BIG Fan of the wind.

Not taking hurricane force, but fishing in an uncomfortable stiff breeze,

stuff that might keep the casual basshead at home, has help account

for some of my most memorable catches.

A pair of 12 ft Minn Kota Talons can be quite beneficial in these deals as well.

Truth be told, I will not even pretend to know why, as most of my own 'reasons' are at best,

just guesses. 

However, both early season & later in the summer (like now) and through the fall, 

it's sort of hard to deny the results.

https://youtu.be/W2jqCf7BVAE?feature=shared&t=15

https://youtu.be/Z95g3H4qmp0?feature=shared&t=83

https://youtu.be/NpVmd8ll1Dg?feature=shared&t=168

A-Jay

Same here. I don’t have the Talons, but a couple sets of brush grippers and a good old mushroom anchor can keep me more or less locked onto my spots.
 

These are also the best days to hole up in some of the more protected coves and start probing the walls and offshore structure - I’ve found some of my best honey holes while waiting for the main lake to settle down.