I just got in from fishing a 114 acre lake that is about 6 miles from my college.  It was very windy out and I had to really work for the fish.  I only caught three, and of the three, one was of decent size, the other two I pretty much jerked right out of the water.  I tried a crankbait, spinnerbait, jig and pig, t-rigged worm, t-rigged tube, and a senko.

I caught all of my bass in calmer water behind wind breaks, but I was wondering what baits everyone uses in windy conditions and where they fish.

I fish in the wind in a lot.  That is when I seem to catch all of the fish.  The lures I primarily use are Strike King and Booyah spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and Mepps spinners, and Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap chrome and bleedin' bass color.  Go catch some fish!

Jigs

You may want to look into a drift anchor.  Best $30 I ever spent.  Slows you down so there is nowhere that is "too windy" anymore.  Get on your favorite spots regardless of wind and use the same baits you normally would.

spinnerbaits   and    topwater propbaits  if theres a little wave action going on     isnt wind the biggest pain in the   butt

Wind is your friend!!

spinnerbaits, sub-surface jerks, and ratl traps have produced well for me. just takes a bit more skill to get them where they need to be to catch fish!

crankbaits all day

remember that a fish who is not moving around expending energy will sit in a place out of the current but near it and facing into it to intercept food that mother nature is flushing past him.  Always take the extra effort to cast INTO the wind, thusly bringing the lure by the fish from in front of him (or hopefully,....her)

remember that a fish who is not moving around expending energy will sit in a place out of the current but near it and facing into it to intercept food that mother nature is flushing past him. Always take the extra effort to cast INTO the wind, thusly bringing the lure by the fish from in front of him (or hopefully,....her)

You took the words right off my fingers LBH!  ;D

Spinnerbaits are my go to bait for windy conditions and I too try to throw into the wind as much as possible. If the bass are not as active, I will switch up to a tube or jig but you may have to up the weight so you can keep contact with the bait during the retreive. For tubes, I usually start off with a 3/16oz bullet weight (I t-rig my tubes 90% of the time). If I can't keep in contact with the bait, I'll gradually up the weight until I find the lightest weight that lets me handle the task at hand. Hope this helps!

I mostly go to spinnerbaits in wind-chopped water, up to 1.25 oz in heavy chop. A word of warning using heavy more expensive spinnerbaits. Casting against the wind increases backlashes, and all it takes is one sudden slap stop to snap the best knot on the toughest line. Cast it carefully. Bass are more excited, getting plenty of dissolved oxygen, and so are baitfish. Of all times that's when a bass is much more likely to grab a spinnerbait it might ignore in calm water. The heavier than usual weight casts farther against the wind and keeps the line tighter. A too-light spinnerbait can get lost in wind current/waves and not get down into the calmer water below waves. The light is dispersed down there due to the waves, keeping bass from seeing you, and blocking a full view of all the unnatural parts of a spinnerbait. A good second choice for me is a heavy spoon, followed by a blade bait like a Little George.

Jim

I like throwin rattle-traps if the wind is pushing the bait fish,toward submerged structure.I',m sure most any cranks will work fine depending on the time of year.

My home lake is not usually a good place for spinnerbaits.  But let the wind blow and if the sky is a little overcast , the spinnerbait is my go to lure.   I like tandem terminator willowleafs.

Boat control during a snotty wind can be a real pain, especially when the suntop is up (always in Florida)

On the other hand, bass can be really active wherever there's a windblown bank

with a plankton buildup.       Wind => Plankton => Baitfish => <BASS>< <BASS>< <BASS><

Maybe due to its noise and flash, the Rat-L-Trap with a metallic finish (silver or gold)

has been one of the best producers during turbulent water.

Roger

Yesterday I walked down to the resevoir behind my house . Wind was blowing so hard there were white caps ,looked like you could have surfed out there. When wind wasn't blowing bugs were horrible. I found a shallow area in a small cove and was throwing a suspending slash bait. Caught about 30 to 40 large and small mouth . Best day I have had back there and have been fishing it for 33 years since I lived here.  All nice size fish and no Pickeral ,which in itself is a blessing.

Up to yesterday I have always hated fishing in the wind.

Bob

Ps I am walking back down there today ,it is dead calm now. Should be interesting to see if there is a difference . Fishing AM today ,it was PM yesterday . Going to try thowing top water . Water temp is still around 51 degrees so don't have much hope for top action . Will keep you all posted.

I've been doing well with a senko in the wind.  It seems that the wind creates some current to help drift the senko.  It is just a little hard to watch your line and keep it semi-tight.   I used to hate the wind but now I am getting used to controlling the boat. ( high powered trolling motor and anchor helps)  I was once told that during alot of wind is when you will catch a big one.  It helps cut down on visibility and noise.

I like to fish wind-blown points and humps, basically any place that corners the baitfish. I use a  lipless crankbait up against the cover or structure.

I love fishing in wind. Give me a wind blown point, a carolina rig with a 1 or 1.5 oz weight to make it easier to cast into the wind, and you'll know where to find me ALL day  

I find itr so much more productive to fish in the WATER than in the wind :

Wind is your friend!!

It can take alot more work but man does it pay off.

Like LBH said earlier get on that trolling motor and cast into the wind.

Practice you eye-hand-foot coordination.

I find itr so much more productive to fish in the WATER than in the wind :

LOL that was a good one.

Unless you're Aaron Martens,it's definitely not the time for slow,methodical finese fishing,As many have said before,tie on a spinnerbait and get to flogging that water.Try to go with the current or across it,but I've caught 'em going against the current.I think Rick Clunn won a Classic running a spinnerbait from behind the bass causing vicious,reaction bites.