Any preferred tactics for fishing in wind  of at least 20 mph?

I stay home.  ;D

Reaction lures like suspending jerkbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits fished around windblown banks.

I stay home. ;D

X2 - However, today was pretty breezy, cold and damp and I managed two nice fat largemouths (2# & 3.5#) on a weedless rigged tube with internal weight. Just had to keep my rod tip close to water in order to get the feel right. Also they required it to be snap jerked off/on bottom. I was home by noon - just too miserable to call fishing enjoyable today!

On very windy days I prefer a spinnerbait.  The past few times I've been fishing in the wind I've done very well burning it near the surface.

Jigs and carolina rigs are good for getting to the bottom.  Use the weight needed to be able to feel whats going on.

I've actually gotten to the point I enjoy fishing in the wind.  Not only is there NOT a crowd on the lake, but the fish like the wind!  I utilize traps, spinnerbaits, and carolina rigs.  Just need to use a heavier weight to keep bait where you like it.  I've even used topwater and found it effective.  Methinks wind and light rain affect the fishermen more than the fish.  Fish has gotta eat, and it's my job to feed 'em!  Good Luck!

I prefer Spinner Baits and Jerk Baits

Bassnman Mike

www.bassnman.com

I also like to fish spinnerbaits in the wind no matter how strong it may be.

I stay home. ;D

Couldn't have said it better myself, LOL! I just can't keep my 16ft boat still long enough to do anything. I need a power pole but can't afford it.

Tin and I slayed 'em today, wind was out of the west from 30-40. Stay home, we'll catch em up.  8-)

My break point is about 10mph.  Over that I'm constantly fighting to keep in position, can't cast accurately and my tobacco spitting gets too wild!

When facing windy one must consider is it windy because of pre-frontal conditions, post frontal conditions, or high pressure blue bird sky conditions. Each of the above mentioned conditions require different approaches to try and scratch out a limit.

Pre-frontal conditions are the easiest to address because the bass should remain active until the actual day of the front. One should be able to catch bass in protected coves and on the back side of points. Just as mentioned wind blown points can be very productive but my I suggest you approach from the backside working you're way toward the end where the wind comes around the point.

Post frontal and high pressure conditions are a little more difficult to unlock due to the fact the bass will be highly inactive. The key areas will remain the same but you should plan on fishing real slow and tight to cove.

Bait presentations would be any thing you can cast easily with out back lashing; usually heavier lures. One should also consider fishing deep instead of shallower because deeper bass are less affected by frontal conditions. Due to safety factors I would avoid main lake structure and instead concentrate on deep structure in areas with tall trees or high banks that offer protection from the wind.

Fished a tournament last weekend where the wind blew 30 mph most of the day. Only way to catch the fish was on soft plastics on the bottom. Would not take actions lures at all.  Nobody in the tournament caught fish on anything but t-rig worms

I fish a canoe, and had always considered one of its weaknesses was problems with the wind.

I've fished the past two days, and been quite successful in spite of the strong winds.

Necesity is the mother of invention, so they say.

I've found it very productive, and in some ways easier than on calm days.

On very windy days, like the past two, I fish the sheltered shore. I paddle upwind, close to the shore to the place I want to start.

Then I move away from the shore watching for the drop off. At four to five feet deep, the anchor goes over the side. This allows me to fish what is at the moment, the productive depth and bottom type (rocky).

The anchor is tied off at the stern seat, beside me. This orients the canoe with the wind to my back. Makes for longer casts.

When the area is worked over to my satisfaction, I pull the anchor, and let the wind drift me just shy of where my casts were landing.

Work that area, and repeat the process.

Even in a one foot chop, when anchored the canoe does not pitch in the least. It is as smooth as a calm day.

It does tend to swing from side to side. But that's about it.

Fortunately, my main fishing hole is nearly completely lined with this type of bottom.

Windy, or calm, I'm going fishing.

Spinnerbait, Carolina Rig

Western Colorado has some fierce winds, especially in the spring. Winds of 40 - 70 mph are routine. I have found winds over 20 mph tend to make fishing more difficult. I don't think it puts the fish off too terribly much, I just think boat control and making a quality presentation is much more difficult in those conditions. A lighter breeze or a mild wind can help turn on neutral/negative bass though.

In wind, I prefer spinnerbaits and loud cranks, as well as jerkbaits. In wind protected spots, a buzzbait can work well too.