Working With Wind
Of all the considerations that spring brings to the table, wind is without a doubt the most impactful. Now, some will immediately point to air and water temperatures as powerful influencers — and they certainly are.
Wind can literally determine your ability reach certain areas and significantly impact what you find when you get there.
The fact is, too much wind roils lakes, cancels tournament days and leaves a lot of casual anglers sitting in their tow vehicles, sipping coffee and watching the white caps. But those are the extremes and there will be plenty of spring days that leave lots of opportunity available to bass anglers that know what to look for and how to interpret the day’s wind level and direction.
Here are a few of the common considerations.
- Direction: With most of the troublesome spring winds coming from the north, bass anglers tend to favor north banks, which tuck under the blow to avoid both the chill and the turbulence. Another consideration is the angle of a creek, bay, or pocket. With these shallower waters warming, the last thing you need is a plume of colder main lake water rushing in and scattering any fish that have moved onto or near their spawning grounds.
- Level: This is usually something you “eyeball.” Sometimes, a promising destination is worth a pounding boat ride, but don’t risk navigational safety or potential equipment damage. Also, make sure you know how the wind will impact that distant honey hole, so you don’t take an unwarranted beating. As for fishability, reaction baits often perform well with a manageable wind level, while too much surface chop kills the sight fishing game.
- Seasonal Stage: If the majority of the fish are likely in their prespawn stage, they’re a little more tolerant of moderate wind impacts. Spawners, on the other hand typically won’t stick around if water temperature and/or clarity diminishes.
Bait Selections
Prespawners are hungry and looking to fill their bellies prior to fasting during their spawn, but they’re also kind of irritable during this transitional season. Therefore, moving baits that create commotion around them could appeal to both their need to feed and their preference for peace.
When lighter winds allow topwater walking baits, lipless baits, or squarebills, covering the water column along the prespawn staging routes is a good way to find the aggressive fish. If a favorable breeze picks up, jerkbaits will excel during this spring period. Whatever you throw, be sure your bait carries Mustad KVD Elite Triple Grip Treble Hooks, so you’re more likely to catch whatever bites.
In grassy scenarios a bladed jig or a Mustad A-Tak Swim Jig Head with your favorite skirt and an active trailer perform well in vegetation. Intentionally snagging grass and ripping your bait free is one of the crafty tricks seasoned bass anglers use to trigger bites.
Possibly the most indispensable tool for the prespawn-spawn period is a LIVETARGET Stick Worm Texas rigged on a Mustad Tak Offset Hook or wacky rigged on a Mustad Apex Drophshot Hook. Both offer effective tools for sight fishing to cruising bass, or any bed fish you spot. If an afternoon wind increases, bolster your Texas rig with a 1/8-ounce Mustad Tungsten TitanX Worm Weight to maximize distance and accuracy.