Fishing is an activity that is so important to people around the world. Some consider fishing to be a hobby, but it’s also a way of life for many.
There are people who have earned a living by fishing over the years. Some simply fish because it helps them to find a sense of calm.
No matter what reason you like fishing, it’s easy to see why it’s so crucial to humans. It’s helped to feed many people throughout the years, after all.
If you’re new to fishing, then you might still be trying to get better at it. It’s normal to struggle with certain things at first, but you will get better over time.
One thing that you might not understand completely is the wind direction. You might have heard veteran fishermen talking about the wind, and sometimes you might even see them checking the direction of the wind.
Why would the wind direction impact fishing when the fish are under the water? What role does the wind play?
Keep reading to get important information about fishing and how the wind direction can impact things. This will help you to become a more knowledgeable and prepared fisherman.
The Wind Can Impact Fishing in Many Ways
The first thing to understand is that the wind can impact fishing in many different ways. Sometimes it isn’t clear just how big of an effect the wind plays on fishing when you’re a beginner.
There aren’t just one or two things to consider when discussing wind direction and fishing. You’ll need to know about many different ways that it can change how you’ll go about fishing.
Below, you’ll find several pieces of information about how wind direction plays a role in fishing. Knowing about everything will make you better at fishing so that you can haul more fish in on a regular basis.
Fishing Near Windswept Shorelines Is a Good Idea
When the wind is blowing toward the shoreline, that’s going to be very beneficial. You see, the wind is going to blow smaller fish toward the shore, and it’ll cause many of these fish to group up.
You aren’t necessarily interested in fishing these bait fish, but the bait fish will attract larger fish. If you can tell that the wind is blowing toward the shoreline, then there should be an opportunity to catch large fish near the shore.
This will create a danger in certain situations, though. Sometimes the wind will be a bit strong, and this will make it hard to use your boat like you normally do.
If the wind is out of control, then it might cause your boat to get smashed against rocks. It could even overturn the boat if the situation is really bad.
This means that you must use good judgment when deciding to fish on windswept shorelines. Sometimes it can be safer to fish on a dock that’s near a windswept shoreline so long as you’re able to cast your line a decent distance into the water.
Issues with Currents
Issues with currents can occur when the wind is blowing a certain way. Winds will create currents, and these will have a huge impact on your ability to fish in certain areas.
Sometimes strong currents will make it tough to get out to certain parts of the water. This isn’t the only reason why you need to understand currents, though.
Currents can also be beneficial because they can allow you to predict where the fish are going to be. The currents will cause the water to go in one direction, and many fish like to swim against the current.
Fish have a much easier time maneuvering when they swim against the current. Larger fish are also strong enough to lie in wait for smaller bait fish to be blown in their direction.
You will have to be careful not to lose the bait on your line if the currents are too strong. Even so, having an understanding of how currents work and how larger fish act in strong currents will help you out.
Wind Will Have an Effect on Your Casting
You might have expected that one of the biggest ways that wind will affect your fishing is by making casting more or less difficult. When the wind is blowing in a certain direction, it’s going to make it so that casting will be tougher in some spots.
Casting against the wind is going to be pretty hard to do. You can do it if you have the right technique and you’re using a heavy lure.
You’ll also need to have a good line that will allow you to do casting maneuvers like this. Even if you think you have the right equipment to get the job done, it’s still not recommended to cast against the wind.
It can wind up tangling your line, and this will just make it harder for you while you’re trying to fish. No one wants to deal with annoying issues such as tangled lines.
Casting with the wind can be beneficial because it’ll make it easier to cast further than usual. You could wind up having the wind carry your lure a bit farther than you would normally be able to cast it.
This can also be kind of detrimental if you’re attempting to cast to a specific spot. The wind might be a bit unpredictable, and this will make it tough to put your lure exactly where you want it to be.
Wind Direction and Anchoring Issues
Sometimes, wind direction can make it tough for you to anchor your boat as well. Strong winds and having the wind blow in specific directions will make anchoring your boat somewhat perilous.
Depending on the type of fishing boat that you’re using, it might even be impossible to anchor safely in certain spots. Your boat could get pushed around, and this will make it so that you can’t reliably fish.
Finding a good anchor point is of the utmost importance when you’re fishing on a boat. You need to find a spot where you can safely anchor the boat so that you can do what you need to do.
Try to stay away from hazardous things when the winds are blowing strongly. For example, if the wind is blowing toward rocks, then you’re not going to want to anchor your boat too close to those rocks.
Use common sense to avoid damaging your boat. You should be able to keep the boat safe unless the winds are particularly strong.
How Much Wind Speed Is Too Dangerous?
Determining exactly how much wind speed is too dangerous is a bit tough. Sometimes, wind speeds that are just a bit high will create an element of danger.
It might depend on the type of boat that you have, your experience level as a fisherman, and whether there are dangerous obstacles in the water. You’ll need to use your best judgment in most situations.
However, it’s generally not recommended to go out fishing if the wind is blowing at 39 miles per hour or higher. Strong winds such as this will make it very tough to fish normally.
You’ll have issues with casting your line, and it’ll be very dangerous for your fishing boat. There isn’t a good reason to put your life in danger when you’re just trying to have fun fishing.
Your boat could capsize if you go out on the water when the winds are 39 miles per hour or stronger. It’s simply a bad idea to go out fishing when the winds pick up this much.
Even going out on the water when the winds are at 20 miles per hour could be dangerous. If you have a smaller boat, then it could wind up having a hard time getting around.
You also have to think about how cold the wind will make things. It won’t be comfortable trying to fish on a boat when the winds are blowing that strongly.
Always err on the side of caution instead of taking unnecessary risks. You can wait until the winds are more reasonable to go fishing.
Easterly Winds Are a Bad Sign
Sometimes, the winds coming from a specific direction will be a bad sign. Have you ever heard fishermen mention that easterly winds are a bad omen?
Well, easterly winds are usually an indication that bad weather is coming. If you notice that the wind is blowing in from the east, then it might be better to postpone your fishing excursion.
To be clear, easterly winds refer to winds coming in from the east and not blowing toward the east. Some new fishermen get confused by the term and assume that it means the opposite of what it really does.
Understand that an easterly wind is generally very bad for fishing. It’s a big sign that bad weather is on the way, and it often causes the fish to hide.
This makes it a lot tougher to get good results when fishing. Plus, it’s possible that you might be in a dangerous position if you choose to go out on the water.
Most fishermen will choose to avoid fishing when easterly winds are blowing. It’s good to do for your own safety, but the fish might not even bite if you do decide to go out.
You see, the air pressure decreases when the wind is blowing like this. It might sound strange to you, but this is going to shrink the stomachs of the fish.
Essentially, the fish won’t have much of an appetite when easterly winds are blowing. It shrinks their stomachs just enough that they won’t be as likely to bite on your line.
Use this knowledge to your advantage so that you can pick a good time to go out fishing. It’s not fun to go out and get zero bites the entire day because the wind direction is bad.
Wind Coming From the West and South Is Good
If you’re looking to put yourself in a position to succeed, then you should consider fishing when the wind is coming in from the west or the south. Wind direction can be beneficial when you’re trying to get the most fish possible.
When the wind is blowing in from the west or the south, it’s going to make it more likely that the fish will bite. It’s pretty much the opposite of what you’d experience if you fished during an easterly wind.
This is why it’s so helpful to check the wind direction before setting out. You can get a better idea of whether or not it’s even a good day to go fishing.
Check the weather reports and carry tools that will allow you to know which direction the wind is blowing. You’ll always be able to do your best to fish during the best times this way.
Why do fish like winds coming from the west and south? It blows food in from the shore that makes the fish more likely to bite on your line.
Also, it causes surface agitation, which brings fish to the surface so that they can feed. Having more fish near the surface of the water means that you have a greater chance of catching fish.
This doesn’t mean that it will be safe to go out if the winds are strong, though. Strong winds will be dangerous whether they’re blowing in from the west, the south, or the east.
Fish don’t bite much when severe weather issues are occurring. It makes them more likely to hide, and you’re not going to have much luck.
Final Thoughts
You know a lot more about fishing and the wind direction now. Even a novice fisherman needs to know how the wind can affect things.
The wind will play a huge role in many aspects of fishing. It can make it harder or easier to cast your line depending on what you’re trying to do.
Wind direction can even signal that bad weather is on the way. The fish will be more likely to bite when the wind is coming from certain directions.
So long as you keep this information in mind, it’ll be easier to make good choices. You should be able to stay safe while fishing, and it’ll be that much more likely that you’ll catch some fish while out on the water.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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