Whither Wind Blows Part II

"Wind from the West, fish bite the best.
Wind from the East, fish bite the least.
Wind from the North, do not go forth.
Wind from the South, blows bait in their mouth."

Let's face it. Most fishermen don't plan their trips around the weather. Anglers go when we get the chance and come hell or high water, that's when we're fishing. There's nothing wrong with that approach, but paying attention the the forecasts and knowing where your fishing spot is in relation to the weather patterns can really help put fish fillets on the plate! I've put my daily Fishing Weather Index on a few weather maps. There are 4 common stages of storm development with approaching storm systems and I labeled the fishing weather you might expect for each type of storm. This way the next time you're watching the forecast, you can know the general fishing activity just by how the storm looks on our tv weather maps. If you can't read the pictures, click on them to make them larger. In the next few paragraphs I'll break down what the winds mean and I'll also poke a few holes in the old saying above.

The key with the first scenario is the systems are weak. This represents most of the features that roll across Iowa. Here an east wind close to the boundary might actually coincide with good fishing activity. Sometimes the warm side of the boundary will have an east/southeast wind as well, and once again you could expect good fishing weather.

A small storm system moving in can stir up the fishing activity. Since the barometric pressure tendency is changing -a variety of fishing weather can be found depending upon where you are in the storm. Generally cold air spills in from the north, and my Fishing Weather Index fits the saying quite well. High pressure, post-frontal, cold and breezy conditions all spell slow fishing weather. Meanwhile a southerly wind near the center of the storm would combine with warm temps and lowering pressure. This is the side of the storm to fish on as fish begin to feed aggressively before the worst hits.

Classic storms result from large shifts in air masses. Deepening low pressure creates stronger winds drawing a surge of warm air northward, cold air slams southward and wild swings in weather can be expected as the storm passes. Clouds and precip. muddy the water with multiple weather factors impacting the fishing. In this case, northwesterly winds bring cool changes and higher pressure, so west wind isn't best here. Also, easterly winds close to the center of the storm and north of the warm front aren't necessarily bad. Clouds, rain and wind creates an opportunity for large fish to ambush their prey as light levels remain low but vary widely. The key to success here is to fish as the storm approaches. Activity typically wanes as the storm departs and the colder, high pressure pushes in.

A fully mature storm system has the power to make most anglers nervous on the water. Strong winds are typical as deep low barometric pressure draws air to it's core like a vacuum. Intense wave action and a wide variety of weather swirl around these storms that can affect several states at one time. In the warm, pre-frontal air mass fishing slowly heats up to feverish levels right before the front. Even north of the warm front, extreme low pressure has game fish feeding aggressively underneath the wind and rain. Behind the storm, post-frontal high pressure builds in and the action comes to a screeching halt. Those are the days I dread, and they're usually the ones I have off ;-)

The biggest gripe I have with the saying is the first two lines. If you throw light rain, thick clouds and cool (not cold) weather with a light to moderate East breeze I can be found on the water. Low barometric pressure is the dominant weather factor and fishing can be quite good. If instead there is bright sunshine and dry/cold air I will not be fishing an easterly wind because high pressure is king of the weather map.

"Wind from the West, fish bite the best" doesn't add up with my experience unless there is no major storm system nearby. Even then barometric pressure is pretty stable and the fishing is typically pretty average. Usually in Iowa a west or northwest wind comes behind a cold front and fishing activity is slowing down. Sometimes a southwest wind can kick up good angling action, but often that's only true mere hours before a cold front and storms.

Fishing before a storm front is my favorite type of fishing. Something in the school of fish sparks a feeding frenzy and the fishing revs from 0-60 quite quickly. Those are the days I relish... just be sure you've got a clear shot to the boat ramp because riding out a thunderstorm on a boat is not a pleasant experience. Using the wind and following the weather can really up the odds of a successful trip. I'd be happy to hear your fishing reports and the weather you were catching them in. Feel free to send pics or a comment and good luck on the water!

Whither Wind Blows

Forecasting...

So there I was, stuck at work. The monotonous drone of the scanners in the newsroom sounded off alongside the chitter-chatter of newsies talking about tonight's top story and some bad food they ate last weekend. Strangely the sounds of fingers on the keyboard typing reminded me of waves on a shoreline, and I was off daydreaming about big bass and summer sunshine.

My fishing dreams often look like this...

I had a little break and decided to tackle one of the Bassmasters Magazines I had sitting on my desk. It wasn't quite as good as the feeling of planing out on the water just minutes from fishing, or morning fog rising off a glassed-out lake, but for a workday it would have to do. Inside, I found an article with the old adage entitled "Whither Wind Blows." Here's how the saying goes:

"Wind from the West, fish bite the best.
Wind from the East, fish bite the least.
Wind from the North, do not go forth.
Wind from the South, blows bait in their mouth."

This nice Largemouth was caught on a mild south wind evening

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I was a fledgling weather nerd when I first heard that saying and wondered if it were true. Outdoorsmen know that every day is unique and different and no catchall saying is going to give you an adequate fishing forecast every day of the week. But I like the saying, did some research and it looks like we can break down some of the meteorological merit that makes this moral make sense.

First, lets start with the basics. Temperature and barometric pressure are arguably the biggest weather factors that influence fish feeding activity. Fish are cold-blooded, which means they derive their energy to function from the temperature of their environment and the food they eat. Cold weather fish are generally more sluggish and less responsive than warm weather fish. I'm talking about the feeding, not the fighting. Some of the toughest fighting fish I've caught have come through an 8 inch hole in the ice!

Barometric pressure fluctuates with the changing weather and usually small fluctuations have only small reflections in the weather and the fishing activity. Large fluctuations in barometric pressure such as a large storm system moving in often have substantial impacts to the temperatures and thus the fishing activity. It is my theory that the fish and wildlife have learned to "predict the weather" and adjust their feeding habits in advance of changing weather to better ensure their survival. Depending on what side of the storm you're on, the fishing activity will range as widely as the weather.

I don't know who enjoys fishing more, me or my dog Harley.

In my next blog, I'll break down this famous dictum with maps and graphs and show you why knowing the wind direction could be one of the biggest keys to fishing success.

Patience, Perseverance and a Rainy Weather Reward

My birthday was fast approaching, and the camping/fishing trip I planned was on a collision course with unseasonably cool and rainy weather. Figures. So I packed my bags and left for Dolliver State Park in NW Iowa. I told myself there would be some breaks in the weather and it wouldn't be that bad...

I lied. Over the years I've learned to leave that carrot of hope dangling in front so I follow through with my outdoor endeavors. Sure enough I stepped out of the truck and into chilly air and a light, steady rain. It wasn't heavy enough to put out my campfire, nor extinguish my plans for fishing on the Des Moines River the next morning.

I started off sight-fishing in a deep, rocky creek as it entered the main river. The rainy weather was rippling the water but the wind was light enough I could just barely make out schools of fish near the clear water bottom. Low barometric pressure and cloud cover were good factors, but chilly air and wind were going to make conditions tough. Putting together the weather elements, I forecast the fish would be sluggish, but possibly hungry for a natural looking meal that was big enough. So I went to work testing my theories starting with the worst first.

The first strike I had came nearly 2 hours and 20 lures into the day. I was using a perch colored, shallow diving Rapala and I combined a steady roll on the reel with an occasional series of twitches to make the bait dance like it had a brief seizure. Finally, one worked! A 12" Smallmouth bass inhaled the bait and put up one heck of a fight. I had my first piece of the puzzle alongside my first birthday fish.

Several minutes passed with zero additional interest in the lure, so I made an adjustment. Three casts into a new lure and a 19 inch Northern Pike couldn't resist the action. The fight was equally impressive to the Smallmouth bass and my dampened spirits were on the rise. I almost had the fish landed when it spit the hook and turned tail for deeper waters. Then, the most memorable part of my trip unfolded.

Let me first say, a rare fever infects me when I'm fishing and instincts seem to trump reason. I worked hard for this Northern and as my would-be second fish began to swim away I found myself launched in motion with reckless abandon, arms outstretched and airborne. I came to rest on a bruised right elbow, soaking wet in 6" of water - fish in hand and grin on mug. Apparently, I dove into the water, throwing my $200 bait-caster and all logic aside and nearly drowning my new cell phone to reclaim my prize. I am no longer allowed to wear my wallet or my cell phone near the water but luck shone down and I had my first keeper.

More importantly, I caught on to the winning combination of lure and presentation. A slow, steady retrieve with a large-bodied Beetlespin scored the first keeper of the day. I modified the presentation with an over-sized copper colored Colorado spinner blade to put off more shine and vibration. I then bounced the lure off the rocky bottom which is where I got the most hits. Within an hour I had four 15inch Walleye and one 13 incher which I released. It was a crummy weather day, but a great fishing experience. I became the butt of many jokes by jumping in after a little Northern, but I made new memories with good friends and I caught my limit of Walleye by paying attention to the little things and changing my approach to match what the fish wanted.

Patience, perseverance and some birthday luck really helped me out. So next time the weather is foul, don't let that keep you in. Dress for the weather, pack proper gear and try out different lure/presentation combinations until you find one that works. Stick with it and it could lead you to a rainy weather reward. Oh yeah, I don't recommend jumping in the water ;-)