Fishing in High Winds

I was hoping to get out this weekend and pitch plastics and hair to some wingdams but the forecast call for wind gusts up to 30 mph. I can handle the cold but the wind really gets to me. A strong north wind makes it much harder, if not impossible, to see the wingdam ripple line. How do you adjust to fish in high winds? I suppose increasing the jig weight might help somewhat. Do you forgo pitching plastics and hair and use more cranks or maybe do more trolling? Or maybe one should go waterfowl hunting instead.

Thanks in advance,

Boone

My best walleye this year was on a wing dam with the same kind of wind. I think it was 25-35 mph out of the NE and it was kicking my a55. Just like you were thinking I had to use a little more weight. Normally I use a 3/16 and I changed to 1/4 and that was the ticket.I was using a purple and pumpkin seed ring worm.We got a mess of fish but the biggest was 28 inches and fat. I never sneer at them ugly windy days anymore

One thing that really helps me is I mounted my trolling motor as tiller and with a north wind its really easy to control drift speed while working with the current.

I anchor and fish heavier and closer. Not right on top of the dam but pretty close. Just far enough up stream to allow me to get a heavier jig down to the base of the dam.

What seems to be the worst for fishing wing dams is when the wind is blowing up river over them. You just about haft to drop anchor right on top of the dam.
I would rather fish in the rain than the wind.

Oh for the ole Walleye boat that I did’nt have to be concerned about
the rain seeping into the compartments & then freezing shut at the
next mornings outing

What anchor style and weight are you using now James? Thanks, Bill

I fished the Pool 3 wingdams today but only found one 20″ walleye and a big sheepie. I don’t know if it was me or the fish but it was a slow morning. The water temperature dropped 5 degrees in the past 24 hours at Dam #2 and is now 47 F. It was 55 F Thursday morning. Anybody else have any success today?

I don’t recall seeing a flock of ducks all morning and I heard very few shots from the back waters.

Boone

I was out today from before first light to 3p.m. on pool 2. I didn’t catch a single walleye. I launched at 494 ramp tried various wing dams pitching mostly Kalins or ring worms in various colors. Did catch one sheepie. Decided to make the long ride to the confluence area to try pulling some cranks but again no luck on eyes, did catch a couple of smallies. Started out using #5 shad rap in firetiger with no results. Switched to perch and that’s when I got the smallies. Water temps varied between 49 and 52. Didn’t try any live bait.

If the wind is going to be 30 mph or more this time of year.
I would have to give the nod to rigging Three ways and stick baits. Work the lips of the deep holes up and down the river.
The sauger should be on the move.
I would save my jig pitching to protected areas or until the next trip with less wind.
The Three ways should fill the boat with fish right Now.
Good luck and let the Breeders go……