Fishing in the wind

[Ranger23]

I have the SunTracker Fishin' Barge. I use it for fishing in the am and family time mid day. I enjoy all types of fishing.
Anytime there is a breeze over 5mph, I am getting pushed all over the place. I have a trolling motor and anchors.
Do any of you all use a windsock or anything else to aid in the wind?
Just trying to learn some different techniques.

Thanks!

[HandymanHerb]

I was thinking about using the winds socks but never did get around to it, I figure we might need two, if you done two then you could have it drifting sidewards or any combination depending what corner you had it tied too.

I know I drift fished with a lot of time with the toon, just never bought a sock.

[killerkernrich]

I just got back home from fishing and camping (10 days) at Lake Isabella , CA.
it is always windy mostly in the afternoon 8-15 mph just about set your clock 1pm it is windy.
I set my main anchor out front and set a 15lbs dumbell on the side that the sunshine is so I can fish off the other side under the bimmi shade.
The trout where hiting ok, 7am to 11 am got my limit 2 times.

[Bamaman]

All pontoons just have their limitations when it comes to handling in a wind. There's really not much you can do about it--other than picking lakes with protected waters and choosing the hours you'll be fishing. The longer the day goes on, the windier it often gets.

You've also got to have a very strong trolling motor.

Most of the really good fishing on my lake is in the Spring and Fall. Our local fishing tournaments are on Wednesday and Friday nights--when things are usually quiet and the winds died down. We see black lights trolling by our house all hours of the night.

[ROLAND]

my wife and I use our toon for fishing all the time... with our system, we usually try to pull up under some trees for shade, but we pull in so that the boat is headed into the wind... tie the front of the toon up to a tree and then we ususally throw out a couple of 15 lb mushroom anchors, one on each side at the rear of the boat.. our lake has a very soft, muddy bottom so mushrooms work pretty well... Boat "usually" stays in place pretty well, but if the wind gets too high, you're just s.o.l. back about a month ago we were tied up fishing when a storm blew up out of nowhere.. within minutes we were fighting winds of 35 to 40 mph... we were litterally holding on to tree branches for over a half hour in a pouring rain, just trying to keep the boat from blowing all over the place.. It was a little nerve racking, but as soon as the winds droped down to below 20 mph, we got the hell out of there and headed for the launch....I was really nervous thinking about trying to load the toon in 20 mph winds, but I got lucky... don't know how but she loaded nice and straight first try.... funny on calm days it sometimes takes me a couple of runs at the trailer... Guess God knew I was shakin in my boots.....

[lakerunner696]

I used a drift sock a long time ago and it worked really well. Took a bit to find the sweet spot for mounting so toon drifted just right

[captainjack]

I use 2 drift socks it helps

[Ranger23]

I appreciate all of the advice. It was real windy here this weekend and I didn't venture out. I've gotten a little better using the trolling motor and finding sloughs that are not getting pounded by the wind.

Thanks again!

[blackberg]

Ive managed to stay still angling the toon and the trolling motor just right in windy conditions at Lake Perris, if you know the lake you know it gets windy there
-bb

[captainjack]

I ended up with the 2 biggest ones cabelas offers 70 bucks each out of the bargain cave they helped a lot. I put them off the front corners keeps the bow in the waves now I have been spoiled an think I can't live with out a trolling motor up front an moving atleast one sock to the back.

[Toonfisher]

I do a lot of drift fishing here in Ks. it is windy almost every day. I made a simple harness stretching from the front lifting ring to the rear ring with brass snaps so it is easily removable. By tying a 3rd snap centered i can hook up my drift sock and keep my drift perpendicular to the wind. Lots of walleyes and cats. I just dont have a great anchor setup yet. Hopefully I can learn something here also.


Good Luck and great fishin. JD

[Ranger23]

Keep the posts coming! I'm learning a ton. I've been pricing out drift socks.

Thanks to everyone!

[MH Hawker]

of course it would depend on how much wind your dealing with but I use 5 gal buckets with holes drilled in the bottoms that also double for anchor storage, i dont like mud on the deck

[guitarbob]

I think it depends on what you're fishing for too. If you're drift fishing for blue cats, the wind socks are great. I have a guide friend who uses them on his 24' center console.

However, if you're trying to stay with a moving school of white bass, hybrids, or stripers, you need to be able to move with them. That can only be done with a good trolling motor. You may be in the same situation as I am, and need to upgrade to a more powerful trolling motor. I have a 12V 55# thrust Minn Kota, but plan on getting a 24V 70# + as soon as I can. Hoping that will give me a lot more control on these windy Texas lakes.

[bobalong]

I just use a 70 lb co-pilot electric on the front, to troll or correct the boat if drifting sideways in a bigger wind.