Wind

[Swattie87]

If I am out on windy days, I always look for places with windbreaks.
Usually where a stream goes through a high mountainside or gorge.

However, if I'm preparing to leave on a fishing trip, and I see wind forecasts of 20 MPH or more - I'll usually hold off, and go when things should calm down again.
A perk of being retired

Admittedly, that was 15 years ago, and I was in my mid 20’s and had the FF bug bad then. No kids, less demanding job at the time, I was fishing constantly. I probably wouldn’t fish in those same given conditions today, for a multitude of factors. Mostly because I only get to fish so often now, and don’t want to burn any accumulated “fishing points” with Mrs. Swattie on less than ideal days. But, it can be done. Relatively safely, if you know where to look for the given conditions. Conditions, conditions, conditions!

 

[wbranch]

Seems like I almost always get skunked when there’s a steady wind. Even if I do get one or two, it’s never a great day.

Anyone else have an observation?

Blowhards welcome!

In my experience the wild trout of the Delaware do not like to rise if it's windy.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

This was my best fish from sunday - the wind was so strong at times my nymphs were pulled right out of the water. I had to fish with a lot more weight in the system then I would have liked. This fish ate a nymph in fast water, and it was sleeting and hailing and then the sun came out, all in the span of a couple minutes of November Gales

View attachment 1641246416

A great reminder that fish live in water 😉

If the other conditions are right, they will eat in the wind. Maybe not a size 20 BWO in the film, but they will eat. It's more about the angler. I did not fish Sunday because I knew I personally did not have the patience or the mental stamina for it, especially in low water.

But I have dodged my own streamers many, many windy days following a front that raised the flows enough to get the fish feeding. It's only fun if the fish cooperate, though. Windy days can be more mentally challenging than anything in my opinion.

 

[tomgamber]

I thought the line about the wind blowing his nymph out of the water was interesting. I've noticed fish like a rather vertical rise or retrieve and will chase them fairly aggressively straight up. The wind may have helped the presentation.

 

[dryflyguy]

I thought the line about the wind blowing his nymph out of the water was interesting. I've noticed fish like a rather vertical rise or retrieve and will chase them fairly aggressively straight up. The wind may have helped the presentation.

Leisinring lift?

 

[Broodstock]

Leisinring lift?

Leisinwind lift haha.

The leader was bowing downwind so much that at times it was almost impossible to get the flies to hold in the current.

 

[Swattie87]

It’s the wind’s fault when I catch fish too.

 

[RivDiv521]

other complications- Ten or so years ago, I had a very large limb, a man-killer, come crashing down about 20-30 ft upstream from me while fishing. I then had to dodge it.

Years ago while fishing the North Branch Saranac River I had a large limb (man-killer as you say) brush my arm and leg when it fell. I will still fish on a windy day but do keep on eye out for potential problem trees. I'm especially leery around the many dead ash trees we currently have in Pennsylvania.