I would have to try it all and let the fish tell me.
I posted this on Louisiana board then thought I should ask it to everyone. :D
OK folks...let me ask a dumb question.
If you were the only boat on a tree lined canal. And the canal made a 90 deg turn. On each side of the turn were lay downs that were exactly the same, branches, water depth (6 ft or more), etc.
Say a stiff wind was blowing down one side of the canal but not around the corner.
Would the wind effect the bite? Would you have better luck in the wind...out of the wind...only effects the surface not the fish below?
I would have to try it all and let the fish tell me.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling around
I have always been told that a long sustained wind will drive the baitfish, so you would want to fish the wind driven bank.
most likely the wind would not affect your bite but sure hi and Lo pressures will or should I say if you're barometer goes up or down.
www.bobsjigs.com
Let the wind be your friend.
It's my understanding that "wind driven current" pushes plankton ... this necessitates the baitfish, which are plankton eaters, to follow (they're not actually being "blown" along with the wind ) ... & fish know this, and set themselves up to intercept the baitfish (when they're feeding). They would likely be on the downwind side of any cover, as they would be on the down current side of cover. This allows them to have the cover to block or decrease any current, making it easier for them to maintain their position .... plus, it sets it up so that the current (wind driven or not) will bring the foodsource to them, rather than them having to go chase after it. Crappie are ambush predators ... using stealth, rather than speed ... and using the shade that cover provides, to camoflauge themselves (along with their respective markings).
With that in mind :
Would the wind affect the bite ? --- yes, directly & indirectly. (as explained, above)
Would you have better luck in the wind ? out of the wind ? --- Depends on how well you can present your bait, what method you're using, and how the wind affects those factors. Given the situation, as you describe it ... I'd probably set up on the inside point, around the corner & out of the wind, and fish the cover where the wind driven eddy water was circulating around the trees.
Bare in mind, of course, that I'm primarily a jig slinger :p ... so I'm thinking in those terms (as far as how I'd present the bait, and how I'd locate my position relevant to the wind).
... cp
Wind bothers fishermen more than fish. I always fish the windy bank to start. That said, in larger deeper lakes in the summer where the wind has been blowing for a few days, I'll fish the windless side, especially for stripers. The windless side will have an "upwelling" of colder water that will draw certain species shallow to feed.
If the wind has been blowing for a few days I agree that the crappie will be holding on the downriver side of structure. If there is a point that comes out into the river at the bend (most times there is) I would fish the downriver side of the point before the trees or lay downs.
Last edited by STUMP HUNTER; 02-09-2011 at 09:18 AM.
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My experience has always been the crappie are facing into the wind, so bring your bait with it and at the same speed if possible to get the bites.
"Never Fry Bacon Naked"