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Oxygen
Popular believe: "wind causes waves and waves oxygenate the water". The abundant supply of oxygen is said to invigorate the fish and cause them to feed actively. I have often wondered about this. Can one then presume that bass populations in dams that are subjected to winds more often will be bigger than their cousins in windless areas? I'm not so sure, I don't think that Theewaterskloof is renowned for the biggest bass in South Africa. It is however renowned to be most affected by strong winds or am I wrong?
Another question that I battled with is how far bass will travel to "oxygenated" water? Perhaps you will not find "travelling" bass in these areas, but just that the few bass that lived there all along now feeds a bit more actively? I'm not sure what the answer is!
Conclusion: I cannot argue the fact that bass is dependant on oxygenated water. I can argue that our dams are too small and the effect of wind on oxygen levels is negligible.
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Baitfish
Popular believe: "wind stirs up the bottom and cause baitfish to congregate in these areas and go into a feeding frenzy". Sure the waves stir up the bottom and all sorts of nutrients and aquatic organisms gets dislodged. I think I have a good enough understanding of the baitfish populations in our dams. Not many of the baitfish species live on plankton, and not many of them swim in big schools. Well not in schools big enough to sustain a population of bass.
So yes, the wind causes waves and the waves stir up the bottom, but I'm not convinced that this phenomenon has a major effect on the feeding pattern of baitfish found in SA waters.
Conclusion: We do not have baitfish similar to the American freshwater shad. We have mainly tilapia, the odd bluegill and barb species that the bass feed on. The feeding patterns of these species are not affected by wind that much.
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Water clarity and current
Popular believe: "wind generates current, current causes waves and waves stir up the bottom which stains the water". Now this I cannot argue. Bass fishing in slightly stained water is certainly more productive than crystal clear water. But if your body of water is naturally stained, you don't need the wind to affect the clarity do you?
Gamefish normally face into a current and this applies to bass as well. I reckon that a lure being pulled down current should then be more productive than a lure approaching the bass from the rear. Problem is, if you are going to fish the windblown shore, how are you going to get your lure to swim with the current? Catch 22 hey? I suppose fishing windblown points could be the answer. Here at least you can cast into the wind and still retrieve your lure toward the shoreline.
Conclusion: I accept that the effect of wind on water clarity and currents can positively influence or even enhance your bass fishing experience.
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Water temp
Popular believe: "warmer water is blown onto the windblown shore". Wind generally creates weak currents that will cause the heated surface water to move in the same direction as the wind. This phenomenon is well known on big lakes. Except for a few of our bigger dams, I can not believe that the water's temperature varies drastically from one side of a dam to the other.
I do not argue the fact that warmer water will have an effect on the feeding pattern of bass. It is also a known fact that too warm water will also have an adverse effect on bass. The question is: does the wind affect the water temperature enough to say that fish on the windblown bank is more active that the fish on the opposite bank? I am not convinced.
Conclusion: Fish feeding patterns is affected by water temperature. The effect of wind on most South African dams is not enough to influence the feeding patterns of bass.
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Boat handling
There are no popular believes here, just the fact that it is difficult to handle a boat in strong winds. Consider that theoretically the windblown bank holds the active bass; you want to be fishing that bank! Thus, you have to keep a 900kg rig worth thousands of rand more or less 40m from the shoreline and still enjoy your fishing. Ask the angler that was in control of the trolling motor how much he enjoyed that experience!
Jokes aside, it is not the easiest thing to manoeuvre your boat in windy conditions. The question in my mind is: Does the wind influence the bass's feeding pattern enough to make it worth my while to battle the windy conditions? Unfortunately the answer is NO! I'm a comfort creature and will more often than not fish the banks that are not affected by wind.
Conclusion: The effort it takes to handle your boat and cast lightweight lures in windy conditions outweighs the possible improved feeding trend of bass.
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Lures
Not much to debate here. Isn't it amazing how the carefully adjusted reel will just cast over-wind after over-wind when casting into a stiff breeze? It is obvious that the weightless presentation is going to be extremely challenging! This also applies to spinnerbaits and other lures that are lightweight and have a fairly big surface area.
My logic tells me that if you are going to fish the windblown banks you will be imitating baitfish and other aquatic creatures that might take advantage of the stirred up bottom. I can thus imagine that crankbaits like the Norman DLN series, Rapala DT series and heavier lipless cranks will be effective. Heavier plastic rigs like Texas or Carolina rigged creatures, brushhogs and lizards should also do the trick.
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Conclusion
I guess that from this article you can gather that I'm not a big fan off windy conditions. Next time you're told that wind has a positive effect on bass fishing, take the time to challenge this point of view. I personally think we take the American way of doing and try to implement it to the letter in South African waters. I would like you to take your knowledge of local waters and turn it into a bass fishing strategy that is suitable to your style and will deliver the goods on any given day and weather conditions!
