The forecast called for winds up to 30 miles-per-hour. What sort of idiot would get pumped-up, much-the-less venture out onto the open expanses of Lake Lanier under such daunting conditions?
Uh…me!
Saturday past was that kind of day. We decided that we would keep the strong west winds to our back for the run home at the end of the day. (I don’t need to lose a kidney bouncing over 4-foot swells by traveling into the surf.)
A long time ago I read/heard the old fishing adage: “The wind is my friend.”
So gullibly I gave it a try. Fish those windy banks and pockets was the advice.
One broken trolling motor and an unexpected opportunity to use the emergency boarding ladder at the back of my boat - after a near-perfect front flip off the bow of my Triton, might I add – was all it took to convince me that fishing in the wind was for fools.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and as they say: “Time heals all wounds.” And that is about how long it took for me to pay for the replacement trolling motor I had to buy.
Here’s how it went down: after several frustrating days of fishing sheltered and protected pockets a couple of years ago because the wind was relentless, I decided to give the wind a second chance.
This time I did it “safely”, OHSA approved, and definitely coward-like.
I would approach a windy point or pocket and use the wind to drift me past my target. I would stand midship, feet firmly planted in the bottom of my boat, not even attempting to lower my trolling motor.
That allowed me time for about three good casts across the point or into the pocket before I would need to crank-up the big motor and reposition myself. And guess what?
I caught fish, lots of fish. That day, the wind truly became my friend; BFF, me and the wind!
On Saturday we took my fishing partner’s boat; it’s nearly 22-feet long and weighs nearly as much as a battleship; plus, he would be on the front deck fighting the wind with his trolling motor while I relaxed on the back deck and enjoyed the scenery.
And guess what? We caught a lot of fish!
We didn’t find the big fish needed to win our tournament, but we stayed busy releasing 2-pound spotted bass all day long. It was kinda fun.
Between now and summer there will be plenty of windy days on Lake Lanier. You needn’t worry that you missed last Saturday.
Grab a spinnerbait or a chatter bait or an Alabama rig and strap on your best life vest (you never know when it will be your turn to execute that perfect front-flip). If necessary keep your trolling motor stowed and let the wind “be your friend” as it moves you across a windy point or past a windy pocket and gives you a great day on the lake.
