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Windy Conditions – Don’t Let That Affect Your Lure Fishing

Lure fishing in the wind: One of the problems with fishing is that we take memories of previous outings as fact. One of the classic theories is the saying ” You won’t catch bugger all in that”. I’m referring to the wind, of course. But what about lure fishing in dirty water? That’s my second favourite excuse. They are all there to overcome if you’re prepared to be patient.

Surf Fishing In The Wind With Lures

Surf fishing over sandy bays can be a popular way to catch bass. And not unless you are extremely unlucky, you won’t get snagged. Happy days. Those bays can be a supermarket of food for our hungry bass, so when the wind is blowing a hoolie, go try your local beach and see what it can conjure up, you may be surprised.

Not so long ago, we had a constant run of Northerlie winds, and for anyone that fishes our South East coast, we know that can be curtains for our fishing, the water clarity will inevitably be like mud. Or will it?

One of our local venues can be a very popular haunt for bass. If you were to look at Google Maps, this particular venue is on a slight corner, so when you see the low tide view, the rock line seems to be a lot further out. This means that the sea is more open, so the tide will be a lot stronger the further you go out. You must’ve heard the expression ‘Getting caught in the tide‘, it can be so dangerous. But bass love these types of places to hunt.

The Same Scenario 2 Days On The Trot

Most of the anglers who were fishing at this venue had been consistently catching bass during the low tide. How many? Seeing is believing. But what I found was that the best times for me personally were 3 and a half hours before the low.

Day 1: All my fish were caught on a Natural Sandeel Savage Gear Pencil, which incidentally is another cracking lure for fishing in the wind.

Day 2: All my fish were taken on the Savage Gear Seeker. And like the first day, all halfway through the ebb – about 10 in total, then they seemed to turn off. However, for some reason, another lure angler kept catching, although away from where we were fishing. But what I found rather interesting was the speed of his retrieval – it was really fast. This wiped out one of my previous theories, and that was always to keep your retrieve slow and steady. But this was the daytime, I normally only fish with lures in the dark of the night. Lesson learnt – Always vary your retrieve.

Look For The Difference In The Water Colour

Sometimes, especially when the sun is beating down in the daytime, you can often see a clear water line that is typically out of casting range from the rockline. But at the venue in question, if you get there early enough, you can get to the clear water. Remember, we are talking about fishing in head winds here. You may not have the clarity problems that we have in Kent. Even if the water was murky, you would still have a chance in the daytime, especially if it’s sunny.

Lure Choices For Windy Conditions.

Headwind fishing over a shallow reef: For a headwind, you will want something that is weighty and is going to cut through the wind like butter. In my opinion, the man for the job, and in itself, is a cracking lure, the Savage Gear Surf Seeker. First and foremost, I would swap the treble hook for the single to limit the chances of a snag, it’s not a guarantee, but a better option in my opinion.

Casting Out lure Fishing In The wind

With the deeper water or sandy bay, there is a lesser chance you are going to run into any snags. However, if you are fishing over shallower ground, retrieving through the surf, there are a few things to be aware of.

1. Make sure you start retrieving your lure the split second that metal hits the water. It’s not rocket science. That lure (even with the single hook) is going to sink fast and probably find a snag. No one wants to be tying on a new leader in that strong wind, so just be mindful when casting.
2. Keep that retrieve steady. The beauty of the Savage Gear Surf Seeker is that it does swim quite shallow. Stop for a chat, and I’m afraid it’s going to be curtains. Bye bye lure. The Seekers (especially the Pearl White) can be a hard lure to get hold of. Don’t lose it.

Side On Wind Could Be a Problem

Another hazard for lure fishing in the wind is when the wind direction is coming from your side. The reason that this could be a problem is that it’s harder to keep in touch with the lure. More so for the hard, solid plastic lures. For example, I have a Duo Beach Walker Axion that is a little demon. The only problem I had was that when I was fishing with a sidewind, the line would bow casting out. So by the time you had reeled up the slack, the lure would have sunk to the sea bed. The answer would be to use a weedless jighead lure, that way you’re covered. They still get snagged, though – just saying.

Other options for lure fishing in the wind

If you dug deep, I’m sure you could find a whole lure box to fill. But hard, shallow diving lures such as the IMA Hound 125f Glide, Tackle House Feed Shallow and a Komomo 2 are not going to do the job, you simply will not get the distance – save those for the calmer days or when the winds behind you.

The Samson range of hard lures would be a good option. The solid white is a good choice – the lure’s body is fairly heavy and will sink ( so be careful), but will still get some distance.

Here are a couple of Samson lure options

• Enticer Minnow
• Stealth Glide
• Shad
• The Bomb
• Slim Minnow

Soft Plastics For Lure Fishing In The Wind

Two great choices for weedless soft plastics would be the Savage Gear V2s or a Pays Bass JJ Minnow. Incidentally, I caught my PB on that lure.

🎥 Watch: Surf Seeker in Action – Perfect for Windy Conditions

❓ FAQ – Lure Fishing in Windy Conditions

Can you catch bass when it’s windy?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, wind can stir up food, create wave action, and push baitfish into certain areas, drawing bass in. You just need to adapt your lure choice and casting strategy to suit the wind direction and water conditions.

What’s the best wind direction for bass fishing from the shore?

There’s no one-size-fits-all, but onshore winds (wind blowing toward the land) can push food in closer, which brings bass with it. Just keep in mind, clarity might suffer, so adjust lures accordingly. A slight sidewind can be manageable, but a strong crosswind makes contact with the lure trickier.

Are metal lures good for windy conditions?

Yes, and probably the best metal lures like the Savage Gear Surf Seeker are ideal. They cast like bullets, cut through headwinds, and often swim shallow. Just watch the snags if you’re casting over reefy ground — single hooks can help.

What if the water is coloured or murky?

You’ve still got a chance. Bass are opportunistic. In murky water, use lures with vibration, flash, or Chartreuse or the likes of a weedless paddle tails or something with a strong silhouette. Sunny days can also help in these conditions.

Are soft plastics any good in the wind?

Definitely – especially weedless soft plastics. The Savage Gear V2S and Pays Bass JJ Minnow are excellent choices. You can use a slightly heavier jighead to maintain control in the chop.

How do I avoid wind knots when casting into a headwind?

Use a slightly thicker leader and keep your line tight. Avoid casting directly into a full head-on gale if possible – aim slightly off-centre. Also, keep your rod tip low and follow through clean on your cast. Braided line can be prone to looping if there’s slack.

What gear setup helps in strong wind?

• Longer rods (9–10ft) can give you better casting distance.
• Use a reel with a smooth drag and good line lay.
• Up to 30lb braid with a fluorocarbon leader helps keep things tight and responsive.
• A solid, stiff rod tip helps detect bites when the wind’s pushing against your line.

🎣 Final Thoughts – Embrace the Wind, Don’t Fear It

Windy days are when most anglers stay home – and that’s your edge. Sure, you might lose a lure or two, tie a few frustrating knots, and have the odd misfire. But if you adapt – with the right tackle, lure choice, and mindset – you’ll find yourself fishing into prime conditions that others avoid.

Some of my best sessions have come when it looked completely unfishable on paper. When the surf’s churning, and the beach is empty, that’s when the bass are often right where you want them – feeding close in, hunting through stirred-up baitfish and dislodged crabs.

So next time the forecast looks grim and you hear that old line – “You won’t catch bugger all in that” – smile, grab your Surf Seeker, and go prove them wrong.