Age old question -

Front is coming through DFW area Wed afternoon. I have a medium sized (17') fiberglass bass boat, and one day I can get away to go fishing this week (only one). I get to pick the day (self employed), so . . . . factoring wind, safety, largemouth bass bite, and any other factors I'm forgetting, when should I go? I know this is the age old fisherman's question, and I'd like to get some opinions on the matter.

I'll start it off with what I was thinking:

Before the front seems like the right answer by far after reading bass books and bass magazines. But it's not that easy, they are forcasting increasing winds (up to 20 mph) until Wed night. Then after it passes, it drops to 10 mph. So is the bass bite that much worse? If so, is it worth getting the snot beat out of me in a little 17 foot boat in 17-20 mph winds before the storms? Not to mention safety, I'll be alone - unloading, fishing, and loading.

I guess ultimately what's best, go out when it's calm and possibly get skunked, or other? What's best, and what would you do???

I live on the north side of Ray Roberts and it was blowing hard enough today for my porch swing to smack my house. That is bad enough to be a "no go". And they say it should be blowing harder until the front comes through. I would wait until better conditions even if it meant not going this week. But that's just me.

Go out when it's calm and enjoy your time on the water. You can also start learning how to find 'em after a front. (They still gotta eat) Why voluntarily spend a tough day anywhere??

Wow, definately a "no go" for me. No question. Thanks for the heads up. I'll wait it out this time.

Just hypothetically though, let's get some opinions. Like let's say it was just a little less windy. Feels sometimes like I ask myself this question at least 2 times a month, year round. What would you do?

Do your homework on some of the lakes your interested in... find some spots that you can be out of the wind... creeks& rivers see if there is an avaliable ramp in or close to these areas. If you can find a good safe spot POUND it on Wed. with the recent rain and dropping temps the shad should be starting to move into these areas and you could have a great day on the water.
Justin

I completely agree ! Every time I hit the water any more, I try to make the trip as much of a learning experience as I can. If you learn to fish all of these conditions, you will no longer be asking yourself what to do 2 times a month. If you have the smarts to be self employed I'm sure you can figure out how to catch them in any conditions. Good luck man!

You need to learn to handle your boat in less than favorable conditions. I'm not saying put the boat in the water on Rayburn when the wind is blowin 40, use caution, but learn to fish in unfavorable weather too. I have a 16 foot boat, and I will go out if the rollers are less than 4 feet. Learn how to drive and fish in the "Bad" weather, and you can catch the fish, or sack of fish of a lifetime.

However, if your insinct tells you to stay on the bank (at home), then stay on the bank. No fish is worth your life!

Those fish in the calmer protected waters won't be as active and as aggressively feeding as those that are on the wind blown areas. If you can be there when the front moves in the fishing or catching will increase whether your in slack water or think your at the PBR.

I guess that term in not accurate "as active and aggressively feeding" What I should have said is they won't be stacked up (as concentrated) in a given area. I was fishing a lake when there was tornado warnings and hail in the area (big storm approaching) I was up in the upper end of the lake, was nice and calm where I was at in my two man scamp and caught a 9-6 and several 4 and 5 lbers. Not to shabby for a Kansas lake. So get out there you might just catch a good'n. Just keep a close eye on the weather if it's going to get really nasty.

My take on this question is that a front will come through about once a week, maybe more, year round. So, first I fish for fun and fishing in a howling wind is not fun. Then I've watched results from the pro's in tournaments. You don't see their weights have big swings that you can attribute to frontal passages. Every day someone will find fish...some days every one will catch fish. So, go when you can, and cancel your plans when the weather is just too miserable...HAVE FUN!...it's not a job!

My .o2 and the way I've been catching fish the past month and 1/2! Go out Thursday while it is hopefully still cloudy! Thats when the bas turn on this time of year!! U might get rained on but so what!! Its a great return for catching fish all day!! Stay shallow and in the back of the creeks and crank crank crank!!

My .o2 and the way I've been catching fish the past month and 1/2! Go out Thursday while it is hopefully still cloudy! Thats when the bas turn on this time of year!! U might get rained on but so what!! Its a great return for catching fish all day!! Stay shallow and in the back of the creeks and crank crank crank!!

Great answers guys, and thanks. If you read through all of them, I can see good points to going anytime in them all. Great advice for any and every trip, good weather or bad, front or no front.

I'm definately still learning, and this actually makes a lot of sense to me and my frustration. I'll be the first to admit that a lot of times I go in comfortable conditions (good weather), fish the same presentations that I did last time (comfortable with), try it over and over, and then wonder why I get skunked.

Of course, that's also why I love it so much. The hunt . . . . . and knowing that at any place, on any cast, it could be the fish of a lifetime.
Thanks again guys, you've given me a lot to digest here.
J

Rough weather? Go bank fishing. Enjoy the scenery, birds eating fish, sitting on the rocks occasionally and chilling, do some hike/cast sets, study the water for a few hours, bring a lunch, and catch some fish.

Depending on what lake you are fishing there are usually boat ramps that can be used that will provide less wind for launch and access to fishable water if the wind is up. If it’s gonna rain, I just bring extra clothes in case I want to start over dry at some point in the day. There is no substitute for TOW whether you are a new angler or seasoned angler. When in doubt I just head to the lake.

As far as the bite goes, it can be very surprising at times. They bite when you think they won’t and at times they don’t bite well when the conditions seem ideal. We had days early this year, after a front, cold 30 mph north wind and the fish were just plain all over it.

look for boat ramps out of the wind and fish where you feel comfortable fishing. a 17ft boat can still take some waves if you drive it right. its going to be best before the front....but even if you do go thursday at least your getting to go fishing lol