Texas Fishing Forum

How much wind is too much?

Posted By: Garey

How much wind is too much? - 05/07/15 03:54 PM

I fish from a 17 ft aluminum deep hull with full windshield, 115 Hp Merc, and 55lb 12 volt trolling mtr. My personal wind max is 15 mph and 20% rain forecast. Any higher than that and the trolling motor cannot keep up and docking and loading on trailer is dicey. Of course I don't think the fish care much about the wind. I'm just wondering what others think. What are your personal weather minimums?
Posted By: kimbocdp

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/07/15 04:03 PM

I have a 77 15ft fiberglass bass boat, it sits low in the water. Anything over 12mph and I will be heading to the bank. Depends on the lake though. In the river 20mph is ok.
Posted By: WCLBASS

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/07/15 04:05 PM

Originally Posted By: Garey
I fish from a 17 ft aluminum deep hull with full windshield, 115 Hp Merc, and 55lb 12 volt trolling mtr. My personal wind max is 15 mph and 20% rain forecast. Any higher than that and the trolling motor cannot keep up and docking and loading on trailer is dicey. Of course I don't think the fish care much about the wind. I'm just wondering what others think. What are your personal weather minimums?

same for me
Posted By: Blues

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/07/15 04:26 PM

Upgraded in boat sizes last year. Now with a 21ft CC I'm ok up to 20-25 on some lakes with the right direction, but other lakes or wrong direction and I don't like it near 20mph. Depends on the lake, wind direction, boat, and captain. I won't push my luck on thunderstorms or wind if I don't like it......
Posted By: Uncle Zeek

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/07/15 04:38 PM

It depends. I've had my 18' fiberglass CC out on Lewisville in extremely high winds, like 35+ mph, and stayed out cause the fish were biting. Of course, I was the only fruitcake out those days.

Wouldn't dream of doing the same offshore. With the boat you describe, 15mph is probably a safe cutoff point.

Ultimately, the answer is "it depends on your boat, your experience & your tolerance for rough conditions"
Posted By: TheGizzard

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/08/15 03:35 AM













I have an 18 ft. alumacraft.It does well in 15 and 20 to 25. Starts getting too stressfull at that point.I like 15 and under.
Posted By: 04champ

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/08/15 02:00 PM

Depends on a lot of factors but I'd say if its forecast to be 20+ sustained, I'm not fun fishing that day.

Rain doesn't bother me unless its cold or there's lightning
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/08/15 04:00 PM

depends on the lake and wind direction.
Posted By: B.Hollingshead

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/08/15 10:02 PM

25-30+ on most lakes

On Texoma and Tawok. Roberts and a few others 15mph
Posted By: psycho0819

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/08/15 11:20 PM

12-15 for my 18' Xpress CC. It's a Mod-V hull. I' ve had it out in worse but it was pretty miserable. Never felt in danger up to 20mph winds. But yeah, it greatly depends on the body of water too
Posted By: Rudy Lackey

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/09/15 12:38 PM

Originally Posted By: B.Hollingshead
25-30+ on most lakes

On Texoma and Tawok. Roberts and a few others 15mph
Posted By: Fritz423

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/09/15 03:55 PM

Wind speed plus fetch is the key. I fished all over Aransas Bay last Friday and Saturday. By Monday winds were 22G28 and I had to stay on the flats. No way I could get out on the bay from the lee side.
Posted By: Gangster

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/09/15 05:11 PM

As much as you can handle. I usually judge the main part of the lake. If I can handle the waves I'll fish. If not I try to launch close enough to where I am going to fish.
Posted By: tgifish

Re: How much wind is too much? - 05/10/15 06:47 AM

Some of my best days have been on some of the windiest days. If I know it's unsafe to run the main lake then I will trailer to a creek that has a ramp and hug the shore line that has a good wind break, usually trees, steep bank, etc. Wind is just another form of cover and the fish don't mind getting shallow. The worst was several years ago, in March, when my brother visited me and the south winds blew 25-30 mph every day that he was here. That was one of the best times we ever had fishing together.
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