But safety is foremost � stay off big water unless you have the knowledge and experience to stay in protected areas or your first trip could be your last.
Be it ponds, lakes/reservoirs or Texas saltwater flats, there will always be wind to contend with.

Tackle and technique are foremost.
I find 8-9 wt fast action fly rods to be most preclusive, up lined one or two line weights.

Casting into the wind produces the best back cast you will ever achieve.
What works for me is to �drive� a tight loop cast directly to the target.
Some like a side arm cast close to the water but I can get more power with an �over head cast�.

Casting with the wind is a breeze (pun intended).
Back cast a �Belgium/oval� loop - open the loop on forecast and let �er rip � the wind will do the rest.

Quartering winds are more difficult and dangerous
Learn a good �back-hand� cast and you won�t be duckin� and dodgin� or wearing a fly in your ear lobe.

Don�t let the wind keep you off the water � but BE CAREFUL!
It will force you to explore new protected waters and you will find eddies and currents holding baitfish in unexpected places.

Hope this helps some of the newer fly fishin� folks, but you old guys know this stuff already.
George Glazener

Great advice George. Thanks for the input for us newbies.

Dave

That's all great advice, George. I'll just add that it doesn't have to be big water to be dangerous when the wind is up and blowing. We were out on Fairfield the day after Christmas and the winds were blowing straight down the lake. There were swells in the two foot range when we made our way back to the ramp, which were plenty big for my taste. So even on smaller lakes, keep a weather eye out for changes in what's going on around you. If you're anything like me you tend to stick to the coves because that's where the structure is, but the main lake can undergo big changes while you're in the weeds if you're not paying attention. We just lost two anglers on Richland Chambers last week on a day that was VERY windy and they were in a relatively large pontoon boat.

The only thing I'll add about casting is to watch your frustration level when flinging flies in the wind. I know that my casting suffers when the when is blowing and tend to forget that less effort equals a better cast and end up trying to force the cast, which exponentially increases my odds of hooking myself. I haven't managed to hook myself yet, but I did manage to knock myself dizzy with a soaking wet deerhair mouse last year (don't ask what I thought I was doing casting that thing on my 5wt in gale force winds ).

Slow down, make sure you're not pushing the envelope with regard to fly size/weight and its relationship to the rod and line you're using. One last thing, keep those glasses and hats with brims on to keep that last line of defense between your tender hide and that hook you spent the last five minutes honing to an extra sharp point.

Safety 1st! Thanks G1 for the reminder I'll add this to the fishing side. Windy days seem to make the fish less spooky and more forgiving of a bad cast or noisy fisherman.

This is a relevant thread in Texas indeed! Another place to fish in windy conditions can be in deep creeks. The channels are often cut deep enough that one can, if the right spot is located, calmly cast and fish while listening to the roaring wind overhead.

It seems the creeks around my area of Texas are among trees and overhangs. The trees just line up and down the creek. Mostly they are not a good place to cast at all. I appreciate the advice here. I will have to learn all this stuff once I get the boat ready.

Don't forget to crimp the barbs on your hooks!! Much Much safer for all (even the fish!!

JR

Spey!!!!!!!

What did you think you were doing casting that thing on your five-weight in gale-force winds? Seriously!

I'll echo everyone by saying that George's is great advice. As a tuber (not a potato, but someone who fishes from a tube... knock that off!) I am always looking for protected areas to fish. Whitecaps+float tube=bad comedy.

I do find it consistently amazing how little respect people seem to have for water and weather. It's really easy to die from momentary lapses in judgment.

that needs to go in all caps, flashing text at all boat ramps

Maybe along with a big bucket labeled, "therefore, deposit beer here."

I think that there have been more than 18 deaths on Lake Fork alone, mostly weather related or DUI's in boating accidents.

Learn the roll cast and then roll baby roll !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy23B_MYwsA

Well obviously I wasn't thinking. All I had at the time was my 5wt and I really wanted to cast that mouse, it looked too cute not to let some bass smash it. When that thing pegged me right where my head joins my neck, I was pretty sure I had hooked myself directly in the spine. I stood completely still for almost a minute trying to figure out what I was going to do, not knowing it was actually laying in the grass behind me and not lodged in the dura matter of my central nervous system. If you ever want to feel really intelligent by comparison, come fly fishing with me!

Too funny. I know that feeling... glad you didn't stick a 3/0 hook in your neck. Next time, consider an 8-wt or a less-breezy spot to cast!