Don't Forget to Factor in Weather

Weather Conditions Can Impact Your Fishing Success

The most overlooked thing that the majority of fishermen ignore is the weather conditions. You head out to favourite fishing spot, not noting the wind direction, whether it is sunny or overcast and is the lake calm or choppy.

The best place to fish is with the wind blowing towards the shore as this drives the bait fish towards that hungry trophy fish looking for his meal of the day. Also, a little chop on the lake helps because then water is not as clear and seems to make the fish more aggressive.

I have seen it too often, that the lake is like glass, the weather is beautiful and not a cloud in the sky. What a perfect day, but not for fishing as the fish seem to have the same idea as you and just want to soak up the sun and catch up on some leisure time. I’m not saying you won’t catch any fish, but the fish gods will have to be with you and maybe this is the day just to spent exploring the lake and taking a few good pictures to take home with you

But this is not the case today, as everything is perfect for that great day of fishing. The sky is slightly overcast, there is a bit of a breeze and the direction of the wind has changed indicating a change in the weather. Today you want to catch that walleye for your buddies tonight for supper, as they are the best eating, bar none, and you’re ready to show the gang who the true fisherman is!

You remember what your host at camp said about some the hot spots to check out. The wind is out of the south-west, so this little bay in the north end of Irvine Lake should be perfect. So now let’s find us some Walleye, too shallow of water mostly Northern Pike, too deep mostly Lake Trout. You will probably have your best luck in the 8 to 16 feet of water.

A depth finder would help at this time to help locate if the walleye are stacked up and schooled in one certain spot. But a little trolling with the boat will do the job as you work your way around this bay looking for that bit of bottom structure were they are waiting for their breakfast. The layout of the shoreland will help as this is a good indication of what the bottom looks like. A good place to start is where a point of land jets out and drops off to deeper water, or that nice walleye hole in the middle of the bay

You have tried a variety of tackle and that five of diamonds spoon or a jig with a minnow and now success. You have just netted a nice walleye, fat and full of that nice yellow and black colour. This is your day to remember and you want some more to make that nice supper tonight. Now you have located them you could anchor the boat, cast or jig or maybe just drift across that spot where you just caught him.

Great, you and your fishing partner have just landed five more nice walleye and even released a few little guys which you returned to the lake to get a little bigger for next year’s fishing. Then all of sudden there is no more fish, you think maybe they just moved off or just quit biting. Just maybe a Large Northern Pike has moved in and wrecked the day.

So why not see? You put on that ugly old large Spoon and start casting. Sure enough that big old pike follows your hook to the boat. Two casts, you catch him, a 10 lb monster, which gives you quite a show before you land him in the boat. You weigh and measure him and release him after a couple of pictures to prove to the guys your new fish story is true.

Time to head back to Camp for a little lunch and to fillet the fish for supper. You just know you want to try that spot again, this afternoon seems like the time, or maybe fish for some trophy Lake Trout. Decisions, decisions, oh the life of a fisherman?

Written by Ted Parker at Complex Lake Lodge