Windy Wisdom

Fishing in gale force winds is one of the hardest tasks any match angler can face, reckons Lee Kerry, who reveals his top tips to cope and prosper when it ‘blows a hoolie’…

- Lee Kerry

WINTER seldom delivers favourable fishing conditions, no matter what venues or target species we have.

Accepting whatever weather that the harshest of seasons throws at us, dealing with it and still catching is the name of the game. The bottom line in every match is that you’ve got to catch more than your rivals!

Sitting in rain or sleet is never enjoyable. Nor is shivering on frosty banks under clear skies with cat ice in the margins, or a full ‘lid’ to smash through. But, for me, nothing compares in terms of adversity to a windy day.

There is nothing more frustrating in angling than knowing that fish are feeding, only for conditions to be too difficult for you to present a bait to them effectively.

Although cold winter winds from northerly or easterly directions are most likely to thwart us at this time of year, the same frustrations can apply in warmer months when gale force south-westerlies sweep through.

Regardless of the time or year or wind direction, the first thing you have to consider on a windy day is where you’ll have to fish in order to get bites.

I reckon pole fishing is the major part of the modern match scene, so I’ll start here.