Spin off question from the Prop Bait post...

[cjac]

Hey all,

I have a question but want it apart from the prop bait post. The point of props/topwaters working in windy conditions was clearly raised, as it does produce.

In windy conditions, how do you all manage boat control after a hook up? I've lost a few, OK.... several, nice fish in these conditions because the wind is pushing the boat in one direction and the fish is generally going the opposite way the boat is being pushed by the wind, for lack of a better way to say it. In a nut shell, the fish gets on top and has a far greater chance of tossing a hook.

Do you fire up the main motor or kicker and back up? Or the trolling motor? Or just ride it out and bury the rod tip down deep? Two people in the boat helps of course, but what if you're fishing solo?

What do you all do in this fire drill situation?

Chris

[Rebel9921]

Wow... all this questions regarding topwater/prop baits really got me bit more excited for the upcoming season... Cant wait to use topwater/props more!!! Hope this one gets answered...

[HugoBox]

We got a new TM a couple years ago with the Co-Pilot feature and I keep it on a lanyard around my neck so I can easily take my cranking hand off the rod to try to keep the boat positioned. That said, I haven't had to do this is 2 or 3 footers so that may not be a fix-all. My brother and I fish together a lot and during a walleye trip to Mille Lacs last year in really big waves we decided that it would actually be a good idea to have two remotes so either of us could easily take control of the boat if the other is hooked up. I also found myself in a tough spot last year when I was alone in the middle of the night hooked up to a 44. I panicked a bit and just pulled the motor up and backed off the drag to let the fish get away from the boat a bit. It worked, but it may have just been dumb luck.

[RK]

Hiya -

Had a couple disastrous episodes hooking fish in big wind. especially on Lake of the Woods. Dinged up a few trolling motors that way...

If I'm out in space and not worried about crashing into a reef or anything I just try to keep the boat pointed into or with the wind and let it drift. Sometimes that means you have to abandon your post on the TM and run to the other end of the boat. Gets a little exciting sometimes.

If I'm up on a reef or something, I just turn the boat and take the fish out to sea as best I can, which sometimes means kind of fighting the fish over your shoulder for a little while. But I think you're better off getting out where you're safe first then worrying about the fish. If you have a kicker, it's a good idea to keep it idling while you fish reefs or shorelines in big wind. Your TM pops a breaker or something and you can be in a bad way in a hurry. Obviously it's all a lot easier if you have a partner that knows how to run the TM or kicker - so it's a good idea to discuss it ahead of time before you fish really windy spots. Of course, having a TM with enough snort to pull you through or into big waves is a must, or you better not be fishing those conditions in the first place...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm