Shallow-water anchors, like Minn Kota’s Raptor, can significantly help anglers control their boats on windy days and keep their focus firmly on fishing. (Photo courtesy of Johnson Outdoors)
May 09, 2025
By David A. Brown
Fishing in the wind certainly requires strategy and flexibility, but equipment and technology also play key roles in this game. Consider these products for windy conditions on the water when bass fishing.
FISHING RODS Softer fishing rods generally load more smoothly, which can help ensure anglers don’t pull a bait from a fish’s mouth in windy conditions. Ohio professional angler Alex Redwine likes a longer rod (7-foot 5-inch or 7-foot 6-inch), as it creates more whip and allows him to cast better in the wind.
MARINE BATTERIES Modern lithium batteries provide more dependable power, and that comes in handy when windy days require more intense use of the trolling motor. Dead batteries on a windy day will make the fishing memorable for the wrong reasons.
SHALLOW-WATER ANCHORS Fishing in the wind can become an exercise in futility without the ability to quickly and securely stop the boat and then slowly inch it forward. Shallow-water anchors like those offered by Power-Pole and Minn Kota work perfectly for this task, as they can stop the boat on a dime. Additionally, anglers can incrementally advance the boat by raising and lowering these devices.
Advertisement
GPS ANCHORING Spot-Lock , which uses trolling motor adjustments to hold a boat at a set position through GPS, proves invaluable on windy days. Freeing the angler from having to keep a foot on the trolling motor, this technology—and others like it—shines when fighting or boating fish.
Minn Kota’s TargetLock accessory amplifies this advantage by allowing the user to mount a transducer on an independently operated shaft, separate from the trolling motor. This way, regardless of where the trolling motor is pointing, the transducer remains fixed on whatever you’re watching.
This article was featured in the April 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe
