Before I go fly fishing I always tend to observe the weather, as I believe most people do, my question is, at what speed is the wind "too strong" to fly fish normally (without employing advanced techniques such as the double haul)? Today the wind is 18mph here, tomorrow it will be 4mph......thoughts?

Go tomorrow lol.
It really depends on where and how you intend to fish.If the venue has some shelter from the wind i.e. tree lined,then it could be fine,or if you are off out in a boat,it may be a bit hairy(don't know really as only been out in one boat).Just some things to take into consideration.

Remember "East is least" - don't ask me why, but many fishermen will tell you that you catch less in an easterly wind.

Let me preface this comment by saying I'm no caster

However, I was trying to fish in a drifting boat with a strong wind behind me..getting nowhere, the line was going everywhere except forwards.

I found by using a heavier rod and throwing a short line, hard, up into the air as well as backwards that the wind picked it up on the forward cast and the rest of the line just flew out..wind assisted.

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Roy

that's an interesting one, I haven't heard the "east is least" thing before. Being in bonnie Scotland we're not short of a bit of wind and looking at the weather forecast it's gonna be 20mph for the rest of the week besides tomorrow. A lot of the lochs I go on don't have much shelter or theyre out on a boat so I guess it'll be river fishing. I presume when the wind is stronger it chills the water surface and the fish feed sub surface?

Years ago wind did used to bother me myself,now I hate the rain and would rather fish in a wind than rain.Most anglers who do fish in wind go for what I call the "comfort zone",this is generally with the wind on your back.I prefer to cast into the wind itself as it makes the fly work more natural,with fish facing into it waiting for food to come towards them,the fly is going the right way rather than a fly coming from behind and working unatural,that is why you will find an angler catching more casting into wind than the ones in the confort zone.
Another thing to bear in mind and I feel a very important one with wind,is the fact that many are concerned about punching out huge distances with a cast and it is not needed,many fish will be caught close in so simple short casts are all that is needed, rather than whacking great lines out.My outlook for distance casting,it is required when you need to cast to rising fish or when needed or competition casting,but not every cast should be huge,varied distances ,depths and angles will pull more fish.
There is casts you can apply in wind and it does not readily mean a double haul.They will help you with wind and can easily be shown to you and practiced, once you know which will wipe out the question of should I go or not because of wind.You can catch alot of very good fish with a wind in my own experience and I love a good chop on the water as I always feel confident and fish round the edges where I know fish will lie.
I hope some of this helps you out.
ps As the saying goes "when the wind is in the east the fish bite least,when the wind is in the west the fish bite best" Is there any truth in it,I just dont know, but catches have been lower in an easterly wind, but still catches have been made and the fishermen still go out and fish for them in the sea despite what wind is there.

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Kevin

Hi All

Good advise from Morayflyfisher, I had two clients last week, who had never picked up a fly rod before, wasn't a gale, but strong enough, we went to a remote mountain lake as the river was in flood, they thought they didn't stand a chance, bit of casting instruction in the morning, fished after lunch, 8 wild browns caught, all with in 20' of the bank.

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www.acgameangling.com & www.acgameangling.co.uk

East is only least cuz west is best

perfect wind speed should spook the dog but not draw the missuses attention

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I've always found that, on a reservoir, wind speeds of over 15 MPH can be unpleasant, that's not to say you won't catch. I've found that fish can be shoaled-up off a promontory in currents set-up by strong winds. Winds of around 5MPH to 12 MPH are about the best.

As to direction, I remember some old sayings.

Asked what winds suits fishing best
I answer south, or south west.

When the wind is in the south
It blows the bait into the fish's mouth.

Best advice though is that fishing is totally unpredictable.

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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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