How does the wind affect Walleye fishing?

Since wind is often common on the lake or river, it’s a good idea to know how it affects the fish you’re trying to catch as well as the methods you should be using to catch them.  In the case of the Walleye, the wind plays an important role in their feeding habits and a good fisherman will take that into account.  If you’re fishing with jigs rather than live bait the wind can be a problem but there are a few adjustments you can make to minimize it’s effect on your catch.  The most important thing to remember is that your goal is to keep the jig on the bottom.  If a strong wind picks up most anglers will quickly tie on a heavier jig.  This response, is not always the best choice.  Instead of adding more weight, I simply slow the speed of the boat.  That way, I’m not changing a presentation that might have been working for me.  If the wind is still a problem, the next adjustment is to lower the tip of my rod.  If I place the tip just an inch or two above the surface, I can keep the line below the water level and out of the wind, thereby reducing the possibility of the wind grabbing the line and obscuring a bite.  Dropping the line so low will make it a little more difficult to detect a bite but if you pay close attention to the tip of the rod, it shouldn’t be a big problem.  When the wind is strong, Walleyes will tend to move up into the shallow water to feed, making them much easier to see and catch.