The wind creates currents that many anglers overlook. Here Jay Yelas takes advantage of a wind current flowing around a rocky point. Angler: Jay Yelas.

October 17, 2003 • Mark Hicks • Archives

Currents caused by the wind occur on every body of water, but many anglers overlook them. When the wind rips, bass relate to currents that flow under bridges, over windswept points and at the mouths of jetties leading to marinas.

Another prime location is a narrow opening between land masses. Jay Yelas of Tyler, Texas, found such a spot while fishing Lake Champlain during the final event of the 2002 Forrest Wood Open. It was a large island sitting only 40 yards from the mainland.

“A saddle connected the island to the shore,” Yelas said. “It was about 4 feet deep on top. A hard wind funneled water through the gap and over the saddle.”

Yelas set up downwind of the saddle. His boat floated over 15 feet of water. He cast a suspending jerkbait into the shallow water and worked it back with the current. Smallmouth bass were feeding behind the saddle over a depth of about 8 feet. When Yelas danced his jerkbait above them, they attacked.

“I caught several 4-pound smallmouths from that saddle,” Yelas said. “I finished ninth in that tournament. It gave me the points I needed to win Angler of the Year.”