Stillwater Wind Ju-Jitsu

April 2026

You stand on the banks, wind howling into your face. Maybe you just arrived and forgot to look at the wind report. It's too late now, so you start casting a heavy rig into the wind, hauling only to release a powerful cast that falls short, outmatched by prevailing gusts. You think, this is going to be a long day.

You float tubed or motored yourself into a good looking spot. You're itching to get fishing, finally reaching the moment to stop worrying about the boating side of things, to grab a rod. Then as you're casting, you notice how quickly your target is slipping away from reach. Maybe you feel the indicator stretching further and further away from your position. Maybe you notice rising fish that keep drifting out of range. You think, this is going to be a frustrating day.

I try to remind myself we need the wind, it creates weather, brings rain, all that...but fly anglers know the hopeless feeling of casting against a power they can't outmatch. Sometimes the wind just blows... (...crickets...)...

Fortunately, there is hope. Instead of cursing into the sky (that's still a great cathartic release I regularly take full advantage of on windy days) we may be able to use the wind's power against itself. Akin to the principle of some martial arts, let's explore how to use the wind as an advantage instead of fighting against it.