A Question for Boat Hunters

At what wind speed do y'all begin to question going out on the Metromess lakes?? While I'm definitely not new to boat hunting this will be my first year using a boat to hunt the metromess lakes. I realize there are various factors involved but if y'all would be willing to share a general rule of thumb on wind speeds I'd appreciate it. If it helps, I'll be using a 16/52 Lowes with a 40hp motor. Thanks!

Anything 20+ can get scary. The real problem is the forecast. Sometimes you get a forecast for 25 and it only blows 10-15, on the flip side it can be forecasted for 10 and you get 25. Those are the days that suck as you sit there at the ramp trying to make the call.

If you are launching from a place protected from the wind that makes a big difference. Also if you can hug the shoreline where the wind is coming from to get to your spot.

But usually if it stays that windy it won't be worth the risk unless the wind eventually dies down. Howling like that usually just makes dux wanna hunker down anyway.

IF you load the boat down, especially a 16 footer, I would not chance it. With a loaded boat, 2 or more guys and gear you could be in a lot of trouble in open water in anything more than 15-18mph winds. A loaded boat and waves do not mix, most people overestimate the ability of their boats because of how they handle without a heavy load then get into a lot of trouble with a loaded boat.
I have pulled in people, gear, motors, and boats from people doing very stupid stuff and taking chances is sub freezing temps, it's not fun. Normally the wind will be greater when you leave later in the morning, people just do not get it.

The last group of three guys I rescued thought it was a good idea to go out in a 15 feet flatbottom pulling a kayak, three big guys, in a 20mph north wind. The boat sunk in 2-3 feet of water, lucky for them we were able to get all their stuff out and pulled the boats to the ramp.

Few years ago I pulled or actually drug two guys out of the lake that had been floating for over 30 minutes in freezing temps, they sunk their little boat also. Those guys could not even talk when we pulled them out.

Do not take chances, if you have to ask if it's safe you probably already know the answer.

Great advice here. I would echo the comments that if you can launch and stay in a protected area, that's your best bet. I was on a lake in North TX last year and the wind was forecasted that morning at 10 or less, but while we were out it moved up to 18 and by the time we left, it was a scary ride back to the ramp across the main lake. There was one other boat at the ramp when we got there and the man was hugging his kid almost crying because they thought they were going to capsize. They were in a little boat though. That said, we were in an 18' flat bottom with 18" sides. I swore I would never launch there again, and I didn't. I don't have the boat any longer, but my rule was 10-12mph wind or less for me. Otherwise we'd go with plan B.

Thanks Guys, I appreciate the info. Better safe than sorry. Good Luck & Be Safe the rest of the year.

We used to cross the south end of Toledo Bend A LOT in 15-16ft john boats. 15 and under is no problem. 15-20 is a no go. Buddies sunk my 1648 on a 20 mph cold front day.

Anything under 15 mph is my comfort zone on a boat that size

Also depends on how high the sides are on your boat. My 17x56 had 24" sides so it could handle big water and wind pretty well. My brother has a 16x48 with 14" sides that thing is sketchy over 10 mph winds.

A lot of it depends on your experience and the size of the lake and how much of your course is in the lee of the windward shore.

I've run a 14'x36" Jon with a long tail in winds gusting up to the low 30s, but it was a small lake and had a short run. Not to mention your bilge pump capacity, I could pump 1500gph out of the boat using two pumps.

Would I have done that on a lake as large as say...Benbrook... or even Lake Arlington... Not on your life.

It's important to not just have hunting spots, but spots that you can use on different lakes accessible by different ramps based on wind direction.

I've moved up to a 17'x54" self bailing mud boat with 20" sides. Lots more boat, but sticking to the same plan.

I made a camo tarp to cover my 21' bass boat for these circumstances. 225 yamaha (21Xpress) pushes it. My boat is for transport only though. Its nice to have a long boat with a horse to nose the front up when called upon!

I live on the coast and have used the boat to hunt with but have never hunted from the boat. My boat is a 20' Empire flatbottom with a 90 horse. It can carry a lot of decoys and a few hunters just fine and not many fronts would worry me much. But, that running in the dark and in the cold was what turned me off many years ago. That's why I switched to goose hunting!

20 was my go no go wind speed for getting out on the main lake with my 1860. Probably 15 for a boat your size.
Like others have said a 20 forecast could mean 30 gusts and some serious waves. You may be able to handle it fine but if the motors quits you run out of gas battery dies or any of the other 100 things that can go wrong on a boat your at the mercy of the wind.

Leaning over the back of a 25 horse by yourself in a 1542 trying to swap a broken shear pin in 2-3 foot rollers is not my idea of a fun December morning.

Most of the lakes around here get down into the 40s during the winter. If you fall in you're cramping in 15 minutes and probably dead in an hour. Military swimmers are trained to swim 1 mile per hour in perfect conditions. If you swamp it in the middle of most of our lakes you're probably not making it home.

Depends on who's driving.

That's the biggest thing right there if you are in a small boat, or even I big boat for that matter. When I have my momarsh out, I'm very aware if my motor dies, where will the wind take me. If you got a strong north wind, and your a running the north shore where it is protected, and your motor dies, the wind will take you to dangerous water. You could be 50 yards from shore, but if the wind is strong you will not be able to paddle into the wind to get to shore, and you are in big trouble. I love me some stumps, they break up the waves, and if your motor dies you can latch on to a stump and tie off.

I wish I wouldn't have read this post...but good advice

Windy tomorrow

Tomorrow is a trap day. Not bad as you're going to your spot, but when the front rolls through it's gonna get nasty until late afternoon.

Have you ever noticed how much worse the same waves look with lights in the dark than after the sun comes up? That's probably a good thing.

I've had one "oh chit" moment and one close call. Was headed into a strong wind slowly with the nose in the air when the motor died. Turns out my buddy's dog got smart and wanted behind the console and pulled the kill switch. That's a big "oh chit". The other time the waves were slapping against my blind, which lays on one side of the boat. I didn't realize it but that was dumping water in the back the whole time. By far the closest I've ever come to going down. Battery boxes were under water. Hit the bilge, got everyone else up front, trimmed down and throttled up all the way. Made it to the closest shore and had to wait 20 minutes for the bilge to do its thing. SCARY. Got 3 pretty quick limits that morning, but I will never have the blind on the boat in high wind again. I also keep a lantern on in the back of the boat so I can monitor any water back there.

Stay home tomorrow.

we are taking the boat out tomorrow, hope to smack some new birds looking for a place to land out of the wind after a long flight

Make sure the bilge is working!

bilge? yeah right, like that thing is wired up and working right

Bilge

I like it. Multi purpose!

I know

You can call me Ballast

Good night

You have to know when to switch to plan b. Issues on the water can get very serious very quickly. Opening weekend I stayed home because of the wind. Went driving around once the sun came up and some guys come driving back up to the ramp in a 14' boat. All 3 were soaked. The boat was on the verge of sinking, All 3 said they should have stayed in. I run a 2270 with 30" sides she can handle more then I'm willing to risk. I'd rather walk a mile then sink the boat. When in dought don't go out.

I ran a big high powered bass boat for several years. Got my fill of rough water. Powered that thing right through many a wave. Scary stuff.