When the northwest winds blow in September, I head to shallow wind-blown rock shorelines. Shallow, straight and innocent looking rocky shorelines often go ignored for Muskies and Walleyes but when winds crash in for more than a day or two, it's a great pattern to test out. The "Zone of Turmoil" or "Washing Machine Effect" occurs within the first ten feet or so of shore, this is where baitfish become disoriented and are often preyed upon . Fish often face rock shorelines near the steepest drop and target anything that moves, cornering their prey against these rocky walls. Casts that are 10 or 20 feet from the shoreline rocks often get ignored while placing your cast within inches of them can provoke sudden attack. Docks and boat lifts can also become prime ambush areas.
These windy rock shorelines can look intimidating to anglers but boat control can be easier than it looks. A seam occurs where the white-capped rollers meet the Zone of Turmoil. Utilizing my Autopilot or Heading Lock functions on my bow mount trolling motor, I can quickly find the correct balance between thrust and heading, propelling me calmly along and usually within a short to medium cast of the rocks.
Cheers and hook-sets!
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