Driving in Large Waves

[Wizard]

Driving in waves is something every bass boat owner should learn to do. It's not only for safety reasons but a necessity on some lakes. One of the things you absolutely have to determine is the period of the waves on a lake. The period is that distance from wave crest to wave crest. Your boat has to be big enough to bridge the distance of the period. Let's say you have an 18 ft. boat. If the period is 16 ft. or less, your boat can safely move across the tops of the waves. In essence, you are running on the wave crests. If the period is greater than 16. ft., you may spear the wave. Next item is how to run on  the wave tops. You should run the waves at a 45 degree angle to the waves. This makes an impact be directed the length of the boat instead of just the bow.
Driving in large waves requires different techniques. You can continually work the throttle and trim. This makes for a long ride, a sore body and lost fishing time. It is also the technique used by most anglers. The next technique involves running in the trough of large waves. If you watch crusiers on the lake, they push a wave to each side of the boat and have fairly flat water behind the cruiser. That is where you want to run a bass boat. A lake such as LOZ can have 7-8 ft. waves being normal in summer. To drive in the wave trough you come up from behind the cruiser and get into the flatter water behind the cruiser. The closer you get to the cruiser, the flatter the water. In large waves, you may look to the sides and see the wave's crest above your head on either side. Scary, but get used to it. Eventually either you or the cruiser will want to make a turn. This is when you leave the wave trough and return to the wave tops. NEVER turn into the wave above 45 degrees. This will cause you to spear the wave with your bow. Instead, wait for the cruiser to start making a turn and come out of the trough at a 45 degree angle to the wave. You will ride up the wave and pop out on top of the next wave. Good Luck!

[coldfront]

any truth to the rumor that this cures kidney stones?

[Lipripper]

That's some good information Wizard.

[Wizard]

Coldfront, If Lee Smith had fished LOZ during his attack of kidney stones, the waves would have caused the stones to flee from his body.

[coldfront]

Coldfront, If Lee Smith had fished LOZ during his attack of kidney stones, the waves would have caused the stones to flee from his body.

have been to LOZ.  no way would I disagree.
Of course, those LOZ waves might also tend to dislodge a guy's actual kidneys too...

[Mike Cork]

Great info. Our problem down here is boat roads. Our direction is determined by the boat road direction. Many times idle is your only choice. And it can make for a wet ride.

[ʇuǝɹq™]

I'll be the first to admit that I suck in driving in big waves.

[Lee Smith]

Coldfront, If Lee Smith had fished LOZ during his attack of kidney stones, the waves would have caused the stones to flee from his body.

If I ever get another, you got a bunk buddy my brother!     

[Oldfart9999]

Thanks for the info Wizard!!! The place I'm most likely to run into that I don't fish much, Ontario. During the summer the onshore winds can get nasty from about noon on, it can be calm and when it gets to about 11:00 the breeze from the heat differential can make it interesting, in a short time you can go from calm to 21/2 to 3 footers and if you went out in 1 to 2 footers it can get interesting. I have a 16 foot boat so it can become uncomfortable in short order. I've been caught in 4 footers a couple times when the wind popped up unexpectedly, never again, taint fun.
Rodney

[fishandkamp]

For those of us in the Chesapeake Bay rivers you add boat traffic and wind versus tide direction. Places like the Potomac and the Upper Bay can hurt anytime!  There are days 21 foot bass boat are too small.