Whether the water is worth fishing
Storms and wind decide whether you should be on the water. The fish are a separate question. Here is how to read the day.
Storms and wind come first
If storms are likely, stay off the water. That is true in a boat and on the bank.
After that, look at the wind. Below about 10 mph, casting is easy and a boat holds its drift. From about 10 to 18 mph, you can still fish. Use the shore the wind is not hitting, or a cove with some protection.
Above that, the water gets choppy. The line bows in the wind. An open bank is a poor place to stand.
The temperature tells you how long you can stay out, and what to wear. It does not tell you if the fish will bite. A pretty day can still be slow. A breezy day can still be good if you can fish it safely.
Tide on the coast, shelter on a lake
On the coast, moving water is usually better than still water. A good time to fish is when the current is just starting, or when a long still period is about to end.
Try not to arrive in the middle of still water, with the wind in your face for the ride home.
A tide station near the ramp lets you see the tide and the wind together. Check both before you pick the hour.
Lakes and rivers do not have tides. Look for a shore the wind is missing, a point where you can cast without getting soaked, and a ramp you can still use if the breeze picks up while you are out.
If two ramps are an option on the same morning, take the calmer one. A longer drive is worth it.
What to bring
On a calm, hot day, bring sun protection, water, and polarized glasses. If a cool breeze is coming off the water, bring a layer you can fish in with wet hands.
If showers are in the forecast, keep a rain jacket in the boat. Do not leave it in the truck. You do not need to list tackle you already own. List the thing the weather calls for.
Outside Plan scores the day for storms, wind, temperature, and a tide station when the place has one. Use that to pick the ramp and the hour. Then go fishing.
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