gdc89,
Here in Nebraska I experience the same wind issue as you did there in the Great State of Texas. Wind in the plains regions is always here.
Any lake larger than about 10-12 acres takes planning. For me it starts with the type of fishing I'm going to be executing. If I'm fishing on the bottom or jigging in the deep holes I anchor down. A tube can easily be affected by wind. The tradeoff is that it doesn't take much to anchor a tube.
I use empty Gatorade bottles and small cordage. I say empty because they are light and easy to pack onto the tube. If I will need to anchor I fill them with sand, mud or rocks. If the wind is light I usually only need one. If the wind is medium I throw out three of them. I attach them to one long anchor line by using a 2-3 three foot leader to attach each one separately to the end of the anchor line. This spreads them out a little on the bottom and works really good as an anchor. By using small nylon cordage I can easily pack 50 ft. or more of line. In a strong wind I drop anchor upwind of my hole which makes the anchor stable. Try not to anchor straight under your tube. Attach the anchor line to the back (point) of your tube. That way your anchor line is positioned out of your way.
If I am casting out on the water I position myself and let the wind push me across my target zone. I can slow the push by gently paddling against the wind; not hard, just enough to slow the push. Try to let the wind work for you. This is a great method for trolling rigs.
If it's going to be a really windy day I try to stay in the coves and inlets and fish the edges where the Bass like to feed. A copse of trees on the shore can make a nice wind break which allows for some nice Bass strategy!
Wind was an issue I was concerned with when I first started tubing. However, I discovered that part of my problem was my approach. I was thinking 'boat'. My approach and strategy applied to fishing and maneuvering from a boat. Once I realized this and adjusted my strategy I had much greater success when dealing with surface conditions.
Lastly; consider the fins you are using. I currently have five different sets of fins. The fins you use make a tremendous difference in the power and control when paddling a tube. I use short, wide snorkeling fins when I don't need to go distance or fight wind. They require less effort and energy while providing great maneuverability.
On the other end I use long dive fins if I will be covering distance or dealing with wind. Not as maneuverable as the short fins but with long, slow strokes I get great power with minimal energy.
I carry three rigs on my tube and a large cross section of lures. Each reel and rod is rigged for different types of fishing. I do this so I can change my strategy according to changing conditions without needing to go ashore.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions always feel free to ask anything here on the forum. Much of what I learned came from some of these guys here.
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