Any time you get a chance to go fishing is the best time to go. Even if you know the catching isn’t going to be good, it’s still a wonderful opportunity to get outside and enjoy some time on the water. It doesn’t matter what way the wind is blowing for me or if it’s blowing at all, a day on the lake is a day well spent. But just in case you want to be picky here’s an article that will tell you the best time to fish from TakeMeFishing.org

The Best Time to Fish? Read the Weather

How Weather Determines Best Time to Fish

• East winds. “Wind from the east, fishing is least, wind from the north, blows the fish forth, wind from the west, fishing is best, and winds from the south blows the lure in their mouth.” That’s mostly true, for the saying draws on barometric pressure. High pressure, fish eat, low pressure, fish take cover due to impending bad weather. There are some exceptions to the rule, such as fishing on a beach that faces East. East winds stack striped bass and bluefish at your boots, and since it concentrates baitfish there is usually a feeding frenzy.
• Barometric pressure. Fish predict marine weather patterns far more reliably than the groundhog in February. They know when bad weather is approaching so they feed heavily before it hits. They’ll sulk for a while, and a few days after the storm passes and the pressure rises they go back to feeding. Look for fish to feed more aggressively during a barometric pressure change and you’ll catch ’em up.
• Skyrocketing change. These days we see a lot of dramatic weather conditions: no rain for a month and then 4-5 inches in a day. Dramatic pressure changes can shut off fishing. Steady pressure and good marine weather for extended time might not produce the best fishing times for big catches. But, they tend to offer a consistent bite that is pretty good.
• Clouds and rain. Clouds and light rain provide stealthy conditions. Bright sun can make fish skittish, but cloud cover gives fish a sense of comfort. A light rain decreases visibility and fish can’t give your offerings a closer look. Heavy rain can shut off stream and river fishing as the water table rises quickly and the fish trade heavy currents for slower ones. It’s not bad in the ocean or on lakes and ponds provided that you’re careful wading or boating.

If you’re fishing in foul weather be sure to use extra safety precautions from PFDs and other boat safety equipment.