But your pole staying straight out is not taking the "pole bounce" out of your baits. The bend in the Bucks was letting the bait stay in the strike zone better. For instance, in 1 foot waves the PSTs are staying straight out with little movement but the boat is still going up and down, so is the bait. The Bucks will flex with the wave and give the bait less bounce. "Pole bounce" is being misunderstood here, what we (I) am interested in is bait bounce and how the pole effects that. Also, you will catch way more fish in these conditions with the more limber pole, at least I do. If your rods, I have been here, are jumping out of the holders, get off the lake, its bad.
Back to the wind, makes life way easier.