Relationship Between Wind and Wave Height

Check the reports for Friday, I have that day off and was planning of going out. Don't think I up for 7-10's though.
 
We were out Saturday with forcasted waves of 3-5's dropping to 2-4's and we had 3' rollers at the most in the morning and it settled in from there, turned out to be a nice day on the lake.
 
The lake almost always seems flatter near the shore line that the wind is coming from, but that can change quickly.

I was out Sat as well and the waves were perfect for fishing pretty much all day into the early afternoon.  Too bad the shallows were as murky as they were due to the 10 footers the night before.  Killed the fishing for sure! 
 
Anyway, about the waves.  I find it hard to believe that with NW winds forecasted at 10-20 knots that there would be 2 to 3 foot waves, but I've seen stranger things happen up there.  Here is a neat interactive weather and waves guide for Erie by the NOAA, whaich have SUCKED this year, but so has everything else.  This is what I use along with some good local contacts up there.  Check it out. http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/wfo/sectors/cleMarineDay.php
Let it load, then run your pointer over the times for the screen to change showing you wind speed, direction, temps, etc.

West winds come almost directly up the shorline of lake erie....
 
if you have 20 knot winds from the west be prepared for a bumpy ride...
 
South winds winds can be the tricky ones.  20knots from the south and generally in close will look dead flat...go out a couple miles and your right into you 1-3 or 2-4ft waves.