Pressure, Temperature, Sunny/cloudy, Water Clarity, Etc. Need Understanding!

[skeletor6]

So I've read many articles on here and many of them tell you to notice the conditions and fish certain ways based on them. I do not understand these basic fundamental conditions and how they affect fishing. For instance, I understand the correlation between water temperature and oxygen saturation, but the rest to me I do not understand.

Could someone please help me understand how to tell if a lake has high or low pressure, and what that means in terms of fishing? Also, I've read the articles on here regarding seasonal patterns of bass so I'm sound on what the bass do during different seasons, but I do not know what to do, or how to fish during different conditions.

Say its a cloudy out, how does that affect fish behavior? When its sunny, how does that affect their behavior? What should I fish for these conditions.

Most the lakes I fish are clearer water lakes, but besides using more natural colors on clearer lakes how else does that change how I should fish?

Could someone please just explain to me the basics of how these conditions affects bass behavior and the type of tackle I should select because of that. I feel it is imperative for me to know this in order to improve my overall knowledge of fishing. I tried finding articles on it, but it seems that it is general knowledge and therefore, there is no specific write-up on them.

Thanks so much for the help!

[cast_and_destroy]

A lakes fishing pressure is determined by how many people fish that lake. A lake that is fished alot makes the fish spooky and require a more finesse aproach to catch them.

When it is sunny bass tend to hold a little tighter to the cover and on cloudy days they'll sometimes roam flats feeding.

In stained or murky water bass rely more on sound and smell, in clear water they use sight more. Use more natural colors in clear water. Green pumpkin is a good all aroud color.

If you fish clear water on a highly pressured lake use smaller lures and lighter line. If not fish anything you want as long as it looks natural. Start out with search baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits then move to fishing cover. Since the water is clear try not to make your presence to obvious if fishing shallow water.

[hooah212002]

Are you talking about fishing pressure (which cast_and_destroy addressed) or barometric pressure?

[skeletor6]

A lakes fishing pressure is determined by how many people fish that lake. A lake that is fished alot makes the fish spooky and require a more finesse aproach to catch them.

When it is sunny bass tend to hold a little tighter to the cover and on cloudy days they'll sometimes roam flats feeding.

In stained or murky water bass rely more on sound and smell, in clear water they use sight more. Use more natural colors in clear water. Green pumpkin is a good all aroud color.

If you fish clear water on a highly pressured lake use smaller lures and lighter line. If not fish anything you want as long as it looks natural. Start out with search baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits then move to fishing cover. Since the water is clear try not to make your presence to obvious if fishing shallow water.

Okay, thank you! That is sound advice that I did not know and need to know. What would you determine as cover? The only cover that I can seem to establish at the lakes I fish is rocks and lillipads. Also, how do I determine where flats and drop offs are without having a range finder. I do not have a fishfinder.

Are you talking about fishing pressure (which cast_and_destroy addressed) or barometric pressure?

I actually was unaware of how people used the term pressure. I was assuming that when everyone was talking about pressure, they were talking about barometric pressure. How does barometric pressure affect how I should fish?

Is there any advice that anyone has concerning wind conditions and how that changes. From what I understand, windy conditions stir up the water creating higher oxygen levels that usual near the surface. Does that make topwater styles baits more effective?

[hooah212002]

Also, how do I determine where flats and drop offs are without having a range finder. I do not have a fishfinder.

Keep an eye on the water. Generally, the chop will start where the drop-off does (shallow flats will be more smooth, then get more choppy as the bottom drops off).

How does barometric pressure affect how I should fish?

From what I have been reading is that high pressure=fish move deeper and get more lathargic, low pressure=fish move shallow and are more active. However, looking too deep into it will make you not want to fish or only fish perfect days. Look here: http://www.thefishin.../barometer.html

As always, someone can feel free to chime in and correct me.

[cast_and_destroy]

Okay, thank you! That is sound advice that I did not know and need to know. What would you determine as cover? The only cover that I can seem to establish at the lakes I fish is rocks and lillipads. Also, how do I determine where flats and drop offs are without having a range finder. I do not have a fishfinder.

I actually was unaware of how people used the term pressure. I was assuming that when everyone was talking about pressure, they were talking about barometric pressure. How does barometric pressure affect how I should fish?

Is there any advice that anyone has concerning wind conditions and how that changes. From what I understand, windy conditions stir up the water creating higher oxygen levels that usual near the surface. Does that make topwater styles baits more effective?

Lillypads do count as cover, go over them with a frog or go along the side with a spinnerbait or swimjig. Rock piles and large boulders are forms of cover. Cover is really just anything a bass can hide behind and use as an ambush point.

Under windy conditions a topwater may work (wouldnt hurt trying). I also like to find a main lake point that the wind is hitting the bank and throw a spinnerbait. Wind creates chop and current and some baitfish follow that and get pushed to the point or the bank,where the bass are waiting for them.

[skeletor6]

Keep an eye on the water. Generally, the chop will start where the drop-off does (shallow flats will be more smooth, then get more choppy as the bottom drops off).

From what I have been reading is that high pressure=fish move deeper and get more lathargic, low pressure=fish move shallow and are more active. However, looking too deep into it will make you not want to fish or only fish perfect days. Look here: http://www.thefishin.../barometer.html

As always, someone can feel free to chime in and correct me.

Great read thank you for the link. I do not choose the days I fish. I just get to fish when time allows for me so the conditions that are given is what I have to deal with. Often, I end up fishing during the middle of the day which is really tough to catch anything. I think I need to start using smaller profile jigs and such because I've caught only 1 fish on every outing, theres something I'm doing wrong definitely. I am trying to gain some confidence.

Lillypads do count as cover, go over them with a frog or go along the side with a spinnerbait or swimjig. Rock piles and large boulders are forms of cover. Cover is really just anything a bass can hide behind and use as an ambush point.

Under windy conditions a topwater may work (wouldnt hurt trying). I also like to find a main lake point that the wind is hitting the bank and throw a spinnerbait. Wind creates chop and current and some baitfish follow that and get pushed to the point or the bank,where the bass are waiting for them.

Okay, I'll use those tactics you mentioned to find spots that have those points without a depth and fish finder. If the wind is blowing one direction, I assume that that is the way that the current would be moving. So should I fish my bait back against this current? Or should I go down current, which would involve casting into the wind? I could see the argument for casting into the wind and coming back down current as it seems the bass would ambush the fishing moving along the current, although that leads to tougher casts and shorter casts.

[hooah212002]

If you have any sort of podcast listening device, might I suggest subscribing to BassEdge? It is bloody brilliant and has amazing tips.

Great read thank you for the link. I do not choose the days I fish. I just get to fish when time allows for me so the conditions that are given is what I have to deal with. Often, I end up fishing during the middle of the day which is really tough to catch anything. I think I need to start using smaller profile jigs and such because I've caught only 1 fish on every outing, theres something I'm doing wrong definitely. I am trying to gain some confidence.

Trust me, I know the feeling. I've only caught 1 fish on each of my last 3 outings, which for me, is great when you consider I have a lifetime of getting skunked, but now that I am more serious about it, it is unacceptable. Middle of the day isn't impossible, but the difficulty gets compounded when you are a) shorebound and fishing clear water. Middle of the day they want to be out of the light and that is difficult when casting from shore. I am VERY close to picking up an inflatable boat or canoe that can go on top of my car.

[skeletor6]

If you have any sort of podcast listening device, might I suggest subscribing to BassEdge? It is bloody brilliant and has amazing tips.

Trust me, I know the feeling. I've only caught 1 fish on each of my last 3 outings, which for me, is great when you consider I have a lifetime of getting skunked, but now that I am more serious about it, it is unacceptable. Middle of the day isn't impossible, but the difficulty gets compounded when you are a) shorebound and fishing clear water. Middle of the day they want to be out of the light and that is difficult when casting from shore. I am VERY close to picking up an inflatable boat or canoe that can go on top of my car.

I'll try and see if I can get any recordings of that bassedge podcast you have told me about. That must be really tough having to fish how you do. And I *** those who have those nice fishing boats with the rangefinders and trolling motors. I have a pontoon at this one lake I fish and I try to find a nice spot and set an anchor and fish there for a while. Or if the lake is not that busy, I will go somewhere and let the wind or water current take me and troll me around in it.

I do as well look forward to improving. I think I need to fish more finesse style fishing. The lakes here are pretty clear and I fish during the day. Also, its a technique that I should learn. Plus, the bass here are not that large, if I have yet to this day have caught a fish on a jig. I feel I could get an arky head or some other 1/4 oz jig in natural colors with a rage chunk and see if I can get a smaller profile. I just want to catch fish. I do not care much about the size. I just want to land fish.

[ClackerBuzz]

all great advice. use the poor man's depth finder=a jig. it doesn't get snagged up and you can bounce it along the bottom to search for flats, drop off, rocks, ledges, weeds. if ur in a pond having clean green weeds come back on the hook good. and mulched leaves sticking to ur hook are good b/c it is a clean, aerated bottom. fish will prefer any of these bottom types as opposed to muck algae. after you've searched a few hundred feet and know the bottom, start back at the beginning and pick it apart more thoroughly. catching a fish on a jig is easy. next time you go out just pitch it in lots of locations. 50% of ur hits will come on the vertical fall. if nothing...let it hit bottom, bounce it off and swim it back. if there is any reaction bite at all they will hit it while swimming back. if that doesnt work they want the dead stick with a few twitches thrown in. "shake the weight not the bait". it takes very little to tug or move a lure. put ur jig in shallow water and practice noticing what little touch it takes to make it jitter/vibrate/pulsate. when i starting jig fishing and couldn't get bite is was b/c i was way over doing the action. good luck

[skeletor6]

all great advice. use the poor man's depth finder=a jig. it doesn't get snagged up and you can bounce it along the bottom to search for flats, drop off, rocks, ledges, weeds. if ur in a pond having clean green weeds come back on the hook good. and mulched leaves sticking to ur hook are good b/c it is a clean, aerated bottom. fish will prefer any of these bottom types as opposed to muck algae. after you've searched a few hundred feet and know the bottom, start back at the beginning and pick it apart more thoroughly. catching a fish on a jig is easy. next time you go out just pitch it in lots of locations. 50% of ur hits will come on the vertical fall. if nothing...let it hit bottom, bounce it off and swim it back. if there is any reaction bite at all they will hit it while swimming back. if that doesnt work they want the dead stick with a few twitches thrown in. "shake the weight not the bait". it takes very little to tug or move a lure. put ur jig in shallow water and practice noticing what little touch it takes to make it jitter/vibrate/pulsate. when i starting jig fishing and couldn't get bite is was b/c i was way over doing the action. good luck

Thank you. A lot of new information that I learned from your post. Unfortunately this lake that I am having such a tough time with has the mucky grassy/weedy bottom. I most likely am over doing the action, and will try to be more subtle. I read somewhere that even the gentle movements that your hands make while holding the rod still will give the bait some action. What type of jig do you recommend I start out with? Would a smaller profile 1/4 oz with some type of chunk trailer be good since I am not getting any bites? Right now I have 3/8 oz alien head northstar, and northstar 1/2oz flip n swim. Although I have not caught any fish on a jig before, I find that almost all of my bites occur while my bait is falling.

And when you are referring to swimming the jig back, is that basically just involve reeling it in?

Also, would a carolina rig be decent for these purposes for feeling what the bottom is like and detecting drop offs and points and structures?

[Sam]

Sent a PM to you.

[skeletor6]

Thank you Sam, the PM really helped. And thank you to all that have helped me. My understanding of everything has greatly improved and I will be able to use this knowledge the next time I go out.

[LunkerLust]

I would highly recommend getting an inexpensive fish finder. I bought a Fish Easy for less than $100 and it has saved me a lot of time by not fishing in unproductive water. If you catch one in 10' of water, you can circle the lake in the 8'-12' zone and maybe get a few more.

It also sounds like your lakes would be ideal for doing some drop shotting, clear water and fishing pressure. Make sure that the bait is a foot or so above the weeds and muck.

Drop shot fishing helps to overcome some of the crummy weather conditions mentioned above.

[WRB]

This thread covers several topics that books have been written on. Keep in mind bass fishing term defintions vary regionally.

Structure; permanent features that make up the lake bottom ; dirt, sand, gravel, rocks boulders, dams, channels and man made features like pier post, cribbs etc.

Cover; vegetaion that grow or float on or in the water column and trees that provide shade in or near the water, man made docks, walk ways, etc.. Your the bass are northern strain largemouth and small mouth bass. The 2 bass are vary different in behavior and habitate, they both like to feed on Crawdads and dermasil bait fish and may also target pelagic bait fish if the lake has them; herring, aliwifes etc. Up north the LMB tends to be cover oriented, the small mouth structure oriented, but they will over lap.

The Small mouth bass are more mobile and roam a lot in schools, LMB are less mobile and tend to stay nearer to cover.

Barometric pressure changes affect the weather and lower light period give the bass an advantage to feed, brighter light can give the prey an advantage to see the bass easily, so the bass tend to use cover or structure shadows to conceal themselves to ambush prey. The biggest barometric affects re very low pressure that brings in cloudy or storms and very high pressure that tends to create high winds and bright conditions. The bass are conditioned to barometric changes, it's a normal factor in their life cycle.

It's a lot easier to catch active bass and more challenging to catch inactive bass and bass are active only about 20% of the time during a 24 hour cycle. Look for and target active bass with faster moving lures, then slow down and use slower moving lures when the bass are less active. How do you when to do what; look around for signs of activity and feeding fish, every lake has a different time schedule and that is something only you can determine with practice and time on the water.

Tom