Weather And Bass Fishing

[RoachDad]

Can anyone direct me towards a good, definitive, well-thought out, discussion of weather and bass fishing?

 

Do they like or hate cold fronts?  what does the barometric pressure have to do with the bite?  stuff like that.

 

thanks

[Trailer]

If only I knew that...

[Nodda4me]

http://www.weather.com/outlook/outdoor-activities/fishing-reports/articles/fishing-by-barometer_2010-10-29

[Oldplug]

I x2 If only I knew. I have my doubts about a lot of the stuff you Umayyad hear about weather. But I can tell you one thing if your paying close attention to weather patterns etc your going to hamper your fishing success.

There is only one condition that I really believe is productive MOST OF THE TIME and that is a day with low wind and a slow steady warm rain around spawn time. Gosh do I love those.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

There's no substitute for time on the water. There are so many other variables to consider besides weather that it makes it somewhat of a moot point. Weather obviously affects bass profoundly, but so do many other things (water temp, dissolved oxygen, forage, gravity, water clarity, specific conductance, etc.) 

 

Bass are far more attuned to their environment than most humans because they are at it's mercy for 100% of their lives (no A/C, heat, home cooked meals, etc.) This is why I say that there is no substitute for experience. I've spent hundreds of hours reading about weather and fish, but it never made nearly as much of an impact on my success as spending long hours on the water getting skunked. The more I am personally in tune with the world around me, the better fisherman I become. 

 

Sorry for the ramble. There are so many articles/discussions on this topic that it would take years to read them all. The place I would start for articles is right here on BR. If you're Googling for articles I'd be specific about the weather conditions you want to read on, as most of the good info is written in articles specific to one weather pattern. It's going to be difficult to find a worthwhile article that just generalizes all possible conditions.

[BassinBoy]

I agree with the weather channel on that. Typically stable weather produces a stable bite.

Just before a storm the fish can be very aggressive and even during the storm. But afterwards the fish shut down and it takes a while for them to come back on.

You can catch them it's just harder, their strike zones shrink and they hold tight to cover

[fadetoblack21]

While I think it's important to understand weathers effects on fish habits, I think it's more important to be on the water fishing. I will never turn down a chance to go fishing because the weather supposedly makes the bite poor. 

[RoachDad]

, gravity, water clarity, specific conductance, etc.) 

Gravity, really? 

spending long hours on the water getting skunked.

Yeah, trying to avoid that. 

 

But I do know that wetting a line is the best way to catch fish. 

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Gravity, really? 

Yeah, trying to avoid that. 

 

But I do know that wetting a line is the best way to catch fish. 

Yes, gravity. It's what causes tides, and all bodies of water are subject to tidal influence (even inland lakes, just not to the anywhere near extent that the ocean is.) This is why solunar tables are used by many. I'm not saying that the solunar table is the gold standard on this, I am just saying that these forces do have an influence on fish and other animals. This is also one of the main reasons that fishing a full moon or new moon are good times. The significance of this effect could be subject to serious debate, but I doubt than many will discount it completely.

 

To me personally fishing is about making the best of the situation at hand. So conditions dictate how I measure a successful fishing trip more than numbers/weight (e.g. if I'm fishing during a cold front I might be happy with less than I would be during ideal conditions.) Another point I should make is that many of these factors dictate where the fish will be and their overall mood, not necessarily whether they are catchable or not. There are always exceptions to everything, and fish are not exempt from that. The fact is that if an angler is not fishing where the fish are holding the chances of catching one are zilch, and that's where understanding weather and these other factors really counts (finding the fish.)  

[RoachDad]

Yes, gravity. It's what causes tides, and all bodies of water are subject to tidal influence

Ok, now I get you.    If you had said tides or moon phase, I would have understood.  I don't think anyone has ever mentioned gravity.

 

I agree with your point about dealing with the conditions at hand when you get on the water. 

 

Thus, I want to understand fish behavior and weather, better.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Ok, now I get you.    If you had said tides or moon phase, I would have understood.  I don't think anyone has ever mentioned gravity.

 

I agree with your point about dealing with the conditions at hand when you get on the water. 

 

Thus, I want to understand fish behavior and weather, better.

Me too but like I said, the experience has taught me more than anything. A lot of the information that I've read online has lead me astray, and a lot of it has put me on to fish. But if it weren't for me testing it I'd never know. Most of the advice in this thread is sound, like fish being more active before a storm system, etc.  If I find any really good articles on this I'll be sure to post links in this thread or PM you with them.

[FLcentral]

Speaking of storm systems I'm finding that the fish in my local water are more sensitive to weather fronts than I expected. Liveing in Florida the weather has been fairly warm over the last month and the fish have been agressive at times. What I have noticed is that the change from mostly sunny to mostly cloudy with scattered showers has really slowed the bite down. I expected that  warm conditions with a little clouds and rain would get the fish feeding more actively with water temps around 65 to 70. The reverse occured, a slow presentation with a worm would still catch fish but they were not nearly as agressive as they had been in bright sunny midday conditions the day before.

This situation has occured twice with simular results. Dureing hot summer conditions some clouds and rain usuually increase the fish activity. I'm guessing the pressue change affects the fish before the clouds and rain arrive.

[fstr385]

I use the weather to dictate fishing. If theres a hurricane or its near freezing I don't go, if not I go lol.