Do Bass Behave Different In The Rain?

[Big Jon]

I can't seem to find the right search words for the forums to find a thread on this, and I didn't see any articles in the Fall section either, maybe someone can point me in the right direction or help here.

 

I live in Northern Colorado and mostly get to fish small ponds. i have no boat, so i am bank fishing. It has been raining for the past three days (more like drizzling). The rain is cool and has put the air temperatures in the 50's at night and 60's to low 70's during the day. Previous temperatures for the last couple weeks were in the mid 80-90's during the day and 70's at night (I think).

 

Can I fish a certain pattern in the rain? Do I need to do something different? I know the cold rain has to have dropped the surface temperature considerably. Should I wait for the rain to stop? I see pros fish in the rain all the time, what are they doing to compensate?

 

It is supposed to let up starting tomorrow afternoon supposedly. I will probably try to fish in the morning regardless, but an idea on what has changed for the fish for the weekend would be helpful. I was out there a couple days ago when it was pretty light, but had nothing going on and no clue where to look.

 

I am more or less asking in general, not necessarily just in the current situation. What do ya'll do in the rain? 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Oh and it is really foggy at my house, though when I drive into town it clears up. That may have to do with the 3000 foot elevation drop going into town, but does fog change the game plan altogether as well?

[Jay Ell Gee]

I read somewhere a long time ago that the rain cools and oxygenates the water.

In response to this, I have heard that your bass hang a few inches to a few feet under the surface. Try throwing some reaction topwaters, such as toads, buzzbaits and poppers.

I would then try to slow roll a squarebill a little under the surface, maybe a swimbait, fluke, etc. it's always proven to be a solid tactic for me. Good luck!

[Big Jon]

I read somewhere a long time ago that the rain cools and oxygenates the water.

In response to this, I have heard that your bass hang a few inches to a few feet under the surface. Try throwing some reaction topwaters, such as toads, buzzbaits and poppers.

I would then try to slow roll a squarebill a little under the surface, maybe a swimbait, fluke, etc. it's always proven to be a solid tactic for me. Good luck!

 

 

I'll give this a try. Thanks.

[Jay Ell Gee]

Let me know how it works. It definitely seems to help me.

I make it a point to toss horizontal presentations and stay shallow. Good luck!

[Khong]

Best time to use 5-7ft Cranks and Spinnerbaits.  

[CPBassFishing]

I've found that it turns the topwater bite on. Parallel the shoreline with a bait that makes a lot of commotion but moves fairly slowly in terms of forward motion (Buzzbait, spook, wakebait, popper). If the topwater bite is not on pitch a jig.

[Big Jon]

Well, I tried to go out this morning, but everything is flooding and they are closing most of the roads. I couldn't even get to work after attempting to fish for a bit. I had to go home. Hopefully I can go out with the kids tomorrow and take them. There is still a high possibility of rain tomorrow as well, but with all the ponds over flowing their banks, hopefully that will mean new fishing possibilities.

 

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I got out and fished a spinnerbait slow and fast in a couple areas and a frog, but didn't get anything after about 30 minutes I was pretty wet. I guess I should pull my rain gear out of storage. I haven't needed it much since being in Colorado, but I guess it would have helped this morning.

[Montanaro]

in my experience it doesnt change much. it can turn the bite on as the rain stirs up food sources. topwater isnt a go to rain pattern imo...if its raining hard the bass will have a hard time hearing/seeing the lure!

[derekxec]

their lateral line helps them with that...i like top waters after it rains but i hate bass fishing while its raining 

[Big Jon]

their lateral line helps them with that...i like top waters after it rains but i hate bass fishing while its raining 

 

 

in my experience it doesnt change much. it can turn the bite on as the rain stirs up food sources. topwater isnt a go to rain pattern imo...if its raining hard the bass will have a hard time hearing/seeing the lure!

 

Sounds good. Well, I guess I will try topwater first thing tomorrow morning then, if it has stopped raining.

[speed craw]

From my experience I have seen largemouth find cover or just sit out side of it . I personally have had my ultimate best luck with a white or white and chartreuse spinner bait in a Indiana blade setup fishing along or just inside cover , especially if there is a cut or something that stands out near the shore line .

I use to fish with an older friend who would always say we don't like to get wet nor does a fish and it kinda sank in , so in that way that's what I do first .

[Felix77]

... they look for an umbrella.  

[Big Jon]

From my experience I have seen largemouth find cover or just sit out side of it . I personally have had my ultimate best luck with a white or white and chartreuse spinner bait in a Indiana blade setup fishing along or just inside cover , especially if there is a cut or something that stands out near the shore line .

I use to fish with an older friend who would always say we don't like to get wet nor does a fish and it kinda sank in , so in that way that's what I do first .

 

Nice, thanks.

[bigbill]

My most productive lure in the rain/overcast conditions Is the inline spinner in the light rain.

The heavy rain shuts the bass down in the smaller bodies of water do to the bacteria it store a up from the bottom. This changes the PH in the water. I noticed they stay tight lipped for up to two days.

If you follow the moon phases and watch the weather fronts just before it rains try to go fishing about 4 hours before it rains. I notice the bass will put the feed bag on if this is timed 4 days before and four days after a full Moon phase. Any approaching weather fronts during this 8 days of the full Moon phase go fishing just before it rains.

Me and my son were using the mepps Anglias and had constant doubles on for about an hour of fishing.

Now during the light rain during this 8 days of the moon phase the bass will turn on too. I caught 19 bass non stop action during this time.

During a lull in the light rain storm. When it lets up for a while between showers go fishing too. Again timing the weather front with a light rain when it stops for a while.

During this time I landed about 50 to 60lbs of bass in an hour and a half.

Sorry but I can't pin down when this feeding frenzy with bass will happen but it's when the full Moon 8 day phase is timed with a weather front. I just can't nail it down when it will occur.

It's no fluke I've seen the deer on the move at this time too. I was catching non stop bass and happen to feel something looking at me. There was a doe with two games standing there staring at me. It seems all the animals are on the move too besides the fish.

[Big Jon]

Wow, that is really useful to know.

[bigbill]

If you time it right you can't believe the bass feeding frenzy you will see.

In the low light over cast conditions I use the joesfly 1/4oz bass size in firetiger apache. It's a blend of chartreuse and glo colors.

I also use the mepps #3 Anglia silver or gold blade with the brown bucktail. My third hottest lure at this feeding frenzy is a REBEL BIGCLAW Crawfish crankbait that dives to 10' it's also a floater. If you reel it faster it bounces off the bottom. Once it's down to the bottom I reel it slower.

I wonder how many others here have witnessed this bass feeding frenzy with the weather front along with the moon phases. ????

[Grizzn N Bassin]

top water and if they don't want that I throw a big white double willow blade spinner..

[Sam]

Some of my best days fishing were in the rain.

 

And some of my worst days fishing were in the rain.

 

Remember, when it rains it means a cold front is passing through and the bass will feed right before and during the frontal passage.

 

The only problem is that the bass don't read the magazine articles or DVDs so they do what they feel like doing which, as usual, can drive you nuts.

 

As to what to throw? I have caught them on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and shaky head plus the good ole Senkos. Go figure?

[Big Jon]

Well, it started to rain again today. I was planning on going out with the kids as they begged to go the last couple days, but the one is 3 and the other isn't quite 2 yet, so no real fishing got done. My wife was busy with our youngest, so.... yep. Turned into a picnic, which was nice. A lot of the ponds are flooded up into the grass and trees which will be nice when I get a chance to go. It looks like probably early Monday morning. I'm not sure how much the ponds will decrease if any by then, but it would be nice if they didn't. We'll see I guess. Thanks for the help everyone. I'll try out as much of the baits you all suggested as I currently have as soon as I can.