Front Is Coming : Help!

[Montanaro]

So ive got a choice of fishing sunday or monday (two hour trip back home). its been in the 80s last couple days and should be the same tomorrow. On monday its suppose to drop to 70 and rain all day with possible thunderstorms. Am i better off leaving early in the morning and fishing sunday or take a chance that the front hitting stirs up action on the lake on monday?

[hookset on 3]

The best fishing I've experienced in the Fall up North here, is in the most inclement weather. When a low pressure system is coming through, the big girls come out to play.

[Shane J]

I agree

[Montanaro]

forecast monday is rain most of day with 10-15 mph winds. lots and lots of timber in lake and tons of shad. had lillypad fields but they may be smaller. will this drop in temp get the shad moving?

[hookset on 3]

There is old saying that in effect says " To know about an owl, you must first understand the mouse".

 

Simply, find the prey and the predator should be hot on it's tail.

You need to know about the shad, in this case.

 

 Shad eat phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are microscopic animals and plant type organisms.

During the Fall plankton tend to  go shallow for more sun and oxygen.

 

I think in your area you had some cool nights already, so I'd start shallower.

[papajoe222]

If given the choice, I'd prefer to fish pre-frontal conditions vs. post-frontal. The approaching front will normally turn the fish on and sometimes that will continue as the front passes through.  Even when conditions stabilize, it may take a couple of days for things to return to 'normal' when it comes to fishing action.

If you have the option, be on the water both days and you will experience first hand how an approaching/passing front  effects fish behavior.  You'll swear there is a switch somewhere that gets turned off as that front passes and the bite dies.

[Mainebass1984]

 I have caught my biggest fish in the worst weather as well. Rain, string winds and even snow. The change in barometric pressure really gets the big fish biting. I have had my best luck a few hours before the front hits, as it is hiting, and a few hours after it has come through. Chances are that if the weather is bad there also will be fewer people fishing as well and the bass wont be as wary. The bass senses are also hindered by inclement weather, it is harder for them to detect or spot you. Fishing in bad weather is one of my favorite times to fish, it adds another challenge to it.

[Montanaro]

Well this morning the weather was warm and i caught a couple bass in 65* water. then storm hit (tornado warning) and didnt get back out till noon. water temps.dropped 5+ degrees. caught 3 more small ones and missed a. ouple more. if weather wiuld have stayed like it was in the morning i would have slayed em.

[Ratherbfishing]

It's too bad that the storm was so strong that you couldn't stay out in it (tornadoes and lightning are a tough row to hoe).  Some of my best fishing has been in heavy rains.  It's usually AFTER the front has moved through when things have calmed down and cooler temperatures and blue skies prevail that things get really tough.  Whereas autumn fronts generally don't have as much impact, they can still clamp the fishes mouth shut.

 

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I was out there not lihhting tho... just very high winds and. The rain oh man it was awesome!!!!!