Summer "cold" Fronts

[Elkaholic247]

The temps in my area have been consistently reaching the 90s, but the forecasts are calling for temps in the mid 70's this whole week. Overnight lows are around 60 degrees. There is also a lot of rain in the forecast with some severe thunderstorms in the mix. 

 

Im curious what effect these summer "cold fronts" have on the fishing? 

[geo g]

In southeast Florida we have been getting hammered by severe thunderstorms for the last 25 days. The fish continue to eat day after day, but you just can't get to them, way back in the everglades. Water levels are way up. The food is in the glades and they leave the canals and follow the food source. Hundreds of miles of thick saw grass full of bugs, small fish, snakes, frogs, snails, lizards, crayfish, all on the big bass food supply. As soon as they can, the big bass leave the canal systems and follow food through the river of grass. Summer becomes a challenge here in the tropics. Although you can still catch isolated big bass, it becomes much more difficult. If you have an airboat and can get to isolated openings in the grass miles from open water you will probably do quite well in the summer. Its a very rich, unique, ecosystem.

We don't get the cold fronts in summer that you do, but a cold front would be welcome right now by everything living.

[gramps50]

Interesting question, doing the same here. Was wondering the same thing

[senile1]

I'm in northwest Missouri and we will be seeing highs from 74 - 78 degrees over the next three days with lows in the 50s which is 20 degrees below normal.  I don't think those three days will have a huge affect on the fish that have moved deeper for the summer because it takes an extended change to affect the stability of that water.  However, fish in the shallow water areas will notice the change and it may affect them. 

[RoLo]

It might be hard for warm-blooded humans to comprehend, but 'numeric' temperature values

are not as important as water temperature ‘trends’ (temperature uptrend vs. temperature downtrend).

Cold-blooded animals acclimate to whatever the temperature happens to be, and are comfortable

in all but extreme temperatures. Despite the numeric values, a downtrend in summer temperatures

might appeal to humans, but causes a temporary decline in fish activity due to the downtick in metabolism.

There are two reasons why this is especially true for Florida-strain bass:

> Florida-strain bass are indigenous to natural lakes and to shallow water (the basin depth of many lakes is less than 10 ft)

> Florida-strain bass delight in high water temperature for which they are innately acclimated

 

A midsummer cold-front in central Florida (regardless of the numeric temperatures)

can shutdown bass activity like flipping a light switch.

 

Roger

[Balshy Fishing]

It'll be in the 70s here in PA this week, I'm sure I'll find this answer out haha

[DILLY07]

Wacky Riggin time.

[Skeeter Dan]

I got Skunked at Beech Lake in Lexington Tn last wed. Two days after that front came thru the Mid South. It was a nice day on the lake but o bass in the boat. IT WAS STILL A GOOD DAY TO put my boat in the water!!!!!!!

[flyingmonkie]

We had a similar conversation a few weeks ago… somebody referenced a good Bill Dance article.

 

Cold fronts mean high pressure, and we all know rising barometric pressure has negative impacts on the bite.  I'd argue that cold fronts in the summer are less disastrous than in other seasons, but they can still be frustrating.  

 

Fishing for cold front bass requires more patience, so enjoy the cooler temps and slow things down a bit.  At least you won't be burning up.

[scoober]

I'm in New England and this time of year high temps into the high 80's and low 90's are common. In front of a thunder storm, bass will exhibit a brief period of extreme activity,and the bite will be good, especially in the deeper zones as fish feed prior to the front.

 

Immediately after the storm passes, the bite dies. Personally I think they are just full at this point.

 

The first day after extreme T storm activity and the passage of a front with low temps and high pressure, I think some deep water post front LM bass suspend off structure here. I like to throw a crankbait to these fish on the outside of the structure, and some of my biggest fish have come on a 3/4-1 oz spinnerbait over open water retrieved just under the surface and "killed". The heavy spinnerbait falls fast into suspended fish and they react.I also throw a heavy jig to the base of deep structure. A faster fall seems to work best at triggering fish so I increase weight, sometimes to 3/4 oz.I have caught them post front as deep as 25 feet this way.

 

For shallow fish,throw slow moving baits like a light jig or Senko,and soak it around docks, trees,or other cover. Up here,summer bass that are shallow will stay put after a front unlike spring bass,that will vacate a shallow flat for the comfort of deeper, more stable water with a drop in temps.

[jignfule]

Post frontal conditions effect my fishing negitvely no matter the season.