Fishing Frontal Conditions

[Effie4Bass]

I live in Maine and we have a lot of cold and warm fronts move through during the summer months.  Even some that are just hours apart.  I am greatly puzzled because, generally, these fronts are forebears of "lock jaw" amongst the smallmouth and largemouth populations.

How do you guys catch fish during these periods?

Thanks,

Fred.

[MN_Bassin]

A massive front screwed me over in a tourney, the only smallies caught were before the storm. Not a single person caught a fish during or after the front. Given this, my advice may not be the best, but in hindsight, I should've worked subtle presentations painstakingly slow.

[Neil McCauley]

I fish the same usually unless it was a massive cold front and a true high pressure system moves in afterward. That calls for small plastics, slow finesse presentations, live bait, possibly even large quantities of beer.

[badhatharry]

One of my best hours of bass fishing came in the middle of a thunder/lightning storm.  It was like the priest in Caddyshack who wouldn't come off the course in a lightning storm because he was having the game of his life. 

Anyway, I always slow way down and fish tight  to cover. This is one of my favorite times to flip the heavy junk and pry 'em out of there.  If you're targeting smallies, think smaller baits and a real finesse presentation. 

Good Luck

[bigbill]

A feeding frenzy happens at this time. I seen it between thunder storms, before the rain starts and during the light rain. All of a sudden they put the feed bag on its fish after fish. My bait is an amusement ride and every bass wants a ride. In the light warm rain I fish from shore I caught 19 bass standing in one spot. Even the deer were moving at this time in the daylight. Has to be the moon phases.

Another time I was inbetween thunder storms but it had to be during the moon phases. I caught one crappie the size of a five gallon bucket lid.

All the bass ranged between 2-6 2lbers I must of caught a bushel of them.

At another spot a swamp two hours before the rain was due. Me and my son had doubles after doubles bass on mepps inline spinners. They were between 1-3 lbers. But a million of them. Doubles for an hour.

I think it's the weather front timed with the moon phase.

If u never witnessed this feeding frenzy stay going before, during and at the lull of the front. U won't believe it.

After the real heavy rain is over the bass are tight lipped. Because the heavy rain stirs up the bacteria on the bottom. The PH in the water column changes. After a few days of nice weather it returns to normal. Smaller places.

Inline spinners

Mepps Anglia #3 any color blade, any color dressed.

Joe's fly firetiger apache 1/4oz bass size.

Rebel BIGCLAW CRAWFISH crankbaits.

You won't believe it.

My older brother always told me to stay going and sooner or later they would turn on. He was my mentor and passed away before I understood what he was talking about now I do.

God bless him. We did everything together hunted, shoot, fished, I miss him.

[Effie4Bass]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I'll keep them all in mind. Although I do stay away from fishing during thunderstorms

as I came real close to meeting my maker and I'm not about to give him another chance. Sorry hear about your brother big bill. My brother and I were 5 years apart (just us two boys in the family) and we never really knew each other, which is quite sad. I can

imagine how much you do miss him. Thanks for sharing, all of you. I used to be able to catch bass but somehow at age 69 the skill seems to have vacated the premises. My catch rate has deteriorated ever since I bought a house. When I'm fishing I can't help but be thinking about everything I could be doing at home and when I'm home doing the homeowner thing I think about how nice it would beto be on the water. I like being on the water even it I'm not catching anything just enjoying watching the loons, eagles and

ospreys fish. They have far better success than I do!!!! I've been retired for 20 years and have yet to fish as often aa I did

during my 27 years in the Navy!!! Thanks for all the info and thanks for bass resource.

[bigbill]

Go fishing and block out every thought but fishing. I get into my own zone. I talk to no one. It's me thinking about my lure and presentation.

I'm 64yo been retired since 52Yo. I fish as much as I wanted. I been sick the past few years but I'm recovering now. Soon I'll be out there more often.

God bless, fish more while we're still on this side of the green.

[Kentuckysteve]

Fishing is usually pretty good before the front.Afterwards when the fish shut down i fish like its the middle of winter.The bass don't want to move so you have to put the bait right in front of them.I use finese baits or jigs and fish super slow.

 

I agree with bigill.Just put everything out of your mind and enjoy the fishing. I've had 3 heart attacks and believe me....Lifes too short brother!   Enjoy it while we can.