Become a Weather Watcher

[papajoe222]

One thing I've learned over decades of fishing is the effect of weather on bass behavior. Of all the things I research prior to hitting the water, weather is what I feel will help my success or failure the most. Current weather conditions can give you a general idea of what to expect, but past and future conditions, when combined with the current ones can greatly improve your success. Their importance can affect bass behavior more so than the current weather.

Post frontal conditions can play havoc on bass fishing, but if that front passed a few days ago fish may very well have changed their mood from negative to neutral, or possibly to active. A high barometric pressure and mile high bluebird skies doesn't mean the fish won't bite today.  Another weather history factor to watch is the wind, specifically its direction.  If the wind has been blowing in one direction for a number of days, it can influence fish location tremendously.

The weather's future is a great predictor of bass activity today. Everyone should know that bass become more active prior to a front moving in, but did you know that a falling barometer may proceed that front by a day or more? A change in cloud cover often proceeds a warm front. You could hit the water a day before a major front is scheduled to move in and do better than on the day of the front, if it's a slow moving system.

Lastly, a stable weather history, or future, is a formula for summer success.For these reasons and more that you may discover, I urge you to become a 'Weather Watcher.'

 

[Scott804]

Great post. I always find myself going "Ugh, bluebird skies!" and then end up catching them pretty decent, and always end up fishing post frontal right away and the bite be absolutely brutal and act confused at first as to why I am struggling. Gonna try to start writing down the daily conditions, or at the very least wind direction because I think that could be a gamechanger. 

[Koz]

Speaking of watching the weather, I was out on my kayak this morning but with afternoon storms on the way I packed it in for the day.

 

Later that afternoon I was driving by parts of the lake and with lightning all around and scary skies on the horizon there were a ton of boats and jet skis out on the water. Absolutely ridiculous.

[DitchPanda]

I'm a weather watcher to. In fact I watched it downpour all day...I'm talking torrential almost tropical storm caliber...plus lots of lightning. Needless to say I didn't get out. But we have been in the grips of drought long enough that ill gladly sacrifice a day off for some much needed rain.

[scbassin]

When I get the chance to go I just check the weather for that day so I know what to expect. My concern is wind direction & speed & if any thunder storms are in the forecast. I enjoy my time on the water.

[David 7]

37 minutes ago, Koz said:

Speaking of watching the weather, I was out on my kayak this morning but with afternoon storms on the way I packed it in for the day.

 

Later that afternoon I was driving by parts of the lake and with lightning all around and scary skies on the horizon there were a ton of boats and jet skis out on the water. Absolutely ridiculous.

I made the mistake of being caught on the Mohawk River last week during a storm. The report called for 40% rain, figured I’d tough it out. Sure enough, it started raining an hour after I got on the water.

I seeked  shelter under a major bridge in my kayak, but as soon as the thunder and lightning started, I paddled back quicker than I ever had before. Not making that mistake again.

[rtwvumtneer6]

Learned to read a radar in my baseball days.  As an angler it's a safety tool, and I'm glad it's accessible 24/7 from a phone.  Reading the weather has definitely evolved for me as an angler.  I'm no meteorologist, but I better understand the bigger picture.  

 

That being said, I often have little control over when I can fish.  Tournament dates are established months ahead of time, and family and work responsibilities (usually) come first.  So as long as the conditions are safe enough, I go when I am able.  Hopefully some day I can try the retirement thing and be a little more selective...

[NHBull]

All good info......

 

I actually like blue bird as it helps me narrow down the water I want to fish, especially in the Summer.  My best fish have come on these days.

 

The one thing I will add is that there is no excuse not to be aware of what is come.

Weather apps have come a long way and enabling notifications can save your bacon.  I have tied up to strangers docks on more than one ocwbefpre I learned my lesson?

 

 

[Bankbeater]

Even though I look at the weather app on my phone, I still watch the sky while I'm out on the water.  Over the years I've learned that the radar may not be able to pick up storms as they are forming, and by the time the storm show up on radar it may already be on top of you.

[A-Jay]

On my quest for Big Brown Bass, The 'Weather' is where it all starts.

 

"It can pay big dividends to be a Weather watcher and have some knowledge of how wind & waves can affect the waters you fish and I'll tell you why.  There's often a very nice (wide open) feeding window at some point 'PRECEEDING' a cold front or weather change.  

  So being on the water then is good !  When it actually occurs is somewhat tricky to pin down - here are a few of my personal moves.

  The Bigger the 'front' is expected to be or Longer it is expected to take to pass - the earlier I like to get out on the water.  Meaning a 'big' front may mean that the smb might start looking to feed TWO full days ahead of it.  Smaller ones may mean only one day ahead of it is the time.  And this doesn't necessarily mean bass are jumping in the boat, may simply mean the 'normal' feeding areas & windows may have more & or bigger bass at them and might start a little earlier or last a little longer.    This is not something that is "written" in many articles or periodicals on the subject, but it's real.  And I know that MANY bassheads never get on this and miss out on it entirely - especially up here - cause I'm the only one out there.   

    Often in advance of a front - there may be wind & clouds - as long as it's safe I'm fishing- especially if the sun is peaking through half the time too.  

 "Warming" winds in advance of a front in the spring & fall can often trigger a bite.  Here that usually means something from the South or even South Westerly.   Summer may be one time when 'cooler' wind & some clouds at the lake can be a 'good bite day' especially if it continues for a couple of days.  Initially the start of it can trigger a bite but unlike other seasons - the bite can sometimes get better as it continues - as bait has to 'reposition' because of the wind or current, this makes them vulnerable to the bass - (something I learned chasing stripers - happens every 6 hours at every tide change and the fish take advantage of it to feed).

     So while many anglers will 'seek out' the leeward sheltered areas when the winds up a bit - and there's no doubt it's easier to fish - I have ALL BUT ABANDONED that in the warmer months - If I can fish it safely & effectively (which can be a bear at times - Talons help here) - and I think there's bait and or active bass in a spot - I'm fishing it. And if I find bait balled up on a windy bank - but the bass are not there - Yet; I will sit on them for a while or at the very least come back to them during 'a bite window' and see if they've moved in on them.  They almost always do at some point.    I do tend to look for warmer sheltered stuff early season (but I'm sure I already mentioned that somewhere along the way). 

  So if one were to look back at my videos - and take note of what time of day, and specifically - what the weather was doing while I'm catching brown bass - you may note a trend.  Usually some sun, some wind- rarely other anglers on the water - and it’s Not Raining!!!!   Topwater and drop shot bites for me are a calm water deal usually - so times when that happens I look to fish those presentations when I can.  Other than that - some wind & sun are where it's at.  If a front coming even better.  When it's sun & wind for several days - even better.  If it suddenly cools in the summer - with sun & wind - even better.   Be a Weather watcher and know the forecast 3-5 days in advance - that's how to better predict when & where to fish.  As a retired USCG Boatswain's Mate Chief, it’s a way of life. (Always had to know the weather, my & other's lives depended on it). "

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/211811-brown-bass-tools-~-questions-answers/?do=findComment&comment=2382104

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Weather is far more important around here in the winter. Clouds/drizzle/snow seem to help, sun not so much but im going to try fishing no matter what. From late spring to late fall, I literally don’t check the weather. Why? Because it’s usually sunny and warm. If it’s about to storm, I will know at the same moment as the weather man. 

[Deleted account]

Weather is to fishing like ketchup is to fries...

[scaleface]

I'm watching the weather right now . Tomorrow I have an opportunity to go but we have been having a lot of rain and storms , one after another . The bass are going to be shallow , the  lake a little high with the green stuff a foot under the surface . I  expect it to be a slobber knocker with spinnerbaits or buzzbaits as long as the storms keep  away .

[N Florida Mike]

Id rather fish on a cloudy day than sunny. Sunny and calm winds are the hardest for me. But sometimes I catch fish anyway on days like that . I suspect the Barometric pressure has more to do with it than we know… Sometimes everything works out ( like a day off) and I want to go fishing. First thing I do is check the forecast. That is now. When I was young , I just went regardless. Caught a lot of fish that I wouldn’t have, but I have had some wild scenarios because of my lack of concern. I once sat under a cypress tree in a lake while the worst lightning storm Ive ever been in raged all around us. I went fishing once at night when it was in the high 20s and when a catfish pulled my pole off the dock, I promptly jumped in and got it back.

I have fished many times as a young man in the middle of the day in july with no water and was fine.Maybe thats why Im so addled now.?

 

[Catt]

3 days prior, the day of, & 3 days after.

[Big Hands]

We can go for several months without rain here, and from May through August we don't normally get much rain, if any. During that time it's either hot and dry, really hot and dry, or super hot and dry. We may get one storm in September through mid-October. We may get a few storms from Mid-October through December. . . . or nothing at all. January through April, you never know what will happen.

 

I don't think weather here has the effect that it can other places because relatively speaking, it doesn't change much for a lot of the year. Most of the time, I pay more attention to the wind than anything else. Then, for a few months, I have to pay attention to rain. I have an app called "Windy' that I pay attention to before I go or plan to go as that is the weather factor that affects my fishing the most. 

 

I know in Texas (probably in many other places too) they have a saying: "If you don't like the weather, stick around, cuz it's gonna change." Watching the weather channel is almost as popular as mowing ginormous patches of grass on riding lawn mowers, LOL. 

 

At the lake I normally fish, the water level has almost nothing to do with it raining here. The water comes through the aqueduct and is often doing the opposite of what you'd think it should be doing.

[papajoe222]

6 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

 I once sat under a cypress tree in a lake while the worst lightning storm Ive ever been in raged all around us.

 

Glad that you lived to tell us about it.

[N Florida Mike]

It was a pop up thunderstorm that came up from the south. We had just ran away from one that brushed the north end of the lake.

We had a foot of water in the boat when it was over. We had to hunker down in the cypress or take a chance at running across the lake to the ramp. Should have gone to the ramp after we avoided the first storm! 

Growing up in Florida I have seen some Lightning ! But never anything as intense as that day…

[Catt]

2 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

It was a pop up thunderstorm that came up from the south.

 

The cell to the right just dumped 3" in less than an hour.

 

Definitely changed my plans ?

[hokiehunter373]

I watch for my safeties sake, and I try to pay attention to what heats up the bite, but if I've planned to fish and it's safe to go, I'm going no matter what.  Friday night a pop up thunderstorm was rolling in.  I drove to my spot in it and retied as I waited for it to pass.  Only had 90 mins to fish after that but caught 10 fish as they were absolutely hammering top water.  Giant blow ups.  One on the pop'r that hit before I even had a chance to reel.  Glad I went instead of sitting home and wondering how the bite was

[Boomstick]

On 7/11/2021 at 12:19 AM, Koz said:

Speaking of watching the weather, I was out on my kayak this morning but with afternoon storms on the way I packed it in for the day.

This year has taught me more than ever to be a weather watcher. A lot of times it stops raining in the morning and returns around noon.

[Boomstick]

@Koz I should add what happened last year. We had heavy rain in the morning and decided to go out and fishing when it cleared up. The rain would come and go throughout the day. Eventually the rain came, and got pretty heavy this time, but since it was usually passing we figured we would give it a few minutes to see if it passed before heading in. I looked over at my youngest son who was maybe 30 yards away from me and not too far from the shore and I saw a lightning bolt split a tree on the shore in half that was behind him. My first thought was it might fall on him, but that half the tree didn't end up coming down in the water.

 

That was probably my scariest moment on the water ever.

[WRB]

I watch both weather and moon phase during the pre spawn cycle because both have an impact.

December to February is our rainy season, also the time to be on the water in SoCal. March the spawn cycle starts the nest/egg laying cycle, the end of primary pre spawn. 

The balance of the year it’s all about wind and high pressure.

Sustained wind over 30 mph with gusts over 50 mph make for tough fishing conditions and unsafe to be on the water.

High winds are common during our fall period from Sept through Oct we call San Tana’s fanning extreme fires.

Tom

[scaleface]

Guess what the weather says right now . Too dang hot . I havent been in two weeks and wont go next week . I'll make up for it when it cools off .

[ironbjorn]

This is one of many reasons I'll never be a professional. 

 

I'm a successful, stress free Average Joe. If the weather permits and I'm free, I go fishing and figure it out from there.