How heavy of a rain will you fish in?

[Catt]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

I don’t mind fishing in the rain but I prefer to be out already and then have the rain start.

 

Hate leaving the house with it already raining.

[Bankc]

Almost none. 

Here in Oklahoma, storms can, and often do, intensify very, very quickly.  And what starts off as a light sprinkle with barely nothing on the radar can quickly turn into heavy lightning, 80+mph winds, and a torrential downpour in a matter of minutes.   Back when I had a ski boat, I'd tough it out until I heard thunder.  But more than once, I got caught trying to load my boat with lightning all around and 50+ mph gusts, when maybe 15 minutes ago, it was clear and calm skies.  Now that I fish from a kayak, I won't chance it.  It can take me half an hour to get back to the ramp, and another 15 minutes to load, so it's just not worth the risk. 

 

Oklahoma is one of the few places in the world with weather tourism.  We have people from all over the world come here to see our storms.  We have hundreds of people who's job it is to chase storms.  Some do it for local news stations, some for science, some to sell video footage or for social media, and some who lead tour groups in armored busses.  You don't mess with the weather around here.  I think it was just two weeks ago we weren't supposed to have any rain, and a storm suddenly popped up out of nowhere and generated 90mph wind gusts!  That's the speed of an EF1 tornado, without the tornado! 

[Mobasser]

If it's raining hard, I don't go. But, I've been out and it starts raining lightly and the fish turn on. Usually a good time for moving baits. Spinnerbaits, Traps etc.

[swhit140]

I'm out fishing in the rain as long as their is no crazy heavy winds. One thing I learned that Berkley invented the Berkley Lightning Rod for a reason... 😆

 

 

 

[LonnieP]

I love fishing in the rain. I was out last summer and a monsoon type downpour came along and then all of a sudden the jig bite was on fire. 

[TOXIC]

First rule….no lightening.  Other than that, I’ve fished when the water was swirling down the deck drain.  Baitcasters can get a little finicky when they are chuck full of rainwater.  I’ve been out when you cast, there’s sparks in the reel and my line hovers in the air and won’t fall to the water.  Those are additional time to go in. If you spend any time in Florida, you are going to fish in the rain.  Both guaranteed and welcome.🤣

[Rockhopper]

I live in the PNW.  I am lucky if I am fishing and it is not raining.

[casts_by_fly]

I'll fish as heavy a rain as it can come if there's no wind or lightning.  Lightning sends me to shore pretty quickly and if its close I'm loading up.  

 

5 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Hate leaving the house with it already raining.

 

It does make for a miserable start but at least you aren't scrambling in the boat to put raingear on because a storm is coming up the lake.  

[WRB]

Light rain with light wind,  the reason I am old is didn’t fish in storms with heavy rain and ⛈️.

Tom

[gim]

15 minutes ago, WRB said:

Light rain with light wind,  the reason I am old is didn’t fish in storms with heavy rain and ⛈️.

Tom

 

Tom I remember you saying more than once that the ideal conditions to target trophy sized largemouth in Cali years ago was when there was a light steady rain and minimal wind.

[fin]

When my fingers get so wrinkled I can't tie a knot.

 

[Log Catcher]

I will fish if it is a light sprinkle. Any more than that I'm not going. I haven't fished in the rain a lot but when I did I have never ever caught a fish while fishing in the rain.

[padlin]

I’ll go out in a light rain, but won’t if it’s any more than that. I have been out in all sorts of rain, anything more then light seems to turn off the bite in the shallow ponds I fish. I have however had great luck as soon as a heavy rain stops.

 

on occasion I’ve brought along and used the umbrella I keep in the truck, being in a canoe, it works if waiting out a short burst, not that one can fish holding an umbrella.

[Bankbeater]

Lightning, wind, hail, and sleet scare me.  Rain by itself does not bother me, no matter how hard it's coming down.

[Phelptwan]

I've fished in some pretty ridiculous conditions.  I've even been surprised by some storms and ran her up and powerpoled down and just kept on fishing (put some in the livewell during that event) while others trailered their boats and waited out the storm.

[Pat Brown]

Drop shot in a drain during a steady downpour can be a lot of fun.  I avoid lightning but rain doesn't bother me.

[IcatchDinks]

As long as I'm not cold because of the rain, I don't mind it. I won't go out in a heavy downpour, but won't go in if it's pouring and I'm still catching fish. Sometimes it's quite pleasant to fish in the rain. Fewer insects and people. 

[GRiver]

On 7/9/2024 at 9:05 PM, ol'crickety said:

If it's pounding, I'm fine. Light rain is fine too. It's all good. 

Some times it depends on where I’m at, Lake George can turn into a hot mess quick.

And of course the bilge pump  can keep up. 
 

[rgasr63]

Lightning is a nogo. However rain? No problem, the fish are already wet. I stay and fish.

[Swamp Girl]

13 hours ago, IcatchDinks said:

Sometimes it's quite pleasant to fish in the rain. Fewer insects and people. 

 

Great points. I know neither people nor bugs will be bugging me when it's raining.

[Functional]

if I cant see the back of the boat I'm finding somewhere to take shelter, otherwise I'm fishing if I'm already out. Wont go out if its already raining.

 

Only 2 things I really watch for is if its a cold rain that comes with wind, you can still get hypothermia in the summer under these conditions and I've had to find a spot in the woods and build a fire(small fire starting kit on the boat at all times). Also a reason I keep a towel in a dry bag (should add a spare set of clothes). 

 

The other...is lightning. Thats a big nope for me and I'm gone. Good lightning tracker app helps judge how far out it is. I set the mile notice depending on how long I anticipate it to take me to get back to the dock and on the trailer. 

[Bird]

Had no problem with heavy rain when I was younger, not now.

Overcast with light rain is ideal.

[Texas Flood]

If im on the boat with my gear than I'll stay out there regardless. Now if im bank fishing, you aint ever gonna see this fat boy run faster to the truck.

[TOXIC]

This is what was left of a graphite rod/reel after a lightening strike.  Rain-yes, Lightening-no, no, no.

 

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

This is what was left of a graphite rod/reel after a lightening strike.  Rain-yes, Lightening-no, no, no.

 

 

What's the full story of that lightning strike?