Pressure and Rain

[Oklahoman101]

Does anybody have experience/information on how barometric pressure and rain effect how the fish are biting?

I've noticed that the day after a rain, I don't get as many bites and I've noticed that as a storm rolls in, I'll get more hits, which was explained to me that with the pressure changing as the storm comes in, they start biting, but they were short striking.

Any input on this?

[Oklahoman101]

After I posted this, I found this:

http://www.quickoneplus.com/fish/barometric.htm

[nwgabassmaster]

There has been a lot of input on several sides concerning this very topic, in magazines, etc.  

A lot of people say that the pressure does not effect the fish, other say that it does.

I believe that it does.  Perhaps not on a large scale as some believe, but, there is an effect there.  Take for example when you are going up a mountain, in your vehicle.  The change in elevation increases the amount of pressure, thus, your ears become stopped up, and you have  a hard time getting them to clear.  That's because of the pressure change.

The bass undergo the same thing.  I believe that some of their senses become useless for a while, until the weather stabilizes.  If that's the case, then, if you lost some of your senses for a short period of time, then you would be uncomfortable, right?

As for the rain part of the question, there are more times where it is a good thing and not a bad thing.  The only time that I can recollect it being a bad thing is when the bass are attempting to spawn, and it muddies up the water in which they are trying to spawn, or perhaps the water is just warm enough to encourage spawning, and a cold rain comes down, and knocks the temps down for a while.

However, in the summer, the rain helps to cool the top 1-2 ft. of the water column, and puts O2 back into that area.  In the winter, the rains tend to warm that area, so, the fish will move to the warmer water.  

If you are fishing a pond, if you have a heavy rain, I have read, and actually witnessed this...........the rain puts so much 02 back into the water, that the bass will become inactive.  It could also raise the pH level, but that's another topic for another day.  I believe that it was Mr. Randy Howell, that mentioned this, and gave the advice to leave it along for a couple of days, until the water had time to stabilize.  Then, the fishing should turn back on.

Hope that this helps.

[Raul]

It 's the climathological events that follow pressure what affect the behaviour of the fish the most and not the barometric pressure per se. Low pressure systems cause cloudy skies, drop in air temperature and rain. More clouds means diminished light penetration, predatory fish like bass instead of being hidden in the shade cruise because their presence is concealed by the diminished light penetration, they no longer need to hide, rains pour food into the food chain in the form of vegetable matter and terrestrial insects washed from the terrain surrounding the lake, obviously this triggers baitfish, baitfish will be more active feeding and where baitfish are -----> bass will be. High pressure systems are followed by clear skies, no rain and increased light penetration, predatory fish will no longer be able to conceal their presence therefore they will bury in cover or go deep.

[bassackwards]

great info guys!  

I went out last night around 12am, until 3am...  not much biting, some bass under a dock kept chasin somethin around, got him to bite once, but missed him somehow.  wind picked up a bit, and a storm came in within seconds.  It was movin too, at high speeds.  was interesting, but I got off the water.  big time electrical storm.  

its sunny how today, so I'm goin after class to see about any bites.

[Phishn_Phool]

All of this is very interesting, informative and great for argument and discussion BUT...........I have found that if you read too much on these subjects you are wasting fishing time.  My best advise is, IF there is no lighting.......GO FISHING

                                  CPR ;D

[BASSMAN1301599783]

All of this is very interesting, informative and great for argument and discussion BUT...........I have found that if you read too much on these subjects you are wasting fishing time. My best advise is, IF there is no lighting.......GO FISHING

CPR ;D

Well said. I couldn't agree more.