How many fish by the conditions

[Ben]

Just wondering how many people actually let the Barometer, moon phase, temprature, weather forcast (except maybe a hurricane), solar calender and all those other factors that's suppose govern when the fish bite best or worst determine if they go fishing or not.

Not me, I go every chance I get, regardless of what the conditions are. Yea, if all the planets line up and the moon is just right and conditons are just so perfect the fish are jumping in the boat to get your bait, that's great, but if none of those say it's going to be a good fishing day, I'm going anyway. I've still caught very nice numbers of fish when all those things say the fish have moved into the next state. Been ignoring those things for 45 years and still catch bass.

There is one thing I've grown to luv over the years and that's to see wildlife when getting close to the lake. I find if I see deer, rabbits, turkeys and most other wildlife in any kind of numbers, the fishing is alway pretty darn good when we first get there. Same when I'm fishing, if I start seeing wildlife feeding, the fishing gets better also.

[basspro48]

I agree, I go fishing whenever I can. You can't learn about how to catch fish during a windless sunny day with a rising barometer if you don't go when those conditions are present. Since I plan on fishing higher level tournaments when I turn 18 I need to learn how to catch'em no matter what the conditions.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

As long as it's safe, I'm out there whenever I get a chance.  Although I make a bigger effort to get out there when "all the planets are lined up".  Especially night fishing.  I am going to try my best to be out there every full moon night.

[Hula_King]

I go whenever I can get the chance because I can never seem to get enought fishing in.  If the Man is shinning down upon me and the solar system aligns, then its just an added bonus to another great day out on the lake.

[Marty]

Like the others, I go whenever I can. I might start out with a lure, technique, color, speed, etc., that the conditions dictate, but I'll switch if it's not working. Fish don't always behave like they're supposed to and every day it's trial and error to see what will work.

[Grey Wolf]

I'll go anytime I can , but I really love to fish at night when the moon is full.

[roadwarrior]

Oddly enough, I had my best smallmouth day last year (1/08/05) on a rising barometer and east wind. Fifteen smallmouth, seven over 5 lbs.  Go figure.

On a river, current is everything, but my very best day striper fishing was on one generator, about 6000 cfs. We had almost decided to take the boat out and fish the lake, but decided to make one drift. I don't know exactly how many we caught , but we landed ten over 20 lbs, the big fish of the day weighed in at 33 lbs.

[Matt Fly]

I monitor the conditions regular.  And when trying for a bigger fish, do plan around certain moon phases or fishing before the fronts.   A bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.  I'll fish any time weather permits and its not dangerous.

[Panamoka_Bassin]

I can't say that the weather dictates whether or not I go fishing, but it will certainly determine HOW I fish on those days.  If I know a front or low is coming, I'll tend to be more bottom oriented, but if its sunny I'll use different colors and lure types than if its cloudy.

I don't let the weather detrmine when I fish, I just adjust to it the best I can.

[basser89]

I'm with Marty and Panamoka on this one. I don't let the weather determine IF I'm going to go, it just helps me determine a game plan on what I am going to start with and then let the bass tell me if that's what they want or switch to a different tatic!

[Upnorth]

I fish any chance I get, but I choose tackle, presentation, location, etc based on the current conditions.  The only time I will let conditions change my plans is if I am heading out on the Great Lakes.  You have to respect the conditions on bodies of water like that.

[GobbleDog]

I've been serious fishing for 10+ years and I never pay attention to that stuff either. You go when you can go.  

As for a bright full moon, I've never done well fishing in that. I prefer less light and some cloud cover.

[Guest avid]

I monitor the conditions but not for the reasons of the solunar tables or barometer.  Down here in SE Florida there are a few conditions that are pretty typical.  It's often hot, windy and a thunderstorm can come out of nowhere.  I can't take fishing when it's over 90 degrees so I typically go out after 4 pm in the summer.  I like windy conditions because it turns the fish on but sometimes the wind is just too much so that can beach me.  And thunderstorms, well no one with a half a brain will fish when there is a lightning storm so that another no-no.  I've gotten pretty good at spotting a storm blowing up, but the problem is that the bite can really turn on as the storm is moving in.  I have gotten caught in a storm a few times. Nothing turns a bass fisherman in a moron faster than the real possiblity of a lunker.  

[roadwarrior]

Avid,

Been there, done that. I have promised myself it will NEVER happen again!

[DDbasser]

Like several others have stated, I don't let the conditions dictate whether or not I go but rather how I fish.

The only exception is severe weather if it's lightning i'm gone!!

Can't catch 'em from the couch!!!

[Raul]

I don 't pay attention to the weather forecast, 90% of the time they are wrong ! , I don 't pay attention to the calendar, moon phase, solunar table or tarot cards, 90 of the time thay are wrong !, temperature ? temperature of what ? the air or the water ? it was hot yesterday, it 's hot today and it will be hot tomorrow, there 's only slight variations on how hot it 's going to be.......I feel comfortable above 70 and when I say it 's hot you can bet it 's hot, bring tar as sun blocker cuz 40 is not enough.

The only times I have second thoughts about going fishing are:

1.- is when it 's windy........ which doesn 't stop me from fishing on the shore,

2.- when there are thunderstorms............never heard of someone getting electrocuted while fishing during a thunderstorm but I don 't want to be the first one,

3.- when there 's a downpour.............. it 's uncomfortable to fish when even your butt gets wet

4.- when my significant other needs me to do house chores...........and still, I can always sneak out, better ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.

[GobbleDog]

As Avid said, we get more than our share of thunderstorms in Florida. In tournaments most everyone just fishes right through them. It scares you to death when out of nowhere a deafening lightning strike hits the grounds less than a 1/4 mile away.

And you feel like Ben Franklin flying a kite in a thunderstorm when you cast that line up in the air with a metal hook attached to the end, while lightning is blasting all around you.

[Rattlinrogue]

I fish when I feel like it.I do like to fish early morning ,late evening,and at night when the weather gets warm.I'll also fish in a snowstorm,but I'll wait until the middle of the day for that.

[Guest avid]

As Avid said, we get more than our share of thunderstorms in Florida. In tournaments most everyone just fishes right through them. It scares you to death when out of nowhere a deafening lightning strike hits the grounds less than a 1/4 mile away.

And you feel like Ben Franklin flying a kite in a thunderstorm when you cast that line up in the air with a metal hook attached to the end, while lightning is blasting all around you.

Graphite is an excellent conducter of electricity.  I read somewhere that on average 2 anglers per year are struck by lightning in Florida while fishing.  Oddly, most survive, but I don't want to see what life is like after being toasted by a couple thousand volts.  Oh, and I also would not want to be a tournament organizer who didn't "call' the tournament due to lightning and have one of the anglers get fried.  I know lawyers who live for moments like that.  :-/

[Raul]

I know lawyers who live for moments like that.

Better yet, give them the rods.

[bassinchik]

Sadly, I do let the conditions determine when I fish... But it has nothing to do with "ultimate fishing periods of time".  I have so much metal in my back (screws and rods), cold/wet weather makes me hurt too badly.  Thankfully here in south Mississippi, the weather is generally mild.