Fishing After Thunderstorms??

[ronster71]

My father always told me that bass fishing after a thunderstorm was a bad idea.  He said that the thunder and lightning drive the fish deep and that they don't feed well for a couple days after one.  Is this true??  We had some decent thunderstorms on Tuesday night up here and I'm wondering how long I should wait to hit the lake again.  Anyone have a preference on a particular lure to use after thunderstorms??

[bassbob08]

If you can get on the water then go.Iwouldnt wait.

[paulc]

I did just fine the morning after a hellacious thunder storm, and did really well right before it hit.

[surfer]

I live in Central Florida.  If the bass here waited two days after a storm to eat they would starve as we can have 2 months straight with a thunderstorm everyday.  I enjoy fishing the two hours after a storm and even during if the lighting isn't bad.  It can be very calm right afterwards and the fish are already wet.  I also theorize the rain knocking bugs out of the air and washing bugs down ditches and banks into the water.  This would be a food source the are accustomed to right after a rain.  Like ringing a dinner bell they should be ready to eat.  

A cold front storm is a different beast.  I would fish the front of that storm.  The following two days I wont fish.  

[George Welcome]

"I enjoy fishing the two hours after a storm and even during if the lighting isn't bad."

First let me say that any lightening in Florida is always potentially vry bad. Along the weather line, (Melbourne to Tampa), a typical storm line will travel the width of the state and deliver in excess of 10,000 ground strikes. If you can hear the thunder it's time to think about the run back to the ramp, and if you can see the lightening you have waited too long.

Storms only bother those that are in them. It does not storm below the surface of a lake. It will neither detract from nor add to your fishing success. Anything that points to it doing so is purely a coincidence.

Remember, that the bass live by rules and one of the rules could be to bite like crazy right after a storm, or the rule could be to not bite at all. However, right after a storm, just before the storm, or in the rain: if you are on fish they will more than likely entertain you by biting your presentation.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

I have noticed that the bite is a bit slower after a big storm. I usually go out fishing the next day and the bite tends to be slower the next day. After one day everything seems to back to normal. I know when Rainbow and Mackinaw fishing the bite is a lot slower after a big storm. It takes about 2 days for the bite to me back on. Always remember that presentation is everything and try to imitate what the fish are feeding on.

[Shad_Master]

Don't really mean to hijack this thread, but have a question about fishing right after a storm -- I will be fishing a club tournament on a lake this Sat and the forecast is for rain all day and night Friday, ending just before blast off.  The fish have been deeper than usual because of high water temps and weeds being sprayed around the shorelines.  Will these fish be more likely to move up on the banks after the storm or will they stay deep?

As to the question originally posted - I have also had good luck during and right after thunderstorms -- usually better than right before.

[Guest avid]

I enjoy fishing immediately after a thunderstorm.

Not because it is necessarily better.  I have never noticed a difference in the fishing one way or another.  No, it's mainly because the lake is empty of other boats.  

In Florida a good thunderstorm will cool things off and after it passes the humidity goes down, making it more comfortable to fish.  Plus, there is a clean, fresh smell to the woods and water that I find invigorating.

[cpvenom]

I enjoy fishing immediately after a thunderstorm.

Not because it is necessarily better.  I have never noticed a difference in the fishing one way or another.  No, it's mainly because the lake is empty of other boats.  

In Florida a good thunderstorm will cool things off and after it passes the humidity goes down, making it more comfortable to fish.  Plus, there is a clean, fresh smell to the woods and water that I find invigorating.

I'm with Avid, I enjoy the atmosphere after a hard storm. There is often an erie calm about the lake. That with that earthy smell gets me every time!

[ronster71]

Thanks for the help everyone, I will be less restrictive about fishing after storms in the future.

[norm2525]

I have found that it is usually better a couple of hours before a storm hits. However, one of the best days I ever remember on the lake a buddy and I hit right after a good storm and it really fired up the fish. They were killing the spooks and sammies. Sometimes two at a time. It was quite a day.

[rbrick]

If the thunderstorms are the kind that popup every afternoon like here in FL,I don't think they hurt fishing at all.However if they are caused by a low pressure front the bass will probably develop lockjaw.

[Tpayneful]

I fish creeks and culverts that enter the lake immediately after a thunderstorm.  Just about any lure that you can think of will catch fish.  The fish are usually so active that I start throwing lures that I have never caught fish on.  Once I catch fish on a lure under those conditions I am more likely to use it under other conditions.  It is fun fishing and I find out what other lures work.

[Del from philly]

i agree w2ith everybody, its not always great right after, but 24 hours later, it seems to pick up

my best day this year was almost exactly 24 hours after a large storm....

every new spot i would fish i would get a strike on the first cast......caught about 4 bass that were over a pound or 2,

for me, those are BIG bass......

[Andrew J.D. Moore]

Durring a storm, when the sky is overcast, the fish are more active and go on a feeding frenzy. After the storm passes and the sun comes out the bass are no longer hungry and become lethargic. They will usually move into deeper waters. 

[Spankey]

9 minutes ago, Andrew J.D. Moore said:

Durring a storm, when the sky is overcast, the fish are more active and go on a feeding frenzy. After the storm passes and the sun comes out the bass are no longer hungry and become lethargic. They will usually move into deeper waters. 

I don’t know about that. But it is all relevant to how much water, flash flood conditions ?, lake rise, actual water conditions. Every storm is not the same. Lake rise can put them on the bank also. I’m just saying no two storms are the same and variables to each of them. 

[geo g]

After 50 years of bass fishing, I know it’s easier right before the storm then after the storm.  After the storm it will take bass days to adjust to heavy rains and fluctuating PH levels in the water.  After a storm look for areas with current and staging areas for bass to ambush baitfish in the current.  Choke points like culvert pipes narrow grass islands close together, creek channels, ect.  Usually not easy after a big storm.

[Bluebasser86]

Hopefully the OP found his answer sometime sooner than 13+ years after they originally asked it...

[Luke Barnes]

39 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Hopefully the OP found his answer sometime sooner than 13+ years after they originally asked it...

Oh wow what a necrobump. But it's still a good topic that I have been curious of. My PB was caught right after a storm. I followed advice and my gut, plus a little common sense and fished an inlet to a pond that the water rushes into after a rain. I figured it would wash in all sorts of stuff the tiny baitfish feed on, which in turn draws the bigger baitfish, in turn the bass. Sure enough, the slack water off the current I caught a fatty I'm guessing was lying in wait for something to wash in. 

[BrianMDTX]

I guess I should ask...how’s fishing after a hurricane? 

[Spankey]

13 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I guess I should ask...how’s fishing after a hurricane? 

I think Catt could answer that best and the effects of hurricanes. I believe he lives and fishes in the heart of those weather hotspots. 
 

Good luck and be safe to all guys down in that area. 
 

 

[FishinBuck07]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

I guess I should ask...how’s fishing after a hurricane? 

Don't be a sissy!  Get out there during a hurricane, that is always best!  ??

[Junk Fisherman]

I think it all just depends.

 

I have seen a storm completely shut things down and the opposite as well.  I had a memorable morning once throwing a shakey head on a weedline just crushing 3-5 lb bass.  A storm moved in and I had to tie up to a dock and sit through all sorts of thunder, lightning, and heavy rain.  Once the storm was over I went back out to where I was fishing and slammed them the rest of the day.  

[Boomstick]

For the most part the thunderstorms do drive the bass deep, but a day or two is much too long. They will stay deep for a few hours.

[roadwarrior]

We must have dumb fish here in the Mid South. I don't think they read that book.