What is your favorite combination of fishing conditions?

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

If there were a secret formula to know exactly when fish were feeding most, we'd all be out on the same day. But it seems there are better days than others.

I like a barometer that has been steady for several hours, moderate wind, water temp in the low to mid 70's, air temp in the 70's, and some cloud cover. I don't like a falling barometer, although I've caught fish on those days. And I like fishing at night when there's some moonlight.

I'm not sure which of those conditions is most important, but lately, I've been trying to advance my game by really following the barometer. I log every trip and try to analyze what conditions are best to fish in.

[Jig Man]

I like a good stiff breeze out of the same direction for 3 days in a row.  That lines up the food chain.

[BassinBoy]

I like a normal barometer, slight breeze and about partly or mostly cloudy.  I aslo like when it goes from a sky full of clouds to a bluebird really sunny sky.  That seems to get a real nice evening topwater bite going.  But fish are fish and they could be going on a feeding frenzy sometimes when we think they will be curled up in a ball.  And our favorite conditions could fail us faster than we could comprehend.  We just dont know.

[5bass]

I like a good stiff breeze out of the same direction for 3 days in a row. That lines up the food chain.

I agree with this. Sustained wind over a few days does wonders for the bite where I'm at.

[Catt]

Summer time weather for several days with temperature in the mid to upper 90s a steady barometer, southerly winds 10-15, slight cloud cover, main lake structure, 15-20' depth, full moon on the horizon, & Texas rig or Jig-N-Craw in my hand.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I'll take a steady barometer over cloud cover, wind, etc.

[Shakes]

The ideal conditions in my opinion is usually on a hot summer day. Early in the morning when the air is wet. The sun is just starting to show its face, and fog covers the water. A moist 65 degrees with warm water from the day before, and no breeze at all until you see the sun. Water like glass.

I hope I die fishing in these conditions.

[Raul]

The ideal conditions in my opinion is usually on a hot summer day. Early in the morning when the air is wet. The sun is just starting to show its face, and fog covers the water. A moist 65 degrees with warm water from the day before, and no breeze at all until you see the sun. Water like glass.

I hope I die fishing in these conditions.

65 degrees ain 't what we guys down here in the south could call "hot summer day", that 's in the dead of the "winter" for us.  ;D

[Shakes]

Hot summer days here start out at about 65 degrees. Its usually over 100 before noon.

[Wayne P.]

Favorite conditions would be slight stain, water temp in the mid to upper 50's with air temps in the 70's , a light breeze and sunshine. Barometric pressure is of no consequence. Prespawn feeding spree !!!!!

[Mottfia]

its sad but my favorite time to fish is in the dead of the summer in that 100+ degrees. I fish the Alabama River so I'm not worried about too much outside of the current. A steady barometer is nice but current beats all. Its extremely hard fishing but once you figure them out you are in for one great summer of loading the boat with huge Spots. Plus there isn't much fishing pressure that time of year.  8-)

[Brian_Reeves]

5-10mph wind, sunny skies, maybe a cloud here and there.  Winds out of the west, southwest early in the morning.  Night temperatures around 60-70 degrees, highs in the high 80's to low 90's during the day.  Month would have to be April-July.  I prefer fishing the A.M. after a New Moon.  If it's full, I like fishing the afternoon instead.  Water slightly stained-clear with an abundance of shallow grass and open main lake structure.

When everything stacks up like this, I'm gonna put 10-20 fish in the boat before I have to switch to mid-day tactics.  Thats almost a guarentee.

[Andrew Coleman]

only 1 ft of visibility, nice stiff breeze, and a sky with only a few clouds. I am a master of the murky water

[Hookemdown.]

A calm April morning as the sun is starting to creep over the hills.  There is a slight breeze, strong enough to give you the presence of a refresing new day, yet weak enough to not alter you fishing.

It's partly cloudy, about 65 degrees, and the boat is positioned in 8 ft of water on secondary point.  Off to the sides of the point is several gravel flats.

The glare of the sun shines off of the edge of the boat as I pull back for the first cast of the day. As the 5'' finess worm zings toward it's destination, the worries of work, school, barometer pressure and cold fronts slip from one's train of thought.  

I work the worm methodically.

Wait a second... FISH ON!... but he unbuttons right before I get him to the boat.  

It doesn't matter.  It's a new day, and I'm fishing.  

[Pond Hopper]

29.90-30.10 and stable for a couple days as far as barometer.  Winds out of the southwest, temps around 75 for a high, and slightly stained water with a big front hitting tomorrow.  That is what my book tells me at least.  :

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

Some of you guys should consider taking up writing fictional short stories.  Man!  Very creative and detailed.    

29.9 - 30.1  I've actually been curious about this range myself.  I've had some good days this year when the barometer has held that range for several hours.  It's actually what prompted the question to begin with.  I've had one day when the fish didn't bite when the barometer was in this range though.  Again...no perfect forumla.  

[Paul Roberts]

In general, I pay close attention to heating, and anything that obscures bass' vision: Clouds, wind, water color, broken weeds and other cover. How this all pans out depends on the time of year for me:

Believe it or not, I like post frontal conditions (brilliant blue) a lot, especially very early in the season, coupled with slightly turbid water which it tends to be that time of year.

I like heat and stability, with clouds, and a full or new moon, for the onset of the spawn.

I like the 2nd or 3rd day post-frontal (brilliant blue) for post spawn and pre-summer. At these times our summer weather patterns set up brilliant blue in the AM giving way to towering cumulus. What's great about this is that we get great heating with the sun, then overcast rolls in that obscures bass vision. They aren't nearly as spooky my waters are mostly very clear, until plankton blooms come in during the heat of summer.

I like pre-frontal in general for the warmer times of year the warmer the better, except in mid-summer, when early morning, evening, and night are best. During the day, just having clouds roll in to knock the smile off that sun helps in mid-summer.

Early to mid-fall I like those heating days again, but I need to spend more time at this time period to understand it better. Late fall doesn't matter just no snow. If I'm fishing from shore, I like a heating day.

In general I pay close attention to heating  and anything that obscures bass' vision: Clouds, wind, water color, broken weeds and other cover.

I haven't looked at the barometer. I guess I should, to see what kind of window it may offer.

Lots of other things to, at finer scale.

[basspimple]

cloud cover, and any kind of stable conditions.

[mattm]

A calm April morning as the sun is starting to creep over the hills.  There is a slight breeze, strong enough to give you the presence of a refresing new day, yet weak enough to not alter you fishing.

It's partly cloudy, about 65 degrees, and the boat is positioned in 8 ft of water on secondary point.  Off to the sides of the point is several gravel flats.

The glare of the sun shines off of the edge of the boat as I pull back for the first cast of the day. As the 5'' finess worm zings toward it's destination, the worries of work, school, barometer pressure and cold fronts slip from one's train of thought.  

I work the worm methodically.

Wait a second... FISH ON!... but he unbuttons right before I get him to the boat.  

It doesn't matter.  It's a new day, and I'm fishing.  

Your level of BS at such a young age scares and impresses me at the same time, sir

[roadwarrior]

I don't care as long as the TVA is releasing water and I have current!

If it's about pond fishing: hot, sunny and calm, either side of noon.

8-)

[Bankbeater]

I like an overcast sky with the barometer at 30 or below. A steady breeze just strong enough to put a ripple on the water with the water slightly stained. Water temps in the low 70's and air temp in the 80's. Even better when it has been this way for two or three days.

[Zel]

I have always done best late spring through early fall, about one to two hours before a thunderstorm struck.  That I guess would be my ideal condition (and if they were holding tryouts for the Swedish Sun Tanning Team in view of the docks I was fishing well, that would just be icing on the cake).

[Tokyo Tony]

Late summer/very early fall, 70 degree air, midnight, full moon, no clouds, not a breath of wind, so you can easily see and hear your Sammy zig-zagging over a prime shallow point or dropoff. Just waiting for those vicious smallie attacks on your helpless little lure  ;D