Speaking of Barometer

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

Several months ago the issue of barometric pressure came up. It's partially why I started keeping a fishing log this year.

I use a "Great," "Good," "Fair," "Poor" system. A "Great" trip would be exceedingly above average (lots of fish, very active bite), and a "poor" trip would be considered exceedingly below average (no bites, no action, no fish). Everything in between would be "Good" and "Fair." Unless otherwise indicated, all trips were for bass fishing only.

Red entries represent a barometric pressure ranging from 29.90 through 30.10, the preposed optimum fishing condition.

Here are the results after 31 fishing trips this year:

GREAT (4)

• 30.03 rising
• 29.19 falling (trout fishing)
• 29.71 rising
• 30.2 rising
  

GOOD (10)

• 30.06 rising
• 29.95 rising
• 29.96 rising
• 30.15 steady
• 29.85 rising
• 30.10 steady (trout fishing)
• 30.05 rising (trout fishing)
• 30.00 steady
• 29.90 rising
• 30.10 steady

FAIR (10)

• 29.5 steady
• 30.01 rising
• 29.99 steady
• 30.09 steady
  
• 29.93 rising
• 29.91 rising
• 29.95 rising
• 29.90 rising
• 30.3 steady
• 30.3 falling

POOR (7)

• 30.10 steady
• 29.85 steady
• 29.83 rising
• 29.8 rising
• 30.05 falling
• 30.00 rising
• 30.2 steady
  

So far, there is absolutely no direct correlation between good fishing and a barometer ranging from 29.90 - 30.10.

The article "Bass And The Barometer" (http://home.comcast.net/~rkrz/infoarch/fyibarometer.htm) suggests that optimum conditions are between 29.98 and 30.02, a small window of opportunity for sure since pressure can change rapidly. To test if this range is a more accurate parameter for success, I'd have to secure more data than the 31 trips so far.

Another reasonable conclusion to draw here is that most of the trips I've made have been made while the barometer is within the 29.90-30.10 range. Twenty of 31 exactly.

If anyone else has specific data, please share it. For me, I have serious doubts about pressure having any great effect on fish. That's just the early conclusion I'm drawing so far. But I'm no scientist either.

[Paul Roberts]

Awesome! Great bit of work here.

I've kept my mouth shut on barometer because I haven't attempted to do what you've done. I've not kept barometer data mostly because I always figured I could go back to weather records someday. But I've yet to do it, for some other reasons:

I don't believe bass have to wait for a certain barometric range, on top of all the other requirements for good feeding opportunities, to feed.

The barometer mythology (along with solunar and in many cases in application, lunar) seems to assume that feeding for bass is as easy as sitting down at a table or putting on a feedbag! Selective pressures on fish around predation is very intense -a real chess match -and there are MANY more losers than winners.

If bass wait at all to feed it's because of visibility conditions (sky and water), temperature, oxygen concentrations, preoccupied (often feeding) prey, and cover (for baitfish) density disruptions. Drag an anchor over good crayfish and sculpin substrate and the smallies will come alive -barometer be damned.

Further, how does one really control for angler effort and success? Who's to say that on my tough day of fishing, someone else didn't find the motherlode? Was my poor showing due to the barometer? If my sampling methods were so keen and consistent that I could win every tournament at will, and always find the mature bass in something even close to equal success, then I would be someone to listen to surrounding barometric effects on fishing success. There are too many variables in there that affect angler success that I can imagine that the barometer (or solunar) could easily lead one astray, without really stringent controls and an enormous amount of sampling efforts.

There, I feel better.

[George Welcome]

Awesome! Great bit of work here.

I've kept my mouth shut on barometer because I haven't attempted to do what you've done. I've not kept barometer data mostly because I always figured I could go back to weather records someday. But I've yet to do it, for some other reasons:

I don't believe bass have to wait for a certain barometric range, on top of all the other requirements for good feeding opportunities, to feed.

The barometer mythology (along with solunar and in many cases in application, lunar) seems to assume that feeding for bass is as easy as sitting down at a table or putting on a feedbag! Selective pressures on fish around predation is very intense -a real chess match -and there are MANY more losers than winners.

If bass wait at all to feed it's because of visibility conditions (sky and water), temperature, oxygen concentrations, preoccupied (often feeding) prey, and cover (for baitfish) density disruptions. Drag an anchor over good crayfish and sculpin substrate and the smallies will come alive -barometer be damned.

Further, how does one really control for angler effort and success? Who's to say that on my tough day of fishing, someone else didn't find the motherlode? Was my poor showing due to the barometer? If my sampling methods were so keen and consistent that I could win every tournament at will, and always find the mature bass in something even close to equal success, then I would be someone to listen to surrounding barometric effects on fishing success. There are too many variables in there that affect angler success that I can imagine that the barometer (or solunar) could easily lead one astray, without really stringent controls and an enormous amount of sampling efforts.

There, I feel better.

So, that's it, and you better believe it. There's some real good hints in that missive also!

[Matt Fly]

I don't pay as much to the barometer during the summer for the most part, but when fronts, cold fronts mainly, start entering the equation, I do think theirs a "better " window of opportunity.   Remember, My part of the country, TX, we have southernly winds for the most part of the summer, which is stable weather!

It wasn't scientist that came up with the conclusion :

"Winds from the north, means put no effort forth."

"Winds from the south, they are as good in your mouth.

That phrase was coined by fishermen many moons ago before the invention of any electronics.

     So, I'd say that they coined that pharse from expeirence, wouldn't you?    

 

[Paul Roberts]

The barometer may be an pre-indicator of weather change, but my money is on the weather change and associated conditions, rather than the pressure reading, or even the pressure itself -as miniscule as it is calculated to be.

As to winds, they vary in effect in relation to weather depending on where you live, both geographically and topographically. Such a formula would have to vary too.

BTW, I like a north wind in early spring because it blows warmed surface water to the south shore and makes the 'gills and bass come alive! I guess I do put the least effort forth then, because all I have to do is camp out at a good south shoreline location. Course my arms can get tired LOL.

[Crestliner2008]

I believe a bass is a bass, is a bass. He has to eat whenever the opportunity avails itself regardless of where he/she is. He has to, in order to survive. He can wait until weather, moon, tides, barometer or whatever conditions are "good" to start eating.

With that being said, here's what happened to me yesterday here in Western MA. We've been in a real hot, humid weather pattern for quite a few days. A severe cold front was coming toward us, from the west. Winds were high. Clouds were getting dark fast. Severe thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon.

At noon, I ventured forth to a local pond, with some Senkos, fishing from shore. A hot wind was blowing at about 10 - 15 mph. A couple of casts to dam abutment and my line zoomed out. Landed a fine 21 1/4" largemouth; admiring her briefly and releasing her. Another cast to the same area and my line zooms out again. Another big largemouth....this time closer to 20". Released that one too. Another cast and there goes the line again! This one appeared to be even bigger than the first and I saw several other huge bass along with her. (My hands really started to shake!) She rolled twice on the surface and came unbuttoned.

I may not believe in some things with regards to weather and it's affect on bass behavior, but this event has driven home some things. First & foremost would be that if an impending severe front is coming through, I have to pick up my rod and go fishing!

[Paul Roberts]

Crestliner, Yes! Having a dark front roll through is often the best of conditions. Does the pressure have an effect, or is it the visibility conditions? My observations have me watching the sky, not the barometer.

I had a day last year in which bright sun made fishing (for mature bass) really tough -nary a bite. Dinks were thrilled as usual though. Then a heavy cloud mass developed in the afternoon (afternoon thunderstorms are common here near the mountains) and I started getting banged by the bigger bass. I could picture them starting to rise up out of there hides. Or maybe they were there all along and my casting put them down. I've seen this many times while sight fishing. I think both are at work under bright conditions.

[Tucson]

Tennessee:

Thanks for gathering and crunching the data on this.  Something I should be doing myself.  Any lack of positive correlation is actually a good thing, one less factor to consider.  

I've changed my mind about the importance of these ancillary factors regarding my fishing activity.  My conclusion is to go fishing whenever I can and not worry about weather factors, lunar position etc.  Kind of liberating.  

[Wayne P.]

The pre-occupation with atmospheric conditions seems to be more for an excuse for the lack of success than it is for the successful fisherman that adapts to all conditions.

[TENNESSEE NEWSOME]

Well, I guess I don't see it that way Wayne.  I fish every chance I get, and I never look for good conditions before I go.  I fish in the sun, rain, hot, and cold.  I'd rather have a rod and reel in my hand than be at a night club, amusement park, water park, shopping mall, etc...

The only time I'm preoccupied with analyzing the data is when I'm home.  Can't help my own curiosity to know what makes fish tick, why they feed at some times and not others.  There's more to it than guess work.  And although science wasn't my discipline, some aspects of it are a hobby for me.  I was just sharing the results of my findings.  

When I'm in the boat, I'm ready to catch fish, and I'll go to great lengths to do it.  I've caught 198 fish this year, and I'm not going to make excuses for the trips I wasn't successful.  I just love fishin!