Barometric Pressure

[lynyrdsky1]

I believe in it. When that barometer is dropping thats when  i know im gonna atleast catch something.

[lynyrdsky1]

I believe in it. When that barometer is dropping thats when  i know im gonna atleast catch something.

[OHIO]

It's another one of the myths that fishermen use for an excuse when they don't catch bass with their favorite presentations and won't try any other presentations.

The same goes for wind, cold fronts, time of day, water temp, etc.

I wouldn't go as far to say that water temperature and time of day have nothing to do with fish behavior.

[OHIO]

It's another one of the myths that fishermen use for an excuse when they don't catch bass with their favorite presentations and won't try any other presentations.

The same goes for wind, cold fronts, time of day, water temp, etc.

I wouldn't go as far to say that water temperature and time of day have nothing to do with fish behavior.

[OHIO]

It's another one of the myths that fishermen use for an excuse when they don't catch bass with their favorite presentations and won't try any other presentations.

The same goes for wind, cold fronts, time of day, water temp, etc.

I wouldn't go as far to say that water temperature and time of day have nothing to do with fish behavior.

[Big Fish Rice]

Some believe that B.P. affects the bite, while other people don't.

Personally, I don't care either way. I get out on the water every chance I get. Only been skunked once this year, so I've had great success without watching the B.P. reports.

[Big Fish Rice]

Some believe that B.P. affects the bite, while other people don't.

Personally, I don't care either way. I get out on the water every chance I get. Only been skunked once this year, so I've had great success without watching the B.P. reports.

[Big Fish Rice]

Some believe that B.P. affects the bite, while other people don't.

Personally, I don't care either way. I get out on the water every chance I get. Only been skunked once this year, so I've had great success without watching the B.P. reports.

[gobig]

I do not believe its a myth. It has an effect on fish activity. If you do not believe I encourage you to track it over the next year. The barometric pressure should not determine whether or not you go fishing but should help you determine a logical starting point. For example, If there is a good chance that fish activity will be up then you may want to start the day with a faster moving bait. Nothing is concrete and so called rules are continually broken. Fishing is like gambling. You can go out there blind and you may get lucky or you can play the probabilities and increase your chances.

[gobig]

I do not believe its a myth. It has an effect on fish activity. If you do not believe I encourage you to track it over the next year. The barometric pressure should not determine whether or not you go fishing but should help you determine a logical starting point. For example, If there is a good chance that fish activity will be up then you may want to start the day with a faster moving bait. Nothing is concrete and so called rules are continually broken. Fishing is like gambling. You can go out there blind and you may get lucky or you can play the probabilities and increase your chances.

[gobig]

I do not believe its a myth. It has an effect on fish activity. If you do not believe I encourage you to track it over the next year. The barometric pressure should not determine whether or not you go fishing but should help you determine a logical starting point. For example, If there is a good chance that fish activity will be up then you may want to start the day with a faster moving bait. Nothing is concrete and so called rules are continually broken. Fishing is like gambling. You can go out there blind and you may get lucky or you can play the probabilities and increase your chances.

[WRB]

Alright soo I have never got the whole barometric pressure thing...could somebody please explain to me how this works and how it affects a bass???

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute.

So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches.

Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change.

The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes.

Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere.

WRB

[WRB]

Alright soo I have never got the whole barometric pressure thing...could somebody please explain to me how this works and how it affects a bass???

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute.

So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches.

Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change.

The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes.

Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere.

WRB

[WRB]

Alright soo I have never got the whole barometric pressure thing...could somebody please explain to me how this works and how it affects a bass???

Relating how changing barametric pressure affects bass underwater isn't well documented outside of angler observation. The difference between normal, low and high barametric pressure is very small number; 100 millibars is the difference between a massive huricane and normal pressure. 1 foot of water pressure is equal to about 1,000 millibars of barametric pressure. The pressure change on a basses airbladder from changes in Barametric pressure is minute.

So the question is why does barametric pressure changes affect bass fishing? All the bass needs to do to off set barametric pressure change is move up or down on the water column a few inches.

Low pressure affects light, humindity, wind and environment above the water....animal life becomes more active and bass being a predator react to the changes. High pressure clears the air with wind and light increases, animal life above the water takes shelter and bass react to that change.

The shallower the bass are in the water column, the more they are affected by above water climate changes.

Low pressure; fish for active bass , high pressure fish for less active bass in deeper water. Normal pressure fish for bass everywhere.

WRB

[SportMN]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain.  Small zoo plankton are affected.  If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them.  Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass.  When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

[SportMN]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain.  Small zoo plankton are affected.  If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them.  Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass.  When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

[SportMN]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain.  Small zoo plankton are affected.  If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them.  Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass.  When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

[J Francho]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain. Small zoo plankton are affected. If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them. Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass. When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

I do agree with what the forage is doing, I just don't think barometric pressure has that much influence on hydrostatic pressure.  And that correlation is backwards, anyway.  The higher the pressure, then the aquatic creatures would have to move up to compensate.  I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current.  A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

[J Francho]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain. Small zoo plankton are affected. If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them. Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass. When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

I do agree with what the forage is doing, I just don't think barometric pressure has that much influence on hydrostatic pressure.  And that correlation is backwards, anyway.  The higher the pressure, then the aquatic creatures would have to move up to compensate.  I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current.  A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

[J Francho]

It really doesnt affect the bass directly as much as many think.. But it does affect the food chain. Small zoo plankton are affected. If the pressure is lowering the small zoo plankton become more buoyant and thus easier for small minnows and such to feed on them. Small minnows and such then become more available and then hence the bass. When the pressure is rising and or high the zoo plankton are more stuck int he weeds and on the bottom.

I do agree with what the forage is doing, I just don't think barometric pressure has that much influence on hydrostatic pressure.  And that correlation is backwards, anyway.  The higher the pressure, then the aquatic creatures would have to move up to compensate.  I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current.  A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

[Teaburner]

I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current. A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

This makes the most sense out of what has been said so far imo.

[Teaburner]

I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current. A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

This makes the most sense out of what has been said so far imo.

[Teaburner]

I think it has to do more with light levels, wind and current. A low pressure front moves in, clouds block the sun, there's wind, creating current, and the critters come out, followed by the baitfish, followed by the game fish.

This makes the most sense out of what has been said so far imo.

[.ghoti.]

If you're going to quote specifications, at least get the numbers correct.

1000 millibars is a little less than one standard atmosphere; approx 14.5 psi. I left out a bunch of numbers on the right side of the decimal place.

one foot of water column equals 0.433 psi.

I had to look up some readings for Illinois.

Highest reading ever recorded = 30.99"Hg

Lowest reading recorded = 28.71"Hg

A difference of 2.28"Hg = 77.21mb = 31" water column

A more typical change to see as a front passes is in the range of 10 - 30 millibars, 4 - 12" of water.

John, if you think in terms of absolute pressure, the pressure at any given depth is the sum of the weight of the water above that point, plus, the weight of the air above that.

All of which does nothing to answer the original question.

My own observation is that, more often than not, fishing gets better as the barometer is dropping. And gets worse during a rise. Stable pressure means to look to other factors.

Does this mean bass are responding to an increase in activity in the food chain? Sounds reasonable.

Does it mean they are reacting to a change in light levels? Sounds reasonable.

Wind, current, etc? Sounds reasonable.

All the above? Sounds reasonable.

A different question is, do the bass "feel" the barometric pressure change?

Who knows. The lateral line is a pressure sensitive instrument. Is it sensitive enough to detect these small changes? Who knows. It could very well be.

If that's the case, it could be argued that bass have "learned" that falling pressure means more food will be available for a short period of time, and move to take advantage of it. If we define instinct as learning that occurs over hundreds of thousands of generations, that is.

[.ghoti.]

If you're going to quote specifications, at least get the numbers correct.

1000 millibars is a little less than one standard atmosphere; approx 14.5 psi. I left out a bunch of numbers on the right side of the decimal place.

one foot of water column equals 0.433 psi.

I had to look up some readings for Illinois.

Highest reading ever recorded = 30.99"Hg

Lowest reading recorded = 28.71"Hg

A difference of 2.28"Hg = 77.21mb = 31" water column

A more typical change to see as a front passes is in the range of 10 - 30 millibars, 4 - 12" of water.

John, if you think in terms of absolute pressure, the pressure at any given depth is the sum of the weight of the water above that point, plus, the weight of the air above that.

All of which does nothing to answer the original question.

My own observation is that, more often than not, fishing gets better as the barometer is dropping. And gets worse during a rise. Stable pressure means to look to other factors.

Does this mean bass are responding to an increase in activity in the food chain? Sounds reasonable.

Does it mean they are reacting to a change in light levels? Sounds reasonable.

Wind, current, etc? Sounds reasonable.

All the above? Sounds reasonable.

A different question is, do the bass "feel" the barometric pressure change?

Who knows. The lateral line is a pressure sensitive instrument. Is it sensitive enough to detect these small changes? Who knows. It could very well be.

If that's the case, it could be argued that bass have "learned" that falling pressure means more food will be available for a short period of time, and move to take advantage of it. If we define instinct as learning that occurs over hundreds of thousands of generations, that is.