Fishing During Weather Changes
This time of year, anglers may see a dramatic shift in weather conditions throughout the day. The first rule in nature is everything happens for a reason. Most everything is a result of cause and effect that you can sometimes build a pattern from. Weather plays a huge factor in fishing and if you pay attention to the conditions around you, you will become a better fisherman.
THE WIND IS YOUR GUIDE
During those times when the wind blows in, pay attention to the direction its coming from and which banks are being hit directly. Usually, winds coming from the south or west bring in fronts that warm the surface of the water. Northern or eastern winds tend to bring cooler air in. Microscopic food will rise towards the surface of the water, triggering baitfish and nearby larger fish to eat. Wind is essential during hot weather months as it will help oxygenate stagnant water by generating current and helps with lure presentation. Wind blurs any sign of your presence that could spook fish and gives the bait a more natural action that will get a otherwise weary fish to bite.
Too much wind, especially from the north, will cause fish to stop feeding and seek cover or hunker down in deeper water. Mix rain into the equation and the bite is challenging but not impossible. Just make sure you have proper wet weather gear (like our recent FishVault FroggToggs suit) and stay off or the water if there is any thunder or lightning. Better to be safe and live to fish another day.
WHAT DOES THE BAROMETER SAY
The general guideline is fish will be less likely to bite when the barometer has peaked and resulted in sunny weather. In theory, this increased pressure affects a fish’s swim bladder negatively, making them lose their appetite. The function of a fish’s swim bladder is regulating air pressure within their body to maintain a fish’s neutral buoyancy, so they remain upright without actively swimming to hold their position within a certain depth within the water column. An example of a swim bladder not functioning properly is when an angler catches a fish from deep water and reels it in so quickly the fish cannot adjust and begins to float sideways. The swim bladder has become overinflated and will require fizzing to alleviate the pressure.
When the barometer is falling, fishing tends to be more successful as the skies begin to increase in cloud cover, indicating a front on its way. Fish feel this change, their swim bladder not affected by excessive pressure and so begin to feed in preparation of an incoming storm. They will find cover or go deeper offshore and wait it out until it passes and then resume migrations, feeding, spawning or just swimming around. While the storm is active, depending on its severity, the fish will not actively feed, thus requiring slow presentations that trigger reaction strikes.
How you adapt to dramatic weather changes throughout the day can determine your fishing success. Hopefully these tips will increase your bite. Don’t forget that we fill FishVault fishing subscription boxes with the best tackle and gear to keep you fishing regardless of what mother nature throws at you.