Storms affect fish… but why?

Since we have come back top discussions about fishing, I have a long-debated issue that was recently raised due to the storms rolling through today…

Statement: “The fish will bite better before and right during the storm…….but usually die down after a storm rolls through…. This is due to the fact that bass are primarily site feeders (hence the big eyes)….storms muddy up the water, thus allowing it harder for bass to see prey, they know storms do this, so they binge feed before them in order to fatten up for possible murky times ahead.”

Others say “The HIGH pressure rolls through during a storm, exciting the fish. Once the system rolls through, a LOW pressure follows, causing lethargic feeding behavior.”

Agree… Disagree…. What are everyone’s thoughts on this theory?

From What I’ve read,

When a storm rolls in, the pressure in the atmospere drops quickly which in turn makes the fish come up shallow to equalize their air bladders. When this happens, it is also the baifish that have to come to the surface. When conditions are right this can trigger a “natural” feeding frenzy because the fish do not have to school up the baitfish cause they are all in one place.

On the other hand,
When it is clear skies and sunny, fishing can be very tough. Normaly this is a high pressure situation which makes the fish retreat for deeper water, once again to equalize their air bladder. From what I’ve experienced, both of these have been generaly true.

There was a discussion on some of this last year in a post called cold fronts or something.

Look back in the messages, there was some good info in that post.

PS, I would say it is not a real good idea to be fishing DURING the storm.

I agree it isn’t all that wise to be holding a graphite rod in an aluminum boat in an electrical storm… BUT, the fishin; is generally rocking! Gotta go sometime!

What are you talking about Mossboss? DURING the storm is when I get out my 9 foot carolina riggin rod and make really LONG casts and hold the tip really HIGH so I can watch my line! I get some hits that would knock you out cold!

Here is the link to the thread MossBoss was talking about.

http://www.in-depthangling.com/forums/river/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=bass&Number=22044&Forum=bass&Words=barometric%20pressure&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=22044&Search=true

I agree with JHall on the tough bite with ‘high skies’ but I would also like to state that many of the fish I have caught in the last few weeks have been very shallow and feeding on top. I was out with Buzzer a few weeks ago between the hours of 10 and 2 and almost all of our fish were caught on topwater lures on shallow sand flats. The sun was blazing that day I might add. Granted, most of these fish if not all were near deep water, but were feeding in the shallows. This points directly back to what Champman said about fish using troughs and channels to feed.

Now that I have completely lost my train of thought, I’ll post this link to another thread revolving around fronts and barometric pressure.

http://www.in-depthangling.com/forums/river/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=bass&Number=21851&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

Blue Fleck,

I too, for the strangest reasons have had the same with fish being in basicaly no water all day long. Sometimes topwater was the best too! I dont know! I didnt fit the formula I try to follow but whatever, I tend not to ask too many questions when they are doing somthing wacky and Im catchin the heck out of em either!

hey everyone,

I have had better luck after a storm front has moved through in about 15′ of water. I did catch alot of northers and bass the next morning after a night rainfall when the sun is shinning. I did however concetrate right on the edge of drop offs and my lucky spots where. So I don’t much believe in the weatherman anyhow. it think it also has to do with alot of the presentation of the bait. and i found after a storm, i have better luck catching fish using live bait compared to cranks or plastics. just my 2 cents worth.

shane

Just to clarify, You have better luck after the bright blues high skies have arrived.
jc

that is correct, right away in the morning when the rain is done and the sun is starting to rise up in the sky. i have awsome days fishing after a good thunder storm! but that has been on coon lake, the only i have fished. i don’t get out much and it is close.

shane

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i have better luck catching fish using live bait compared to cranks or plastics”

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Ummm… when don’t you? Isn’t that kind of “cheatin'” anyway? Livebait is for meat hunters…

Anyone seen my Boots?

Don’t tell my mom livebait is cheating. I took her out one morning this summer and she had an absolute BLAST catching bass on a slip bobber and a leech. I have a pic of her holding a fish, I should try and post it. Man, she was having a ton of fun, and I couldn’t even get any fishing in between getting the net, unhooking her fish, and re-baiting her hook.

Reel guy-

Maybe im just tired this morning and Im slaphappy, but I am LMFAO!

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Umm….when dont you?

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GOOD CALL!

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Isn’t that kind of “cheatin'” anyway? Livebait is for meat hunters…

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So let me get this straight. When I see Roland Martin fishing shiners on tv, I am to assume he is a “meathunter” and a “cheat.” Hmmmm…..somehow I don’t think so. I’m hoping the comment was made in jest as the graemlin indicates.

Well… this will likely be my longest post…

Tournament fishing has taught me that the real challenge is finding fish and then getting them to bite. I have faired well this year (no money, but always hanging just below it).

However, I will use my annual trip to Canada to explain my point, as I do NOT EVER use livebait to bass fish… Over the past 29 years of trips to Canada, finding Smallmouths and Walleye is relatively easy (I know the water – been fishing it for 29 years… my dad before me, and his dad before him, etc… You see, the “spots” are well known to our family).

BUT, getting them to bite is another thing.

Using artificals, even with the realtively new finesse techniques (drop shotting, weightless flukes, etc.) it is some times next to impossible… BUT, throw a leech on a Lindy-rig or a jig and a minnow and BINGO – Fish on!

So, you tell me, is it cheatin’? I think so… but, that is my opinion. If I am a “sport fisherman” as defined by tournament rules, live bait is unacceptable due to to its higher hooking percentage AND a higher mortality rate due to the often deep throat hook-sets.

So, when I want a meal in Canada… throw a leech and catch the shore lunch. Want to catch fish and challenge yourself against the fish… throw artificials.

Also, I know from friends down south, that in the winter, it is VERY common to use shiners (big ones) to try and catch bigger largemouth… why, cause they are not actively feeding and people still want to insure a big catch… Usually guides.

Another example is muskie fishing in the fall up north in WI. My father used to hire Tony Rizzo to go out in late October to catch big muskies… using suckers… 14″ to 18″ suckers… Why? Cause artificials had a much lower percentage of catching a fish. BUT, most muskies caught (even using a quick-strike rig) were likely to die. This is unfortunate and we no longer do this. Some say “cut the line and let ’em go and they’ll be fine. Research has proven otherwise, but some continue to fish this way, include Tony… his guide service and livelihood depends on people catching trophies (at least in his mind).

See, the bottom line is… whatever you believe – we are human and entitle to our own opinions. Is there “jest” in my comment… yes, a bit. But, as you can tell, I believe it more sporting to use artificials.

I think the answer to the Live bait question lies in each individual. I don’t think you can call live bait fishing “cheating” necessarily, but like i said, it depends on the individual. If i’m out fishing for fun on a weekend w/friends or whoever, i have no problem fishing w/live bait if it’s producing fish. When i fish tournaments or competitively, i enjoy the challenge of getting fish to bite….We all have a passion for fishing, and I think in a way it’s the challenge that keeps us out there week after week (that and the dream of that true HAWG)….So do what suits you best!!

“That’s all i have to say about that”–Forest Gump