PstMacteeer
Freshly Spawned
Had 29,5 yesterday. Low! I figured it wouldn’t be a great day. And it wasn’t. What do you find you do best in? Rising barometer? Falling barometer? No pressure? High pressure? Steady barometer?
What’s your opinion on barometer and fishing?
- Thread starter PstMacteeer
- Start date
Well... This should cause a rising discussion...
First, if you can go fishing go fishing, no matter what the barometer is doing, because according to my friend, "you can't catch fish in the parking lot".
Second, I have had some very serious "discussions" with people way Way smarter than me, and it varies some heated debate. So, unless you can only go fishing one day a year and are using the barometer to pick/use that day, just go fishing.
Third, above being said I record the barometer data every day I fish, and I would say in looking at the data, steady barometers or falling slowly are the best days. But that being said I have also had some PHENOMENAL days when the barometer is shooting up! But that isn't always.
And another theory that I handy thought of was maybe the barometer isn't effecting the fish but the fishes food. Meaning that maybe the barometer isn't squeezing the fish so much, but the microscopic bugs the fish are feeding on don't move or migrate as much, because the slight change is squeezing the crap out of them.
Anyway, like my friend says can't catch fish in the parking lot, go fishing
First, if you can go fishing go fishing, no matter what the barometer is doing, because according to my friend, "you can't catch fish in the parking lot".
Second, I have had some very serious "discussions" with people way Way smarter than me, and it varies some heated debate. So, unless you can only go fishing one day a year and are using the barometer to pick/use that day, just go fishing.
Third, above being said I record the barometer data every day I fish, and I would say in looking at the data, steady barometers or falling slowly are the best days. But that being said I have also had some PHENOMENAL days when the barometer is shooting up! But that isn't always.
And another theory that I handy thought of was maybe the barometer isn't effecting the fish but the fishes food. Meaning that maybe the barometer isn't squeezing the fish so much, but the microscopic bugs the fish are feeding on don't move or migrate as much, because the slight change is squeezing the crap out of them.
Anyway, like my friend says can't catch fish in the parking lot, go fishing
DerekWhipple
Steelhead
I go fishing whenever I can go, even if conditions aren't ideal.
I knew bass anglers really cared about barometric pressure, but I don't hear about it much since I moved here.
I knew bass anglers really cared about barometric pressure, but I don't hear about it much since I moved here.
This came up in another thread.........
I do like fishing when there are less people... so I go during the week
As far as fishing success by the weather, opinions are all over the place...
Fishing by the Barometer | The Weather Channel
"According to *Spud Woodward, Assistant Director for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division and an avid king mackerel and red drum fisherman*, fish are much more comfortable when there's stable high pressure, and tend to feed actively most anywhere within the water column. He also acknowledges the general cycles of high and low pressure and how fish react to them."
What Is the Best Barometric Pressure for Fishing? | Weather Station Advisor
"The best barometric pressure conditions for fishing are when the pressure is falling, and the weather is degrading. During this period of falling barometric pressure, fish will be very active. They will likely take any food you offer them"
How Barometric Pressure Can Affect Fishing Conditions | Acurite (my weather station mfg)
"After researching the myths and studies all over the world-wide web, here is what the vast majority has come to conclusion on when it comes to barometric pressure and fishing…
High Pressure (30.50 +/Clear Skies) - Fish bite Medium to Slow in deeper water or near cover while fishing slowly.
Medium Pressure (29.70 – 30.40/Fair Weather) - Normal Fishing using different gear or baits to meet the needs of the fish.
Low Pressure (29.60 and under/Cloudy/Rainy Weather) - Fishing Slows. Go at them slow in deeper water or near cover.
Rising Pressure/Improving Weather – The fish are slightly active. Go at them slow in deeper water or near cover.
Stable Pressure/Fair Weather - Normal Fishing. This is the perfect to try different gear or baits.
Falling Pressure/Degrading Weather - Best Fishing. The fish are likely to take anything they can get!!"
Understanding Barometric Pressure and How It Affects Fishing | In Fisherman
"Even slight changes in barometric pressure can cause big variations in fish behavior. One of the main reasons is that everything in the water sinks, suspends, or floats to the top. Changes in pressure act like minor changes in gravity, upsetting this delicate balancing act on a regular basis. Such rises and falls are compounded because objects weigh less underwater, which makes them more prone to ups and downs...
In the end, the key to consistent catches is understanding how barometric pressure and other mitigating factors - both natural and human-related - affect fish behavior on your favorite lakes, and adjusting your fishing tactics to match."
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Old406Kid
Legend
I go but use these as some of my excuses when the catching sucks.
Like the solunar tables, I have not found a useful correlation between air pressure and fish responsiveness in freshwater lakes and streams for trout or panfish.
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Well, anecdotally, I've had ridiculously great fishing when I happened to be on the water right before a sudden storm moves in - so presumably a rapidly falling barometer.
That said, I generally would not plan to be on the water with a storm coming in!
I did just get a sudden itch to find an old-timey barometer to epoxy to my kayak, though
That said, I generally would not plan to be on the water with a storm coming in!
I did just get a sudden itch to find an old-timey barometer to epoxy to my kayak, though
DoesItFloat
Life of the Party
I tend to do better during low or dropping pressure. Unrelated: I never do well around a full moon.
Leigh -Well, anecdotally, I've had ridiculously great fishing when I happened to be on the water right before a sudden storm moves in - so presumably a rapidly falling barometer.
That said, I generally would not plan to be on the water with a storm coming in!
I did just get a sudden itch to find an old-timey barometer to epoxy to my kayak, though
A fews years ago I was fishing Lake Lenore, parked near the entrance to the trail head for Soap Lake Caves - it was cloudy and a bit breezy. It started raining and soon we could hear thunder, there was a storm moving east off the plateau to the west. When we started feeling a tickling sensation (static electricity) when casting, it seemed like time to go - carbon fiber rods might conduct electricity, (maybe not), but standing ankle deep in a lake when lightning is imminent isn't wise. We didn't want to quit, the fishing was spectacular.
To the OP: It seems if you can get out to go fishing, do so (you can't catch fish in a parking lot) and sitting at my pc, I'm not catching fish (I did yesterday).
I've also had an anecdotal theory that falling barometer was good and rising was bad. It never changed my decision on whether to fish or not, and I never kept detailed records.
My fishing log app does have a solunar table in the opening screen where you create a "trip" to log that *includes weather and pressure. It corresponds fairly closely to *US Primetimes and Tides Pro that do not include weather.
For freshwater streams with a Tenkara rod I don't often (feel the need to) change flies and that can eliminate an important variable. I have noticed upticks in fish activity; i.e. strikes, with solunar spike times but nothing spectacular. But there are many other variables including gradient, streambed composition, depth, current, clarity, and littoral zone in the reach I'm fishing, time of year... that seem more important.
If I can only fish one day and my (and a buddy's) schedule permits both high & low solunar (& barometer-weather) probability days, I'll likely go with the higher probability day.
I have found tides much more important than solunar - weather (barometer) when fishing from saltwater beaches. However the wind forecast can make me choose another day.
I'm beginning to fish more stillwater and it will be interesting to see if I notice any barometer-weather-solunar trends.
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It's a thing, but it's not always the same thing, so it is definitely best to go fishing anytime you can.
That said, I have found that steady pressure (within the bounds of normal) yields steady fishing. Bite here, bite there... stable weather.... Dropping and rising pressure (especially dropping) can motivate some great, temporary bites, but as soon as it gets too low (below 29 or so) or too high (above 30), the bite shuts off like a switch. It's almost like the fish sense a period of discomfort is coming, so they had better eat while they feel up to it. Almost.
But yeah... never opt for the couch over fishing if you have the choice.
That said, I have found that steady pressure (within the bounds of normal) yields steady fishing. Bite here, bite there... stable weather.... Dropping and rising pressure (especially dropping) can motivate some great, temporary bites, but as soon as it gets too low (below 29 or so) or too high (above 30), the bite shuts off like a switch. It's almost like the fish sense a period of discomfort is coming, so they had better eat while they feel up to it. Almost.
But yeah... never opt for the couch over fishing if you have the choice.
Hey Pat -
Exactly! Thunder or lightning and I'm yeeting myself outta there, fish biting or not.
I've had lightning strikes within 20 yards of me twice. Once directly (like within feet) behind my car while I was looking over my shoulder backing out of a driveway. I couldn't see for about 5 min. The other time standing on a hilltop green with my dad and brother, all three of us with putters in our hands, thinking the storm had passed. The only time I ever saw fear on my father's face. Not messing with that stuff!!
But aside from lightning or high winds, I'll fish whenever the opportunity is there.
Coach Potter
Life of the Party
I paid fairly close attention to this stuff when I was tournament fishing. Bass bite really well as pressure is falling but don't bite well when pressure rises quickly. Post front high pressure makes bass fishing tough. You can still catch e'm, as they say, but it's tough. Once it's stable, even if it remains high, they get back on it. I don't think they like the sudden rise in pressure but the sudden drop in pressure (most of the time) seems to be favorable.
I would always fish when I could fish but I was aware of the situation and make adjustments accordingly.
I don't honestly know if trout in moving water are affected. Maybe in a couple of years I'll have an opinion. This is my first season back and I don't recall thinking about it before I left the sport.
I would always fish when I could fish but I was aware of the situation and make adjustments accordingly.
I don't honestly know if trout in moving water are affected. Maybe in a couple of years I'll have an opinion. This is my first season back and I don't recall thinking about it before I left the sport.