Said outdoor writer Bob Sampson, "While that impending front might cause an angler without raingear some discomfort, it also can trigger a hot bite. What many anglers know intuitively, but don't actually understand, is that it's the changes in barometric pressure associated with good and bad weather that turn the fish on and off like a giant kill switch in the sky.
"Because fall is a transitional season, winds, weather and their related pressure changes can be more extreme...and so can the fishing," continued Sampson. "Each region of the country exhibits weather patterns that consistently influence air movement. By understanding local weather patterns, you more often can plan successful fishing trips."
Veteran angler Mark Nichols couldn't agree more. "One of my best days of bass fishing ever was in Texas, when I was living near Austin. A big tropical depression was closing in on Corpus Christi at the coast as a buddy and I launched a canoe a day or two before the storm hit. It was a beautiful, calm morning, and the water in Onion Creek was gin-clear. We started casting plugs, and the bass action was just plain nuts. It was ridiculous how aggressive they were.
"Three times that day, I had a double hookup on different trebles of the same plug. We watched bass bump each other out of the way to get to our lures," added Nichols. "Most of those fish were 2 to 3 pounds, but we had some 5-pounders, too. We also had live bait out for catfish and got three huge ones, including a 32-pounder."
Indeed, summer and early fall fishing is all about weather systems and getting out on the water on those magical days just before and after a big weather system moves through an area, causing the barometric pressure to crash.
As the inclement weather moves out, the cold front...a mass of heavier, denser, high-pressure air...begins to rush in behind the low-pressure system. The result usually is windy weather, with clearing skies, dropping temperatures, and a very sharp rise in barometric pressure. During this time, anglers, especially those participating in big-money bass tournaments, dread even going near the water, because high pressure usually brings the fishing action to a standstill.
When cold, high-pressure fronts move in, prey, along with the predatory fish that feed on them, tend to move into dense cover, or out into deeper water, where they can be difficult to catch. This is when flipping jigs or running plugs around structure near deep water and working lures ever so S-L-O-W-W-W-L-Y in likely spots can pay off. Persistence will result in some catches during these times, but you'll have to work extremely hard for every strike.
Fishing time is precious, so maximize your efforts with a plan...provided, of course, you're not one of those who have to punch a clock eight hours a day, five days a week. In that case, you simply go every chance you get and hope for the best.
In any event, know that you can count on favorable fishing conditions during cloudy, stormy weather and not-so-great fishing during beautiful, sunny weather.
A barometer that can track the direction in which the pressure is heading will help determine in real time whether or not you should be fishing. A glance at which way the pressure is headed might help tell you if the past two biteless hours you've just spent on the water were due to poor lure choice or because fish were suffering under increasing high pressure.
Most of us fish when we can, and not necessarily when conditions are most favorable. However, if given a choice, try to get on the water before a storm moves in, and avoid fishing as one moves out.
No comments:
Post a Comment