Best conditions for fishing

It’s a lovely day, the sun is shining, there’s no wind, it’s nice and cool…what could be better than a spot of fishing…

…maybe a picnic – ‘cause these ain’t the best conditions for fishing!

So how do you work out if it’s worth going fishing? 

Ask the weather 

…and while there are no rules, and you’ll always find exceptions, it’s worth knowing about this stuff because there’s a heap of factors created by weather that can turn on the fishing…or turn them off! 

So let’s start with the obvious ones.

 

Water temperature

Water temperature influences how much the fish want to eat.

Fish are cold blooded and the water around them regulates their body temperature…and this effects their activity levels.

The colder the water the slower the fish’s metabolism and the less they feed. They’re not so active so they don’t need as much energy from food. 

When it warms up the opposite is true…they need energy and want food.  

 Water temperature also affects the activity of the things fish eat… insects, snails, yabbies and other fish which are also cold blooded also move around according to the temperature.

 

Rain

You know what it’s like to be caught in the rain can…it can be cold.

Rain does the same thing when it hits your fishing spot… it  lowers the water temperature depending on how much rain falls and the size of the body of water…

…and cold water can stop fish feeding… but rain can also raise the water level pretty quick and wash in a lot  of food at the same time…this extra food can bring fish on the bite.

 

Sun

Sun does the opposite to rain…it heats the water especially on smaller or shallow water… and this warming of the water can get the fish moving…but if it gets too hot and  there’s no breeze, the fish can feel distressed and not come out of their hiding spots….but in Winter, a sunny day might warm the water enough to get the fish feeding for a short while….this is when you want to have your bait in the water.

 

Fishes built in weather guage 

Most fish, but not all, have a body part called a swim bladder”.  They use it to hold themselves in the water column…but it is also affected by, barometric pressure, and can turn them on and off the bite real quick.

Barometric pressure is the pressure of the air on the earth.

Falling barometric pressure (less air pressure) is usually a sign of a coming storm. Rising barometric pressure (more air pressure) usually indicates sun and clear skies.

 

‘So how does barometric pressure affect your fishing?

 

Stable pressure system –  Fish seem to feed normally during stable weather – the average pressure system for the time of year.

They’re normal feeding activity happens during this stable or “normal”  time….

If there’s been a rapid rise or fall in pressure – feeding stops at the highest points and lowest points

Good fishing often happens after the third day of  stable weather…by then the fish have acclimated to the weather and become most active.

 

Changing weather-Fish react to weather changes in the way they feed and where they stay in the water.

Rapid changes in barometric pressure, especially a sudden fall,  can trigger feeding activity before the pressure bottoms out…

….looking for incoming stormy weather for a feeding frenzy!

 

Wind

I have noticed some of the most extreme fishing conditions…good and bad, due to wind.

A little wind is good, especially on a sunny day where it will break up the water surface, make the fish harder to see and make them feel safer.

Heavy wind can be the “kiss of death” for most fishing as it seems to shut some species down.

Having said this I have had some outstanding fishing in lakes as the wind creates waves and blows all food to the shore…if the wind is blowing in your face as you face the water –  you are in the right spot and the fishing can be tremendous…

Also, some predatory salt water species come in shore when the wind is heavy to pick off the bait fish pushed around by winds and currents…a live bait, or fresh fish bait can bring on some real exciting action!

So… there are a heap of variables brought on by the weather…but if you study it a bit and take notice of the weather and barometric pressure when you fish you’ll start to work out what brings them on the bite!

For more info on how the pressure system  affect your fishing check by blog – When is the best time to go fishing

 

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