Barometer and the bite???

[mac]

Does anyone keep track of the bite as related to the barometer? I have heard about the high pressure with its clear sky driving the fish to the depths and a good bite just before a storm, but are there any general rules? Big problem is that most of the time I go whether the barometer is right or wrong.

[RANGER]

Barometric pressure has long been a discussion nightmare. Although, with the advent of the "educated fisherman (women)", which I believe was spearheaded with "Fishing Facts" mag and championed by the Lindner brothers and "In-Fisherman" mag, most fisherpersons' believe that there is a direct correlation, as do I. The following poem is based in this "science" and is fun. If you can keep this in your mind - it usually WORKS!

WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE NORTH
THE FISHERMAN GOES NOT FORTH

WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE SOUTH
THE BAIT JUMPS IN THE FISH'S MOUTH

WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE EAST
THE FISH BITE THE LEAST

WHEN THE WIND IS IN THE WEST
THE FISH BITE THE BEST

Have fun!

;-)

[REW]

I think that the previous post is correct.
Go fishing when you can.

However, if I had my choice - I have always found the best fishing as follows:
1. Very best fishing on a falling barometer - i.e. as a storm is moving in - the fish almost always turn of for a period of time.

2. Stable barometer - i.e. - if the pressure has been stable - high low or in between for at least 3 days, the fishing is normally quite good.

3. Very high pressure - normally indicates blue bird skies, and particularly, if the pressure has just gone high - the fishing is normally bad.

4. I think that the worst fishing of all is on a very fast rising barometer. This is the typical case where a thunder stom or a series of storms have moved through - and then the wind changes suddenly and quickly and very hard out of the north. This is a typical indication of a very hard and quick rise in the pressure and in general quickly shuts down fishing.

I think that all of these options make a great deal of sense, simply because the way that the air bladder of a fish works. It seems that as the pressure changes slowly - the fish can stay in its comfort range very well. Also, I think that the fish have been conditioned to the fact that if there is a quick falling barometer - as is the case with an incoming storm - they have learned that there will probably be a quickly rising barometer, and a period of discomfort and inactivity. I think that this prior experience may lead to the feeding frenzy that I have enountered so often on the teeth of an incoming storm.

Camera work has shown that in the face of a very fast rising or a recent swith to a very high pressure, the fish are tight to the bottom or buried in the weeds in a period of inactivity. It would make sense that the discomfort caused by the high and or rapid change in this pressure leads to this inactivity.

Summery:
If possible - fish your favorite lake - if you have had a constant wind out of some direction for at least three days. This means that there have been NO fronts and their pressure changes in the area for three days. This is the time when most fish are out and about and in their normal feeding patterns.

The 2nd best time - albiet brief - is the 1-3 hours as a big storm is coming in, and the pressure is on the fall.

All of the conditions after that, generally lead to times of less success.

Take care

REW

[Andy K]

Hey Ranger, does the poem mean: When the wind is "from" the north? Or "from" the south, etc.... (instead of saying "in")?

[RANGER]

Yep, "in" is "from"!

[Walizz 1]

To make it quite simple, there are only 2 good times to fish;
1. When it's raining.
2. When it isn't.

[Don__SD]

Mac, there is a good article in the Walleye-insider on page 36 that explains weather, changing water conditions ect.

[tbomn]

I only fish on days that have names that end with a "Y" or whether it's dark or light outside.:7

Usually, it is better fishing if its either AM or PM. I guess I may be a little picky about the times I fish..........

[Alan]

I have an article written by Bill Dance on my website that might be of interest to you. It is entitled, "Barometric Pressure and How It Affects Fish". Go to:

http://www.geocities.com/davis405/The_Outdoorsmans_World.html

Once there, click on the "Informative Articles" link and check out number two on the list. Good Fishin'......Alan

[WAeyes]

That is about as good as I have seen this explained, especially the theory about why they go on a feeding frenzy before a storm hits. Nice post REW

[Starfish]

I agree, it's the best summary I've seen of the expected/observed fish behavior. One thing that always bugged me about it, though... if the air pressure changes by an inch of mercury, the fish can obtain the very same overall water pressure by simply moving up or down about a foot in the water column. So why would they be so strongly affected?! The evidence suggests it's true, but the theory doesn't make sense to me...

[eyeswon]

I agree with Tbomn any time 24 7

[FEAR NO FISH!]

My dad always told me the fish don't start biting till you get there!

[PrimeTime]

I fish Lake Erie mostly in the winter as an ice guide. Whenever I have had those days when you could do no wrong, I have checked on what the barometer did that day and invariably it has been moving sharply in one direction or the other. I have a slight preference for a dropping barometer, but once it pegs out either on the high or low sides, the fishing gets tough until the pressure starts moving again.

[rich]

ranger i also heard that wind from the north is not fit for man or beast.

[Dave Randash]

Regarding Minnesota on ice.....
Two days before a blizzard or major cold front is always "prime-time".

[Walizz 1]

Gee Dave, I didn't know you went out in the cold. Are you coming to Winnebago?

Dale