How Barometric Pressure Affects Fishing

I was asked recently to explain the effect of weather, and especially barometric pressure, on fishing. I certainly knew that changes in the weather had an effect, but I couldn't explain it. So, it was time to do some research. Here is what I learned.

There is definitely a relationship between barometric pressure and fishing results. In a nutshell, the theory is that dropping air pressure brings on feeding activity, rising pressure turns the fish off feeding, high pressure results in the fish moving to shallower water, and low pressure results in fish moving to deeper water. Just to get your bearings, normal air pressure is 30inHg. A reading of 30.5 is considered very high and 28.5 is considered very low.

The basic premise is that changing air pressure affects the swim bladder of fish. A lower pressure will move a fish to deeper water seeking the higher water pressure on their swim bladder. Theory has it that just before a change from high pressure to low pressure, fish will bite like crazy and then stop biting when the pressure gets low. A rising barometer will cause fish rise back to shallower water.

There is also some merit to the fact that changing barometric pressure also affects clouds, wind, and rain which can all affect your fishing. In summary, high pressure (above 30) will bring fish shallower and they will seek cover from structure. Rising pressure means clearing skys so fish shallower and with bright colors. Falling pressure is the best feeding time. Lower pressure usually means it is cloudy and you need to fish with a deeper running lure and at a slower retrieval speed because fish are more sluggish.

Hopefully this information is helpful; however you should keep some notes as you fish to begin drawing your own conclusions about the weather and barometric pressure.

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Fishing Around The New Moon For Best Results

I certainly realize that you do not always have a choice of when to fish. Sometimes we have to fish when we have the time, regardless of other factors; however, you should be aware of the environmental factors that affect fishing results. One of the most important factors is the position of the moon. The solunar tables have been around for years. They predict the best and worst feeding times for fish and other animals.

Speaking from experience, I can simplify things for solunar fishing. The best times to fish are just before and just after the new moon. Generally, fishing during the morning hours for six days before the new moon, and fishing during the afternoons for six days after the new moon produces the best results. This doesn't mean you can't catch fish at other times, these are just the best feeding times.

It is easy to find out when the new moon is, just click here to view the table. In conclusion, when you have a choice, fish around the new moon for best results. In the next couple of days I'll write about other environmental factors that have an effect on fishing.

Fishing With A Drop Shot Rig

Using a drop shot rig has gained popularity lately as a freshwater fishing technique. After the spring spawn many fish go to much deeper water, especially in warm summer months in deep lakes and this is where the drop shot is needed. Many of the bass pros have used drop shotting effectively to score well and win tournaments; however don't think it is only for bass. The drop shot is one of the best multi-species rigs there is. A drop shot works best in water depth of 10 feet or more where fish are suspended off the bottom. It can be used in depths up to 50 or 60 feet. First, use your fish finder to establish their depth; then rig your drop shot to put your bait at the depth where the fish are.

For example, if the water depth is 20 feet and you detect fish at 17 feet, rig the hook on the drop shot 3 feet above the weight. The typical drop shot is rigged with either a drop shot hook or a standout hook tied with a palomar knot (in the example above) 3 feet from the end of the line where the weight is tied off. If the fish are suspended at 4 feet, place the hook 4 feet from the weight. It is important to use a weight heavy enough to stay in contact with the bottom. The diagram below demonstrates the rig with a regular hook.

Below is a diagram using a standout hook. Personally, I prefer the standout hook. It seems to provide better positioning and action for the bait. Fishing the rig is simple, just let it drop to the bottom then gently raise and lower the rod tip slightly to give the bait a little action. Berkley Gulp scented minnows work great as bait. Live minnows of course works well too.

The drop shot rig is deadly. If you haven't tried it, I hope I have explained it well enough for you to begin using this productive technique. All of the supplies needed are available from Bass Pro Shops. For your convenience I have placed a link below.

Catching Walleye In Late Fall

Fishing for walleye in late fall can be very productive; however you won't find them in the same spots as the summer months. Also, there is less pressure from anglers which certainly helps.

My first suggestion is to start shallow and then work towards deeper water. Start with a jig tipped with a minnow off of shallow points. Next pitch into weedlines. Then move to deeper water where the bottom has contour changes. There is usually forage near changes in the bottom which will attract walleye. You can try trolling, but walleye are slower so don't troll more than a mile an hour which is slower than you troll in warmer months.

Take advantage of less fishing pressure and enjoy fishing for fall walleye.

For Bass Fishing Check Out Bass Edge

If you are a bass fisherman and are unaware of the Bass Edge web site, you need to check it out. BassEdge.com has a tremendous amount of information you'll want to explore. Whether it's choosing the right lure for a particular situation or how to rig a drop shot, you can find it on Bass Edge. Jay McNamara, PhD. (who I wrote an article about on August 19th, The Psychology of Exceptional Fishing) writes regularly on the mental side of fishing. His work has application well beyond fishing for me.

What I have enjoyed the most about Bass Edge are the podcasts. To me there is nothing more valuable than listening to an interview with an experienced fisherman. They have an extensive menu of audio interviews with bass pros for you to listen to when you have the time to listen. If you want to learn more about fishing for bass, you need to visit Bass Edge.

Tips Sheets Available to Help Beginning Fishermen

Anglers' Legacy, an organization whose purpose is to introduce more people to recreation fishing, has put together a set of tip sheets that can be very helpful for new fishermen. Anglers' Legacy encourages fishermen to take a pledge to introduce a new person to fishing. Most of us remember the person who took us fishing for the first time, so you could be that person for someone else. The tip sheets might come in handy for that. There are 8 tip sheets on a variety of subjects including fishing terminology, knot tying, and basic boat care. Click here for a link to the tip sheets and to learn more about Anglers' Legacy.