Is it when the barometric pressure is falling or when it is rising that turns the fish on? I have been on the water icefishing and twice right before a storm came the fishing was phenominal. The first time I was on Bantam Lake fishing for pike and I think there was a cold front that was coming in and for about 1 hour I had 5 flags which is a weeks worth at Bantam Lake (it is always slow there) and I caught my first pike 25 inches and my personal best pike at 28.5 inches. Then I was ice fishing the Farmington River and I remember the barometric pressure was 20.12 or something like that when I left my house and that day I caught my biggest brown trout at 18 inches and had 4 or 5 more brown trout between 15 and 18. Does anybody know how the barometric pressure affects the fish?
Barometric Pressure Question
- Thread starter Bluegill
- Start date
Ideas & Comments on Cold Front and Barometric Effects
by Jim Porter
This was a Web page discussion on cold fronts, falling/rising barometers and the effects on fishing. It is one of the best I have seen.
1. The facts are that biologists have yet to find that the barometric pressure, IN ITSELF, has any effect on fish. However, when it is low, fish appear more active. So, the barometer is a good indicator, whether it is the cause or not. Usually, a high barometer means a front has passed and it has probably rained and is, or has been, windy. Both rain and wind washout the air and get rid of most suspensions and smog. Then, the sunlight really penetrates strongly (bluebirds, bright days!) I like to think that the strong light penetration is more likely to cause the fish to move tight to cover or into the grass. Seems to make sense. But, we don?t really know. I will say this, a high barometer and a cold front absolutely DO NOT make fish stop feeding. I have observed fish feeding on strong cold fronts, once I was able to FIND the fish. Just like in tidal water, a fish will set up his feeding on any moving water situation.
by Jim Porter
This was a Web page discussion on cold fronts, falling/rising barometers and the effects on fishing. It is one of the best I have seen.
1. The facts are that biologists have yet to find that the barometric pressure, IN ITSELF, has any effect on fish. However, when it is low, fish appear more active. So, the barometer is a good indicator, whether it is the cause or not. Usually, a high barometer means a front has passed and it has probably rained and is, or has been, windy. Both rain and wind washout the air and get rid of most suspensions and smog. Then, the sunlight really penetrates strongly (bluebirds, bright days!) I like to think that the strong light penetration is more likely to cause the fish to move tight to cover or into the grass. Seems to make sense. But, we don?t really know. I will say this, a high barometer and a cold front absolutely DO NOT make fish stop feeding. I have observed fish feeding on strong cold fronts, once I was able to FIND the fish. Just like in tidal water, a fish will set up his feeding on any moving water situation.
I have noticed that alot of fish go nuts and feed aggressively just before a storm front, ie a falling barometer. However, some fish over here such as our Australian Bass, have a case of lockjaw once the barometer stays consistantly low. Other fish don't seem to be affected as much, but again, alot of fish feed more on a falling baromter in my experience.
A theory I heard on why fish feeding habits are affected by barometers, might be because their air bladder compresses or expands with different barometer readings, so leaving more (or less) room in their stomach for food.
A theory I heard on why fish feeding habits are affected by barometers, might be because their air bladder compresses or expands with different barometer readings, so leaving more (or less) room in their stomach for food.