Relationship Between Barometric Pressure & Fishing

Remember, water and lightning don’t go together, so when the weather gets nasty, head in for the day, and wait for the clouds to clear for another day of great fishing. So, it is fair to assume that if you are experiencing a time of high humidity, the barometric pressure will be low, and therefore fishing for bass will be really good. Much of our understanding of fish behavior during changes in barometric pressure is based on observations of fish behavior by fishing enthusiasts. Barometric pressure is the measure of air pressure within the atmosphere. This represents the changes in movement within a barometer, decreases in millibars indicate low pressure, and increases in millibars will indicate a change to higher pressures. Over here in the US, we use “inches of mercury” as our standard unit of measure.

When the barometer is above 30.0, most birds merely float on top of the water. For example, meteorologists generally record air pressure in millibars, or mbar. The World Meteorological Organization uses hectopascals as its official unit of measurement.

Some scientists liken it to divers having the bends when they move too quickly toward the water’s surface. That fast pressure change can be life-threatening for divers, so it makes sense that it can also impact fish. What does barometric pressure have to do with fishing activity? Suppose you have ever experienced a headache or sore joint due when a change in weather occurs.

Many anglers have experienced being out on the water, seeing tons of fish, but not getting any bites. Although there aren’t any conclusive studies, many scientists believe that a change in barometric pressure results in pressure on the fish’s sensitive swim bladder, making it feel uncomfortable. Since weather conditions have such a dire effect on fish behavior, atmospheric pressure will have a similar outcome. Much like the mercury in a barometer, fish are incredibly sensitive to barometric pressure.

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Generally not – unless the barometric pressure is rising from a very low-pressure situation, then the fishing will be better. If the pressure is rising from a low or medium barometric pressure event, then expect the fishing action to decrease. High – Not the best for ice fishing – Expect bluegill and perch to be more active than other fish during high pressure. Medium – Ranges from 29.7 – 30.40 – Indicative of fair weather – generally a few clouds to heavy cloud cover with times of clear skies – can have small bouts of rain. Keep in mind, barometric pressure is just one of many factors that play into angling success. Weather, time of day, fishing pressure, and technique are also critical variables.

It can sense slight reverberations in the water, including waves and changes in pressure. During times of high pressure, you’ll enjoy clear skies and calm waters. Some good choices for bait and lures for trout in low pressure would be just about any rig that doesn’t move as much. This means you should probably put away your faster lures and opt for a slower one, or even better–use a scented bait to help the trout sense it in the rough weather. But it turns out the high atmospheric pressure is great at keeping our skin and bodily systems in place. When there’s low pressure, there’s new room for the body to expand.

A view from space as a low pressure system blankets the Northeast. Is it the falling barometer, or the cloudy skies and easterly winds that normally accompany these systems that inspire gamefish to feed? In the ocean the pressure is called hydrostatic pressure and is the result of the weight of the overlying water plus the weight of the atmosphere. An important point is that water is about 800 times denser than air and because of this it only takes 32.8 feet of water to create a pressure o14.7 psi or one atmosphere.

How does Barometric Pressure affect Fish?

Humans do not have swim bladders, but they do have sinuses in their heads or pockets of air around joints that can be impacted by barometric pressure. A barometric pressure change can lead to painful joints or headaches that seem to predict the weather. When the barometer falls, weather conditions are generally getting worse, with the potential for storms. Fish react to the falling barometer with increased movement and feeding activity. Take advantage of this activity by increasing the speed of your retrieve, to cover more area. You can use crankbaits or spinnerbaits for casting over feeding areas.

Such as a fishing gaiter, visor and sunglasses to minimize sunburn and glare. This is an interesting question, and one that cannot be well supported by science, but can be well supported by years and years of observation by keen bass fishers. Some fancy ones even have a little needle that points to what the weather will be like. The simplest, which we’ve mentioned, is a calibrated tube filled with mercury.