Is Fishing Better on a Rising or Falling Barometer? Your Adventure Awaits

Normal barometric pressure, or colloquially put –comfortable air pressure moves between 29 inches and 31 inches. People are most comfortable with barometric pressure of 30 inches of mercury . When it rises to 30.3 inHg or higher, or drops to 29.7 or lower, the risk of heart attack increases.

They can also make large changes in depth if they have adequate time to adjust. When barometric pressure was falling crappie moved away from the shoreline to deeper habitat. The fish remained dormant for six to eight hours after the barometer dropped, and then made their trek back to the shallows when the barometer started rising. Scientific studies have found many organisms that respond in some way to changes in atmospheric pressure. The human body reacts to changes in atmospheric pressure, especially in old or infirmed people.

Steady normal pressure

There are tons of variables when it comes to picking optimal fishing times. Some anglers believe in fishing by moon phases, and others pay more attention to the seasonal changes. Regardless of how and where you find fish feeding, there’s no question that barometric pressure affects fish behavior. 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. This weight is measured in inches of mercury and typically ranges between 28hg and 30hg .

Look for them in banks, under fallen trees or bushes, or any man-made structures. That’s not to say that you can’t catch fish – you will just need to use slow-moving baits in order to be more successful. Some fish don’t have swim bladders at all and so they aren’t affected by swings in the slightest. So, let’s finally see how barometric pressure affects fishing conditions.

The Truth About Barometric Pressure

Traditionally, we measure this using an instrument called a barometer. In the past, this was a tube filled with mercury, with gradients of inches etched into the side. If you want a good place to start, anything from about 29.80 inHg and 30.30 inHg is good for fishing, regardless of species.

The swim bladder inflates or deflates to allow fish to ascend and descend in the water. Once the bad weather has passed, the trout will be a little sluggish coming out of the deeper water. If you’re fishing around this time, keep this in mind and use slower lures or bait until they recover. Fish with larger swim bladders, like tarpon and trout, are the most sensitive to changes in air pressure. Those with smaller swim bladders, like mahi-mahi and kingfish, are less affected. What’s more, high pressure brings bright and clear weather conditions that are just perfect for bass fishing.

Fishing 101: Best Weather and Pressure for Fishing

Rising Pressure – As weather begins to clear up after a storm, fishing can improve. With the other species, such as bass and walleye, provided that the pressure isn’t at its lowest, you stand a reasonable chance of catching fish. And if that doesn’t work, well, you could always have a go at catfish instead. If the pressure is high or on the way up, this is a great time to go fishing. High pressure will bring the fish up in the water, meaning they are much more active and likely to feed. As a result of the above, you’ll find that the action may slow down or even stop completely when fishing in low pressure.