33.10 Barometer How High Is That?

[Dewayne French]

You can't catchem if ya don't go thats my motto

[Iclass]

Wayne, it's proven scientifically. Now does it mean you'll catch more fish because the barometer is dropping. Not really, lots more variables. But it's pure science about the plankton movement and it's affects on larger fish. Some believe a lethargic bass sitting by a stump is easier to catch than one roaming looking for food. At least you know the fish is by the stump, you can aggravate him enough to bite most times. But if he's out and about you have to search and cast more to get his attention.

There are many variables involved in movement of bass, but science and good old fashioned experience has taught me that they bite best before a low front moves in.

[mjk86]

Here is my theory (thats all it is) phytoplanktons are photosynthetic. Most of the suns rays that reach earth are in the IR wavelength (about 75%). The rest is mostly visible and uv light. Because of this photosynthesizers utilize mostly IR and red visible light (why chlorophyll is green). Water absorbs IR light incredibly well, so it benefits planktons to be high in the water column when they can as very few IR rays make it to the depths (absorbed by the water). High energy uv light is detrimental to tiny planktons (sunburn/water sterilizers). So when skies are blue and pressure is high, they move deep to avoid uv rays, but when the pressure is dropping and skies are cloudy, less overall light hits the water (uv and IR) so they move up to harvest what light they can without being fried by large amounts of uv light. The food chain then follows. That is just my 2 cents. I bet there are several reasons why its tough fishing high pressure, predators are less efficient under bright light conditions, and cooler water temps, but I think the planktons are the most important. I could be wrong, thats just my theory. Also Bill....I saw 33.10 barometer pressure and thought...."how high is that?" The highest pressure ever recorded on earth! Then I read the thread and it says 31.33 which is incredibly high, not impossible.

[Rodmaker]

When I come down to the rock for my 10 day trip every year, I have no control over weather.It is what it is.I dont have the luxury of picking the best barometer days. Just have to hope I get a front or coming through to turn on the bite. Maybe one of these days l'll have the time to barometer watch and pull the trigger whenever I want.

[dtrs5kprs]

When I come down to the rock for my 10 day trip every year, I have no control over weather.It is what it is.I dont have the luxury of picking the best barometer days. Just have to hope I get a front or coming through to turn on the bite. Maybe one of these days l'll have the time to barometer watch and pull the trigger whenever I want.

You have to fish when you can. My trips are similar to yours. Think the biggest deal about the barometer is letting it guide you in the direction of fast/slow and shallow/deep. As in high skies with no wind drag a tube, little rig, etc. Falling pressure and front coming go to a blade, stick, etc. May also give a hint to whether the fish are likely to be suspended.

Can also help predict how wet you are likely to be at the end of the day .

[Champ188]

When I come down to the rock for my 10 day trip every year, I have no control over weather.It is what it is.I dont have the luxury of picking the best barometer days. Just have to hope I get a front or coming through to turn on the bite. Maybe one of these days l'll have the time to barometer watch and pull the trigger whenever I want.

Bill makes his living guiding people to fish, then helping them catch them. Not an easy job and he doesn't have luxury of barometer-watching and going when he chooses.

[bfishn]

Dropping or low barometer makes it easier for plankton and zooplankton to move higher in the water column...

Would you cite some reliable sources for that please?

[Wayne SW/MO]

Besides having something n the water, it's hard to find infallible rules. I do believe though that when the light is sharply bent, morning and evenings, the fish are more aggressive and strangely in contrast when the sun is high overhead. I've observed this over the decades, but it is also subject all the other factors that make it far from fool proof.

The low pressure theory is still part of the plankton rise, etc. I don't believe though that any research has been done indicating that it changes how predator fish behave beyond the expected excitement most fish show when a lot of food is present.

[dtrs5kprs]

Would you cite some reliable sources for that please?

This might qualify.

http://www.fishingclub.com/magazine/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/820/under-pressure

[bfishn]

This might qualify.

http://www.fishingclub.com/magazine/articles/articletype/articleview/articleid/820/under-pressure

I... don't think so. When they get the simple stuff wrong, one has to wonder about the rest;

"Here’s how it works. In simple terms, barometric pressure—or atmospheric pressure—is the weight of the air pressing down upon us."

Atmospheric pressure acts on us from all directions, up, down, sideways, and even inside out (when you inhale). A inflated balloon would be pretty flat if atmospheric pressure only pushed down.

That said, the weight of the atmosphere can only push down on the surface of a terrestrial body of water, so one might conclude it has a downward force on objects in the water. That would be wrong though. Once below the surface, pressure is distributed equally in all directions.