What is the overall consensus and breakdown on how exactly barometric pressure impacts fishing, particularly for river smallmouth?

[Ohioguy25]

I’ve heard everything from high pressure (bluebird) to low pressure (clouds/rain) to everything in between. What is the final word? Surely there is science behind how it effects their swim bladder or whatever the mechanism of action is.

[Tennessee Boy]

My opinion is it doesn’t affect them at all.  It does however affect the weather and that affects the fish.

 

One thing I can promise you is there is no overall consensus on the subject. 😁

[Jig Man]

I kept a record of the barometric pressure in my fishing log for a few years.  I could never find a correlation to it and how the fishing was so I quit recording it.

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, Jig Man said:

I kept a record of the barometric pressure in my fishing log for a few years.  I could never find a correlation to it and how the fishing was so I quit recording it.

It’s wild how people seem to interpret and present it as fact 

[MIbassyaker]

50 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

It’s wild how people seem to interpret and present it as fact 

 

I recommend reading up on Patternicity.  Anglers are notoriously vulnerable to this.

[Team9nine]

It doesn’t - river systems, and current in general, have long been the accepted antidote to cold front situations. Even when factoring in things like the resultant weather, water levels and water clarity have always seemed to trump them…but yeah, you probably won’t get consensus on any subject in these forums, including this one  😉 

[Susky River Rat]

Just fish as much as you can. I have been proven a fool  many times trying to plan days by weather and moon phases. It has worked out as well but, even a broken clock is right eventually. 

[Woody B]

You will only find (catchable) fish in the water.  Beyond that all the other hocus pocus is just hocus pocus.   I fish when I can.  I'll be on the water ever chance I get, as long as weather conditions don't make it unsafe.   If I struggle to catch fish I place the blame directly on ME, not the weather.   It's my belief that someone is always catching fish.   

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/28/2023 at 4:52 PM, Team9nine said:

It doesn’t - river systems, and current in general, have long been the accepted antidote to cold front situations. Even when factoring in things like the resultant weather, water levels and water clarity have always seemed to trump them…but yeah, you probably won’t get consensus on any subject in these forums, including this one  😉 

Yeah I think you’re right.  I used to curse rain and stain but now find low, clear water to be the most devastating of any possible conditions. 

[Standard]

On 10/29/2023 at 6:31 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah I think you’re right.  I used to curse rain and stain but now find low, clear water to be the most devastating of any possible conditions. 

 

It all depends on the area.  I love low and clear conditions and often have some of the best fishing on those days.

 

On the topic of barometric pressure - I think river fish buck any trend that may be there.  They're more opportunistic feeders and as long as they can eat, they will.  I've had just as good fishing on bluebird clear days as I have on pattern changes.  

[813basstard]

Good thing I have a science degree in science and can get to the bottom of this with science.

Science says “going fishing is better than being at work at home and especially better than something the old lady has planned for you with her work friends” so science says go fishing regardless 

[Scott F]

On 10/29/2023 at 6:31 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah I think you’re right.  I used to curse rain and stain but now find low, clear water to be the most devastating of any possible conditions. 

Wow, low and clear water are my favorite conditions on my rivers. Low water pushes them into easily identifiable spots where the water is a bit deeper. Smallmouth are sight feeders for the most part. When the water is clear, your casts don’t have to be right on the fishes nose, they’ll chase baits down from farther away than they will in stained water. Off target casts will get bit more often. They will spook more easily if you aren’t careful and make too much noise.

[PaulVE64]

River bass are dealing with alot.

[bowhunter63]

I always pay attention to the current more then anything else 

[Ohioguy25]

10 hours ago, Scott F said:

Wow, low and clear water are my favorite conditions on my rivers. Low water pushes them into easily identifiable spots where the water is a bit deeper. Smallmouth are sight feeders for the most part. When the water is clear, your casts don’t have to be right on the fishes nose, they’ll chase baits down from farther away than they will in stained water. Off target casts will get bit more often. They will spook more easily if you aren’t careful and make too much noise.

See I find all of these advantages - concentration/holding to cover/shade - to be outweighed by the fact that they are just so much less likely to bite or at least chase.