I know it's gonna be a tough day catching when juvenile bluegills are high in the water and not tight to weeds. It tells me that they are not too worried about getting eaten by a bass or pike. Another is flat water. Flat water with clouds isn't as bad as full sun. What are your indicators that usually mean a tough bite?

Bluebird skies, this one lake I fish I know when the water level is low the fishing is tuff. When I don’t get any hits I t he first hour lmao.

When the parking is full.

After a good rain or storm, followed by bright sun. Tough conditions.

When they’re jumping and from my experience, and it’s always been tough whether bass or salmon. 

Another vote for bluebird skies.

This can be a little tricky ~

A-Jay

Cold and muddy water

Right after a storm with muddy water and sun

Any time the water is less than 40 degrees

The month of September 

Bluebird skies without a wisp of wind

 

And any time I think the fishing will be really good, it will be really bad

 

Mostly I struggle on the days where I've got my mind made up how I'm going to catch them and I do well on the days where I try to figure out how they're going to get caught.  👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Anytime I think I am going to crush it I usually don’t. 

This is always a bad fishing day sign!

 

 

36 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

Anytime I think I am going to crush it I usually don’t. 

 

As soon as I throw my entry fee on the table 90% of my spots will dry up!

A flat tire on the boat trailer at 5:30 am on the interstate going to Clark Hill this February was a bad indicator. Finally launched at 10. Got skunked, left lake at 4, had a flat on other side of boat trailer on way back home right at dark.Made in China

For me In Order…

For 2 days after a cold front passes 

High muddy water

3ft or less 90+ deg water with no cover

Flat calm under blue skies with no wind 

No vegetation anywhere in deeper water

Full Moon

 

 

 

 

 Mike 

August is a bad sign. March is even worse. January is a sign akin to washing your son's hair and finding the birthmark 666 on his scalp. 

The high blue bird skies dont bother me a lot on lakes that I know. On water I dont know , I'll probably struggle.

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

When the parking is full.

On pressured water during the weekend the opposite is true. An empty lot usually means that nothing is biting.

I can't say I've had much correlation between the sky/clouds and the fishing.

 

For the high pressure city lake I fish, it's the number of anglers that have been before me.

 

If I get there and there is a parking lot full and 8+ anglers elbow to elbow, It usually means I get skunked. If I get there and there are no/one others out there I usually catch at least 1.

 

If there is a good spot, IE, it looks good, not that you catch anything, then as soon as one angler leaves it, someone else takes it up. It could be anything from kids with bobbers, to catfishermen, to bass fishermen, to someone hand lining for carp. Often times I've seen someone set up for catfish and then do a little bass fishing while they wait.

 

The most I've ever caught in a single afternoon there was 4. I've been skunked many times. If I catch just 1 I feel like I have won that day.

 

If I fish a place with less pressure, I generally feel like I slay them because I don't have any problems.

I've often thought about these so called tough fishing indicators but I've had many occasions where things were absolutely incredible. For instance, I've had some of my best top water days right after a cold front blue bird sky middle of the afternoon. Same with a full moon, some of the most increadiable action. It's not so much a bad thing to be fishing in ANY situation that's deemed tough because fishing or having a bait in the water is the most important thing of all! I may be fishing in situations that are not ideal but that one hit can make ALL the difference because it's usually a giant bass. If anything, sometimes I think the bigger fish roam around when they're least expected to. 

When the cows a lying down it's a very bad sign !!!

 

On 8/17/2024 at 6:50 AM, LrgmouthShad said:

The month of September 

That's elk season anyways!

 

10 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

That's elk season anyways!

Phew! Sounds tasty

Mid afternoon bluebird skies

Low water 

Heavily stained water 

Full moon 

August 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Bird said:

Full moon 

 

You're the second response with full moon.  What gives?  Am I missing something here?  You guys afraid of werewolves or what.