Arrow down= good, arrow up= bad.  Thats about all I know.  This months field and stream had an article that said when barometric pressure is on the fall that bass tend to prefer shades of blue in soft plastics, anyone had experience with something like this?  Does the fishing actually get that much better on lower pressure days?  Do you even pay attention to it?

Weather, barometric pressure, water temperature, wind, moon phase, time of the year ect all control a bass's mood; I do pay attention to them but I don't  let any one of them or all of them control me.

I think it can have a big effect. I love fishing on the front side of a front. Some of my most memorable trips have lined up that way. So to address the question more specifically, the barometer is typically falling on the front of a front.

Now, there are few things that are worse for fishing that a rising barometer.... typically, the back side of a front. The other lousy thing about a front blowing out, is just that.... it ususally "blows" !

As a matter of fact, we just had a pretty major storm here in Nor Cal. Some local places got nearly two inches of rain ! It's not too windy yet today, but then theirs still some clouds and a little rain in the area. I hope it gets it's blowing done before tomorrow (and the barometer levels back out). Actually, the weather says it will..... But I wouldn't bet my life on it !

Here's a fun little story. It was 3/6/02. The weather had been unseasonably warm and stable for the two weeks prior. The fish were coming up to spawn all over the place ! A buddy and I had planned a trip (his first live dad trip).

Of course, wouldn't you know it, as our day arrived, so did a big, slamming storm front :-( We almost canceled..... but I had all those great looking dads..... and heck, I have rain gear :-)

So we get on the water, rain pouring off and on, wind swirling every direction. We pull up to the first spot..... a rocky ledge out on the edge of a big spawning flat (text book pre-staging spot).

My first cast, I stuck the most awesome 13.2 lb'er I had ever seen ! My buddies first cast (ever with a live dad) he stuck an 11.1 ! To make a long story short, we ended up sticking 3 bass over 10 lbs, and 7 bass over 8 lbs "all on that one spot" ! Our best five went 52.2 lbs !

At the end of the trip my buddy asks, "So what were you going to do with the rest of those dads" ? (hint, hint :-)) I told him, "well I have to work tomorrow, but your welcome to them if your going to go back out.

Well, he did go out the next day (on the back side of the front, barometer climbing back up) and guess what he caught ? A record size skunk !

Imagine that..... his first and second trips ever fishing with live dads, were both his best, and his worst ! But that's fishing, right ?

13.2

11.1

10.4

Peace,

Fish

I agree with Catt. My partner always gets caught up in the fishing calander, he starts out with a bad expectations. I try not to let it affect me, because in tournaments I have to catch fish no matter what. 8-)

Don't get me wrong, I agree with Catt and t-bone too. The best time to go fishing, is every time time you get the chance.

But the question was, "Does the barometer make a difference" ? ....and yes, I think it often does..... but do I let it decide whether I will go fishing or not ? Are you kidding me ? :-) LOL

Peace,

Fish