Weather and fishing

[Pangolin]

Talking of old sayings, I remember one that goes something like... 'When the wind is from the South, blows the bait in t'fishes mouth: when the wind is from the North, only fools would venture forth'. Seems basically to support the idea that fish feed better in warmer weather...

[wunnus]

There are times when you just NEED to fish..whatever the weather.

 

But if I look back at those good days, try to look for pattern and I feel that I can see themes emerging.

 

Rising temperatures, not the absolute temperature. As the water warms the fish are able to be relatively more active and so the need to take on fuel.

 

Effect of air pressure upon the clarity of water. Clarity of the water influences the fishes perception of danger from predators.

 

Effect of wind upon surface of the water. Again this influences the dependence on vision.

 

Wind from the East means a complete waste of time. (absolutely no idea why!)

 

Effect of rainfall to add material to the river (local geog more than weather on that one.) This is likely to influence the available food material and the amount of oxygen in flowing water.

 

 

Best Wishes

[Steve Burke]

Leon, for some reason I missed your article first time round. It's brilliant, quite the best you've done! Although a keen student of the weather I certainly learnt a thing or two. Many thanks indeed!

 

Sorry to nitpick, but I'd like to correct one point - on astronomy rather than weather. Venus can't be more than 47 degrees ahead or behind the sun, and so in summer can't be rising when the sun is setting.

 

I know a lot of members don't follow links to articles. Do make an exception in this case at the very least - I'm sure you'll learn from it!

[Mat Hillman]

Well completely unscientific, but my general impressions as a mainly summer angler, I've noticed that warm overcast days seem to produce all through the day, whereas really bright hot sunny days I seem to catch early and late but not much through the day.

 

Never been sure if the light level or the tempriture that is the overriding factor, or maybe a combination of both.

[Leon Roskilly]

Steve Burke:

Sorry to nitpick, but I'd like to correct one point - on astronomy rather than weather.  Venus can't be more than 47 degrees ahead or behind the sun, and so in summer can't be rising when the sun is setting.

Steve, I was certain that it was a UFO, but allowed myself to be convinced that it was Venus

 

TL - leon

 

[ 19. February 2004, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

[Newt]

Leon - I must have been in the same daze as Steve Burke since I missed that gem as well. Outstanding. I could feel myself sitting near you watching the whole thing.

 

I'm now guessing that with the sea so close around the UK you folks probably don't get the multi-day high pressure domes and completely clear skies that kill my fishing so often.

 

I'm not that far from the Atlantic ocean but it's to my East and our weather moves across from West to East (jet stream driven?) so basically several thousand miles of land. Right now the pressure is at 30.14 in / 1020 hPa (Steady) and I don't think there is a cloud any closer to me (to the west anyway) than Kansas or Oklahoma so easily 1200+ miles of clear.

 

[ 19. February 2004, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: Newt ]

[*Dave*]

hi,controdicting my post above, i just got home

after fishing a match east wind turning north

i had to go its a O>A>P /disabled winter league

i caught 5 carp bag full of rudd

 

dave

[johnl]

Well i believe in the saying, when the wind blows east the fish bite least and i have tried it a few times with no luck. Only thing i usually catch in an eastly is a cold :-) john

 

[ 19. February 2004, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: johnl ]

[snotty]

Leon, a very fine piece of writing, many thanks.

 

I am just beginning to take greater notice of weather patterns and most of my family and friends are pretty bored by my ramblings, I find it fascinating and your article spurs me on to discover more.

 

They may scoff but I will have the last laugh as my catch rate improves. (hopefully!)

[deanbmw]

so its going to be cold then tommorow only 4 degrees forcast and an eastly wind , i think i better chuck these maggots and sweetcorn away and go in to work then.....i dont think so...id rather freeze with a rod in my hand than a trowel