Hey guys, I recall hearing that snowstorms negatively impact ice fishing, is this true?
I have had some great fish-catching outings in the middle of snow storms. Like any change in the weather sometimes it seems to impact the catching (sometimes good and sometimes bad) and other times it seems to have minimal impact.
If "negativley impact’ refers to sititng on a bucket on a frozen slab of water in a blizzard then i’d say that’s a true statement haha. But i too have had some stellar days in the snow. Had days of over 50 trout and even got a tiger muskie in a big storm last year. However some snowy days have shut it right down it seemed. Just like a sunny day get out there and see if you can trick some fish into biting!
Doesn’t it have more to do with the barometric pressure that the snow itself, as with any storm. The heavier the air thing.
I know on rivers my best days have been in the snow.
That’s a good question. Like mentioned, barometric pressure may have more of an impact than it actually snowing. I know on soft water whenever low pressure builds up the fishing changes, I still struggle to adapt to it on some waters but I imagine it is still the same on ice. The hard part on ice would be finding the fish and getting them to bite…I guess that’s the same problem on soft water [crazy] but on ice you have to drill holes instead of motor around trying different techniques. I’ve never really thought about barometric pressure while ice fishing, if I’m not catching fish in one spot I just move to another but now I have a new excuse for not catching fish while ice fishing [;)].
PROBABLY HELPS FISHING:
When storms are coming in the Barometric pressure drops. When this happens fishing usually gets better during the drop for some species… I’ve personally like fishing when the barometric pressure drops… Pretty sunny days have been my worst days for big fish…
Yes, I recant my last statement. When a low pressure system rolls in fishing can be great. It’s usually during and after that the fishing changes. A sunny, clear day after a low pressure is horrible. Damn you Flaming Gorge (my nemesis)
BIG FISH LOW PRESSURE:
Yep, the biggest Smallmouth that I ever hooked was on low pressure day, where the rain was pouring down… The fish get real shollow during these times…
i always thought barometric pressure adversely affected water at all depths, but after a little looking i found this:
It has been known for a long time that the barometric pressure has an effect on fishing. How the pressure directly effects the fish is still not fully understood, but knowing how to use the barometric pressure readings can greatly increase your chances of catching fish, especially in shallow and fresh waters.
Barometric pressure is the measure of the weight of the atmosphere above us. It exerts pressure on the waters we fish and even on us. In fact, it can change how well some people feel. It is believed by many, that it may have a similar and even more dramatic effect on fish effecting their feeding habits.
Measurement of barometric pressure is accomplished with the use of a barometer. A barometer measures the weight of the atmosphere per square inch (pressure) and compares it to the weight of a column of mercury.
The first instrument was invented in 1643 by Evangelista Torricelli. His barometer used a glass tube from which all air has been removed (a vacuum) and is inserted into a container of mercury that is exposed to the pressure of the air. The air pressing down on the mercury in the container forces an amount of the mercury up into the glass tube. The height to which the mercury rises is directly proportional to the pressure of the atmosphere. This is usually measured in inches (inHg) or in millibars (1 inHg equals 33.864 millibars).
Today aneroid barometers, invented by the French scientist Lucien Vidie in 1843, are the most widely used instrument to detect air pressure. An aneroid is a flexible metal bellow that has been sealed after removing some of it’s air (a partial vacuum). A higher atmospheric pressures will squeeze the metal bellow while a lower pressure will allow it to expand. This expansion of the metal is usually mechanically coupled to a dial needle which will point to a scale indicating the barometric pressure.
A new form of barometer uses a pressure transducer. This transducer is like a miniature aneroid barometer that converts the amount of air pressure into a proportional electrical voltage. This voltage then can be fed into a digital readout and/or into a computer.
Barometric pressure varies with altitude. A higher elevation will have less atmosphere above it which exerts less pressure. To keep readings standard across the world, barometric pressure is to be indicated at sea level. Therefore, readings at elevations other than at sea level will require a correction factor which is based on the elevation and the air temperature (colder air weighs more and will require a greater correction).
The barometric pressure changes as the weather systems over us changes. When you look at a weather map that has those blue "H"s and red "L"s, this is indicating the areas with High and Low pressure. It is worth noting that the areas with high pressure are the areas with good weather, and the areas with low pressure are the areas with bad weather. Barometric pressure has been used by weathermen since the beginning of meteorology to predict the weather. It can also be used by fishermen to predict the quality of fishing, and more importantly, how to fish.
As a general guideline, think of 30 inHg (1016 millibar) as being a normal level. World records vary from a high pressure of 32.0 inHg in Siberia to 25.7 inHg during a typhoon (both readings are off the scale of most barometers). For the US, extreme levels can be considered as 30.5 inHg and 28.5 inHg. When it comes to fishing, a change of just +/- 0.02 inHg from normal is enough to effect their feeding habits.
It is important, however, to note that the effects of barometric pressure is greater in fresh and shallow waters, than it is in deeper waters. This is probably due to the fact that the pressure of water is so much greater in deeper waters making the air pressure above it no longer having any significance.
A great old man once told me," the best time to go fishing is when you can go." Don’t let fear of the weather stop you. You might miss the best day fishing you ever had..
FISH WHEN YOU CAN:
I’ll 2nd that post, largemouth tend to bite ok on those sunny days, smallmouth & Sauger like those nasty overcast days where rain, sleet or snow is coming down out of the skies… If you have the opportunity to go fishing then go fishing…
A great old man once told me," the best time to go fishing is when you can go." Don’t let fear of the weather stop you. You might miss the best day fishing you ever had..
Common Sense told me…[;)]
About that fear of weather however, Thunder and electric storms…LET THEM STOP YOU really
Yep. I agree common sense should always prevail.[fishin]
Well, I fished today at PV, and tho I am a terrible fisherman in general, today was the worst day I have ever had fishing PV, period (ice or not). Not one perch between three guys using a variety of stuff that works most of the time, in over 6 hours.
Off Cemetery Pt in 15-60 feet of water.
Not one nibble.
Wow man, sounds bad. I will be there Saturday in the snow, but I don’t think it will be too bad. I hope that if the weather does affect them that it will make em bite on Saturday. Sorry to hear about the lack of fish, but at least you got out.
Shawn M
Fished PV today as well, but I caught twelve 10"+ crappie and a few 8"+ perch, including a one 12"er. Most of the fish were caught on a special spoon rig I use, or on 1.5" glow tube jigs in 25-45 feet of water.
Glad to hear something good coming from PV. Thanks for the report. I’ll be there Saturday AM.
Shawn M
me too, hopefully!
Huh???
Thanks, very informative. I’ve basically been told the same thing from older wiser fishermen. I do think the weather directly affects fish. I personally think it affects trout less than perch, bass ect. I’m now scientist but its just what I found over years fishing and talking with others.