Fishing Weather or Not
A wise fisherman makes friends with inclement weather

The rugged outdoorsman with his hooded, bright yellow rain slicker and waist-high boots, seems to be laughing at the weather as he graces the front of our frozen package of fish fillets. This type of advertising image reminds us that the fisherman is on the best of terms with the weather. It is a recurring theme from Moby Dick to Popeye the Sailorman.  

Like the tides, weather has a direct effect on fishing success, but unlike tides, weather cannot be predicted and charted months in advance. A savvy fisherman must be in constant tune with current and upcoming weather patterns, and he must know where to fish in light of these patterns. The cool, cloudy weather that keeps the rest of the family tucked safely indoors playing board games, is like a bass siren call to the avid fisherman. Slickered-up with hood and boots, and packing a small load of slimy bait, he is joyfully off sloshing to his favorite fishing spo 

The first thing our weather conscious fisherman considers is the look of the sky. Is it grey, sunny, cloudy, or dark, and will this condition remain just an hour, or throughout the day? Bright sun is likely to draw the fish closer to the cover of such structures as peer pilings and reduce the distance they are willing to abandon cover to strike at a lure (their “strike zone”). On clear sunny days, fishing will be best closer to structures. Bright sun may also cause the fish to sink to deeper waters and frustrate the fisherman altogether. For this reason, our fisherman prefers a cloudy or hazy day. When you say goodbye (to the weather), he says hello.

Our fisherman, though in touch with local weather bureaus and judiciously using important weather advisories such CompuFish.com, is himself, a walking barometer. He steps outside, and if it is hot and muggy with few clouds, he knows it is a high-pressure period and the fishing will be sluggish. If he feels the nip of approaching coolness in the air, sees clouds moving in, and/or precipitation (rain or snow), it is a low-pressure period and fish will be hopping. Our fisherman will also be hopping straight into his boat 

Every fisherman needs a barometer (placed on the inside of an outside wall). This will help him stay in touch with wind movements, sky cover, and likely precipitation. High pressure, which literally presses upon the Earth, keeps the plankton (minute animal and plant life) pressed to the ocean floor, while lower pressure, indicated by a falling needle on the barometer, makes the vegetation more buoyant, loosening it to float toward the surface. Once afloat, it draws small baitfish and ultimately the sportsman’s target fish. A falling needle also indicates that wind, cold, and/or precipitation are impending. These are some of the unsettling water conditions that stir the sea to bustling life. 

Air pressure and the resulting winds can also affect the intensity of the tides and vice-versa. The forecasted tide may be higher or smaller than expected, depending on the prevailing barometric system. For example, low pressure, coupled with strong sea to shore winds, can build up a surge of water resulting in increased tidal levels. Under these conditions, anglers should plan to retreat sooner than usual from low area fishing or bait digging, etc. On the other hand, a stormy gale traveling with an incoming tide can suddenly decrease to a mere breeze when the tide begins to ebb, returning to the sea -- the outgoing tide actually slowing the incoming wind. The patient fisherman will know to wait till the unsafe gale passes and return to fishing during the breeze at the turn of tide. 

While many men may be looking for a good maiden, our fisherman turns his head whenever he spies a first-class midden (or pile of largely organic refuse, yum) on a nearby lake or beach shore. This is where wind serves the fisherman. Firstly, it will skip across the clear surface water, breaking it up, clouding it a bit -- emboldening the predator fish to take action. It can push lake plankton and baitfish to a single area downwind, creating a feeding ground for the sportsman’s pleasure. It can uproot lake weeds -- creating floating feeding mats our fisherman can toss a line beneath. 

A great area to go midden watching is the beach (of course). Wind creates sea waves. As wind blows about four miles across the sea, it builds a wave about three feet high. The greater the distance the wind blows, the higher the wave. As it nears shore, it begins to pull the fragments from the ocean floor into the wave to be deposited as it breaks.

Through this process, seaweed is stirred-up and little sea creatures are rudely awakened and displaced from the safety of the hiding spots where they had burrowed, or were clinging to on the seabed. To fish, this creates an “all you can eat” smorgasbord. After a storm, look for an oily swell, murky water, and/or new weeds deposited along the tide lines, as these conditions will attract even night fish to feast in the daylight hours. Now, all of this washed up weed can be a novice angler’s nightmare, but advanced fishermen can cast into the wind as much as 80 yards beyond the weeds and land his/her bait at the back edge of the surf.

The clever fisherman will not waste a day to hit one of these prime-feeding grounds. Because he knows the sea giveth and the sea taketh away, this gift from wind to fisherman may be only a tide’s pull away -- now you see it and now you don’t.

Of course, some beaches are better than others for midden watching. For the angler there are three basic kinds of beaches to consider. The first is called a storm beach. This beach faces directly towards the prevailing wind creating a strong food displacing surf. The second is the flash beach. Here the geography of the beach is at an angle to the prevailing winds. As it receives a cross wind, rather than the direct wind of the storm beach, it does not accumulate as much sea debris. Thirdly, there is the lee beach, which faces away from the prevailing winds. These are rich in food, but the water rarely moves, exposing the food, so the fishing here is not as promising.

When checking for reports on your local prevailing winds, keep in mind it may be reported in terms of the Beaufort Wind Scale below:
 

Beaufort Wind Scale

Very high waves with long overhanging crests. T
he surface of the sea takes a white appearance. The tumbling 
of the sea becomes heavy and shock like. 
Visibility affected

Finally, although our fisherman is a rugged outdoorsman who rejoices at the forecast of inclement weather, he is no fool. We all want to get safely home to our families, and no fish is worth death or even injury, so let’s heed a few safety rules.

Beware of flash floods. They are the primary cause of weather related deaths. If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. Go to higher ground and avoid streams and low areas like dry riverbeds. Do not walk through water more than ankle deep and do not try to drive through flooded areas.

If you are caught in a thunderstorm, get out of the water find strong shelter immediately. Do not use the phone or other electrical device. Do not take a bath or shower. If you expect winds greater than 30 MPH, please rethink your fishing trip.

Remember also, if you fish from a boat on windy days, make sure you invest in a very sturdy and powerful boat. This is your home on the water and also the cradle of your precious life. This is the one item on which you must spare no expense.

Now, if it’s cloudy, drizzling, and your not afraid to look like a duck, it’s time to check your barometer, throw on your foul weather gear, get your latest CompuFish.com weather alert and hit your favorite fishing spot.