Ask The Pros

Barometric Pressure

Question:
Where is a good place on the web to find information concerning pressure and how it affects bass? Skeet Reese and other anglers have discussed that they pay attention to it ...   that is about as far as I have gotten . I pay attention to it ... but dont exactly know what I should do with the presentation that I am throwing at the bass.  -Jeff

Answer:
Pressure affects fish because their buoyancy in the water is controlled by an air sac. This is very sensitive and they can feel the slightest change. It is generally believed that a falling pressure tends to make fish more active, and a rising pressure shuts them down. The line on the weather map  that represents a cold front is the point of lowest pressure. Therefore, when a front is approaching us from the north, the pressure is dropping until it arrives, and then begins to rise. Thus, fish tend to bite best before an approaching front and generally not as well after it passes. This has been my experience...Steve Brigman, Bass Edge Editor
 
Jeff after being apart of the bass pro team for 12 years here is one thing I have noticed in our stores. When the barometer is high or rising you can watch the fish hug the structure in the aquariums and they will also get lazy. But if the barometer is low or dropping they will move around a lot and seem very active.when the barometer is rising I have been told it will put pressure on the fish and that's why they slow down. After all the barometer is all about pressure and the higher it is the more pressure there is on the water and the fish. Thanks Mike Webb, Bass Edge Pro Staff
 
 
Jeff, for targeting bass during pressure changing situations I tend to employ the following techniques:  During low pressure the fish are more comfortable and hence "feel" like pursuing a bait so I will lean more towards a reactionary bait like a crankbait or spinnerbait.  For high pressure conditions the fish don't "feel" as well and are less active and they will not chase their prey thus shrinking the strike zone.  For this condition, I rely on getting the bait directly in front of them and use such lures as a jig, soft plastic, or drop shot with a very subtle action.  Best of Luck! Aaron Martin, Show Host