TimothyMichaels Loc: Seattle WA

It was only a few years back when I started to head back to the lake to fish. I doing this I noticed there were websites on the net which gave predictions of just how aggressive the the fish would bite. I would like to start a thread on this subject. I usually go to this address; https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/seattle/98104/fishing-weather/351409 Which is for the South King County area. But in the last two years of basing what day of the week I was to go on I do not recall a great catch coupled with a great prediction.
So, I would ask you theses questions;
* Have you used such a site and did it hold value?
* Did you actually have more activity on a day stating fishing would be good?
* Do you have a barometer and use it in your fishing plans?
* Do you have any tips where this might be helpful to better the chance of a limit?
* Do you know of a better website?

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

OK, I do feel barometer has a SLIGHT effect on fishing. The effect, in my mind is merely a reaction to changing weather systems. Falling barometer seems to instigate some feeding as weather systems move in. I have followed this for many years and to me, it seems as if this effect is limited to the very few minutes preceding a large storm.

Other than than that I would not put much thought into this effect. Falling barometers generally precede big weather systems with thunder, lightning and high winds. You need to get off the water before that happens.

That being said, there are MANY websites that you could follow. Unfortunately, they are just looking for advertising impressions and nothing more.

Good luck,
Frank

TimothyMichaels Loc: Seattle WA

Golly Frank, When you shoot an arrow it's right for the bullseye, . That is why I put that post in there. To see if anyone else thought that it was a very minor detail. Or just totally BS! But then, you went straight for the jugular vein and included advertising. I couldn't agree more. I actually stopped paying attention to the site I mentioned towards the end of last season. It just wasn't paying out the way I was expecting.
So today, I will keep my eye on the barometric pressure as when it falls, as it still will be a good excuse to tell the little lady, "honey, the barometric pressure is falling, the fish will be biting, that is why I got to go fishing today!"
: )
Good day

OldBassGuy Loc: Temecula, CA

Tried one called "Bass Forecast".... basically worthless.

harleypiker Loc: WA

I was ice fishing on a big bay with about 20 other fishermen also. Quiet all morning. Then a snow squall came over the ridge and tip ups were popping up all over until after the squall passed. Then slow again. How can fish tell that under a foot of snow and 6 inches of ice? Scientists say that they cannot effectively measure barometric pressure change in water because it is not compressible like air. For some answers we are going to have to wait until we get to heaven (J. Vernon McGee). Moon phases and time of day are equally impressive as are storm fronts.

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

I fish when I have time. Wind is more of a concern than barometric pressure as I fish salt water nearshore to a few miles out. The state of the tide is also a factor. It might be interesting to compare catch to solunar table after the fact to see if there is a correlation.

Tower15Man Loc: WA Olympic Peninsula

probably more of a coincidence. A school of fish moved to where the fishermen were fishing maybe? I've been on ice too, with cracking and popping, which you would think affect the fish, but it must be something they are used to.

DC Loc: Washington state

I check windfinder for wind and Check a sight for tides and weather.com for general weather before heading out. I have found a cloudy or over cast day with just a slight breeze that creates a Ripple on the water is when I catch most on fresh water and the standard 1 hr before and after tide change seems to work best in the salt. while I do think pressure and temperature change has an effect I don't check either it is what it is and I take it as it comes other wise I would never get out

TimothyMichaels Loc: Seattle WA

Harleypiker,
I do understand that the theory is that the fish sense pressure through their bladders. That way they don't figure it but react to it. By the way McGee was somewhat correct but in using right division there is way more to be known here than most teachers are expounding on. OK, get back on the bus.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

I agree with Chief. We go strictly by the tide and how much wind there's suppose to be.
Slight winds and favorable tides means we're goin fishin. And we USUALLY catch something.

nutz4fish Loc: Colchester, CT

Tim, Here's my take on this : Background, I kept a detailed log of conditions for 15 years. It followed air & water temps, relative sunniness or overcast, time of day, relative humidity, falling or rising or steady barometer with the actual value, water clarity, body of water, and more. I'm predisposed to this weird behavior by educational experiences, work environment, and probably ethnicity ( I'm 2nd generation German-American ).
My belief is that it's not the barometric values that actually dictate the fishing conditions, BUT, a steady low, or falling barometer is usually accompanied by cloudy or somewhat overcast conditions. I speculate that the fish are more actively feeding during these conditions for a couple of reasons..
One is that they are free to roam around less visible to predator birds 🦅. Another is they can use these opportunities to search for prey without having to ambush smaller fish from a dark hideout that transitions from a sunny area( like under the lily pads ). This is what the basis is for finding bass on the shady side of stumps or under blowdowns or in thick weedbeds. Those attract bait by providing reduced water temps, food, cover and concealment. You probably have noticed Bass cruising around the shallows that have no cover on warm nights as the water cools, and because of the relative lack of light, their ambush points are not an advantage. Also, it's a great place for them to find crawfish 🦞, but that's not relevant to my "analysis".
So, this is my theory, and I wish I could tell ya that it's strongly indicated valid by my complied data, but it's
only coincidentally connected. But I kinda believe it helps. This activity kept me outta bars and away from less wholesome pursuits for a while, so it was no big loss. I'm Nutz anyway, and it doesn't hurt anyone.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

I have two apps one is FishAngler and the other is barometer I also check a website called fishing reminder but I don’t let any of it tell me when to fish, the FishAngler one will tell me when the bite should be good and for the most part it is fairly reliable but you have to be in the right spot, fishing reminder tells me good day excellent day poor day etc. I do better on the poor days than on the excellent days. The best times to fish are when you can

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

I follow the solunar cycles more than anything else. It's something my grandfather taught me about back in the Farmers Almanac days and it seems to have a good correlation to when I catch the most fish.

I religiously use:
https://www.fishingreminder.com/

I also use (mainly for it's water temperature and swell height features):
https://tides4fishing.com/us/california/alameda-naval-air-station

I use AccuWeather when I want wind forecasts.

NitroDave Loc: NE OH

For the most part, I think the musky Hunter has got it right. However, I’ve always felt there’s more to understand about the effects of barometric pressure on the fish. I say this because I have had a couple of times on the water when I had a great day, but didn’t know that that change in barometer and the bad storm was coming the next day. Trust in a good weatherman and yourself, keeping an eye to the conditions while you’re on the water, particularly the clouds and the changing winds. tight lines and be safe for Lake Erie has taught me many good lessons about weather conditions.

MuskyHunter Loc: Torrington, CT

OK, so for the fish I love to take, muskie, walleye and northern pike, I FULLY agree that overcast no matter what the cause definitely improves fishing. I would say the same for bass, except that for the most part I catch them in highly shaded waters (lily pads, heavy surface weeds and shaded shorelines).