| Let's start with the barometer. The barometer is | | | | other hand when the barometric pressure is low, |
| a very effective tool for measuring the feeding | | | | you won't see nearly as many animals around and |
| behavior of fish. The barometer is an instrument | | | | the ones you do won't be frolicking anywhere. |
| used to measure ambient atmospheric pressure. | | | | Even the cows in your local field will be lying down. |
| Don't worry, I'm going to simplify it for you and | | | | At times like this it can get pretty quiet out on |
| cut through all of the scientific jargon so we can | | | | the lake or river too. The fish just aren't active. |
| get to what really matters, catching fish. The | | | | Understanding how fish adapt to changes in their |
| measure of barometric atmospheric pressure can | | | | environment allow an angler to better predict a |
| then be used to help predict the weather and | | | | fishes' movement and feeding. Finding out when a |
| more importantly for our purposes, the feeding | | | | fish is feeding is what we're interested in because |
| behavior of fish. Haven't we all wondered why fish | | | | that's when you have the best chance of catching |
| were so easy to catch yesterday, but today you | | | | said fish. You may know that almost all saltwater |
| can't even get a bite? | | | | fishermen check the tides before they head out |
| You see when a low pressure front is building, I'm | | | | fishing. And it's a great strategy because the tides |
| sure you've all heard this term on the weather | | | | impact fishing. But you do realize what causes the |
| channel, the barometer is low and dropping and a | | | | tides to change, don't you? That's right, the moon. |
| storm is either present or on its way. When the | | | | And the gravitational pull of the moon that |
| barometer is high or rising, the weather is fair and | | | | impacts the changing tides is also pushing against |
| dry. If you're watching the weather on the TV, | | | | some part of the earth all the time. So the |
| that's what the large capital L or H means on the | | | | pressure is always there but since water is more |
| weather map. The L stands for a low pressure | | | | easily moved than the ground, water is lifted up |
| system and the H stands for a high pressure | | | | towards the moon causing the tides to change. |
| system. | | | | How high the high tide will rise or how low the low |
| So what does this mean to me as a fisherman? | | | | tide may go is largely determined by the position |
| Let me explain. The barometer is a very useful | | | | of the moon and sun. |
| tool that will unlock many of the "mysteries" of | | | | Knowing and understanding this information isn't |
| fishing. You say, "Come on Trevor, is this really | | | | just important to the saltwater angler though. |
| true?" The answer is yes, it is true. When the | | | | Freshwater anglers don't deal with tides like |
| atmospheric pressure fluctuates, it affects the air | | | | saltwater anglers, but the phases of the moon |
| bladders in fish. A fishes' air bladder is what it uses | | | | are very important to them as well. What the |
| to stabilize itself at different depths of water. | | | | angler wants to focus on are the new moon and |
| When a fishes' air bladder isn't feeling right it won't | | | | full moon periods on the calendar. The two or |
| want to eat. Do you feel like eating when you | | | | three days following these two occurrences will |
| have an upset stomach? Well fish don't either. | | | | result in more fish activity. It's that simple. |
| When the barometer is low or falling, fish will | | | | I've been planning my fishing trips observing these |
| spend most of their time equalizing their air | | | | same principles for years and it almost never fails. |
| bladder, and the last thing they're thinking about is | | | | The moon phases are a very real factor in the |
| feeding. When this happens you'll have a difficult | | | | feeding patterns of fish. I always have more |
| time fooling a fish into eating. On the other hand, | | | | success during the full and new moon periods, |
| when the opposite is true, and the barometer is | | | | than I do at other times of the month and you |
| rising, your chances of catching a fish, is far | | | | can too. |
| greater, because they feel more like eating. | | | | What you as an angler wants to try to do is |
| Fish and wild life know what to expect from the | | | | have both of these factors come together at the |
| weather and can sense when a storm is | | | | same time. The perfect weather situation |
| approaching to a much greater degree than we | | | | combined with a full or new moon. When this |
| humans can. You've probably noticed that when | | | | happens, you will have a great day fishing, I |
| the weather is nice all of the critters outside are | | | | promise. And if you just pay attention you can be |
| active and frolicking about. This means that the | | | | out there fishing when this happens. |
| barometric pressure is stable or high. On the | | | | |