If you are a novice angler, then chances are you realize you have a lot to learn. When it comes to fishing, there are actually a surprising amount of misconceptions out there. One of the main ones that seems to never go away would be the idea that fishing should only be set aside when the days are as nice as possible. Yes, you will definitely be more comfortable if you set aside a day with nice weather in order to engage in your fishing pastime.
However, being comfortable and being at your fishing spot when you are getting a lot of bites from the fish can often be two separate things. Take fishing in rain, for instance. It often is a prime opportunity to get yourself involved in a fish feeding frenzy. Simply put, anything that changes the makeup of the water will often also change the behavior of the fish. Whereas rain might scare us away, rain actually will often make fish such as bass be much more active.
Speaking of bass, have you ever considered trying to fish for them in the rain? Believe it or not, bass LOVE the rain. They will be very plentiful during this type of weather because they are less likely to detect a human presence. This means they are more likely to take your bait. Are you ready to get a bit wet in order to give bass fishing in the rain a shot? Here are some things you should pay attention to:
Take a good, long, hard look at the runoff that the rain creates.
When your favorite fishing spot encounters rain, you will have runoff, which is rain that hits land and then washes off into the water. Characterized by the excess amount of water that you see in the lake, you will notice this extra water first of all simply because of the excess gravity. Although some runoff will simply just seep into the ground, other portions of the runoff will be in the form of excess water. Besides the fact that this runoff is an important part of the water cycle, it also helps a variety of life forms. To put it mildly, if you have runoff in your favorite fishing spot, you will have extra nutrients. These extra nutrients will attract baitfish, and now let us illustrate an important truth for some of you bass fishing beginners: in the aquatic world, the big fish will eat the little fish. Thus, the beauty of this runoff is that to a certain degree it will do the work of bait for you. The runoff will attract minnows, shad, madtoms, hellgrammites, and many other smaller fish types, and that in turn will make the bass come running.
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Of course, you also have to understand the nature of runoff in the first place. Water runoff into a lake or river will usually not occur unless there has been a torrential amount of rainfall. Indeed, the amount of rain will determine the exact size of the runoff and how long it lasts. Moreover, if there has been enough rain, you can definitely expect the runoff in the waterway to last as long as a few days.
If you notice that your fishing spot is encountering plenty of runoff, that usually means that you should investigate other spots of the lake as well just to get the big picture. You see, the places with the heaviest runoff will also often have the hardest current. Where there is current, there is a greater likelihood of encountering bass, simply because they love the current.
Another characteristic of runoff you should be aware of would be changes in water clarity. This common water runoff byproduct happens just after the runoff mixes with the ordinary water. Believe it or not, this is actually an awesome thing, simply because of the fact that it is an easy tip-off to you that yes, there is some run-off occurring in this particular area. Moreover, it usually means that there are going to be some worms and grubs that will begin feeding on the associated microorganisms and minerals that are now present in this water. However, that isn’t the only thing that occurs. Obviously, these grubs and worms will attract the baitfish, and that in turn will attract the bass that you are just itching to catch.
While there is no question that fisheries receive a lot of benefits from this water runoff, it is also up to you to fully understand what type of runoff it is. Yes, there are some runoff types that can be detrimental to your bass fishing activities. You need to know if the runoff is from melting snow or a colder type of rain, because this can negatively affect the metabolism of the bass. They will naturally seek out warmer water, thus making this particular spot not so good as a fishing location for them. If this is the type of runoff you are encountering, it is probably best for you to head to the main part of the lake in order to try your bass fishing luck.
Play to the aggressive personality of the bass.
The one thing that sets bass apart from other fish would have to be the fact that they have a very aggressive personality. On a rainy afternoon of bass fishing, you absolutely need to keep that in mind. Largemouth bass in particular are very aggressive, and they are extremely opportunistic when it comes to their feeding habits. Many anglers have found largemouths with frogs, crayfish, small mice, snakes, crayfish, and even birds within their mouths. But, what does the fact that bass are aggressive have to do with you fishing for them in the rain? Quite a bit, actually. First of all, they are going to be feeling like a kid in a candy store when they are in a waterway that has a lot of rainfall. This means that you probably won’t have as much luck if you try to fish for bass in the same spot that you always go for. In rainfall, they will be much more finicky and they will have more of a tendency to move on. That’s why you too have to keep moving around, simply because the bass will literally be acting like a big huge football defensive lineman at a restaurant buffet line.
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Yet another reason why you need to move around a lot more when you are bass fishing in the rain is because these creatures will often have a designated travel route they will take in order to get to the baitfish. If you move around the waterway, you will have a better chance of determining where the travel route of the bass is, hence a greater chance of catching them while they are on their journey.
This is also a situation where you will need to present your bait much quicker than normal. The bass will not stay in one spot as long as they normally do, so introduce it into the water as quickly as possible. Using a spinnerbait is still a good activity during this time, but make sure that you speed it up or simply just troll the top of the water.
Now is as good a time as any to take up topwater fishing.
Remember how I just said that bass are much more aggressive during this time period? Well, this is definitely true if you are attempting to fish during a downpour, and this is a great time for you to cut your teeth on topwater fishing. Bass can get so incredibly aggressive during one of these downpours that they are literally jumping from the water. Thus, this type of fishing can be defined as the simple act of attempting to entice a bass that is literally jumping out of the water right before your very eyes. Simply put, you throw out your topwater lure and it will often vanish almost instantly, and you will immediately feel a tug on your line. If you have elected to go with a topwater fishing strategy during this rainy time period, here are a few tips you should keep in mind:
Keep the docks in mind.
One of the first things you want to do if you are engaged in topwater fishing is to orient your lures near the docks of your fishing spots. This is because the docks are often a favorite place for male bass to hide after spawning in order to protect their female mate’s eggs. Thus, if you position your lure as closely as possible to the shadiest parts of the dock, then chances are you just might have some luck catching a high-quality bass.
Watch the speed of your lure.
Working a topwater lure is entirely contingent on the temperature of the water. A good rule of thumb is that the cooler the water temperature might be, the slower your retrieve on your lure should be. If you take it slow, you might have a shot at catching bass on their specific path.
Don’t hesitate to make a bit of noise with your bait.
If there is some wind accompanying the rain, then you are more likely to have more luck if you use a noisy bait such as a chugger type or one with a propeller such as a buzzbait. These baits are easier for the bass to notice, especially in the choppy waters.
Work your lure at a steady pace.
When you notice a bass giving chase to your topwater lure, that is the time for you to work your lure at a rate as steady as possible. If you stop the retrieve, your target fish might turn away from your lure. You definitely have to be smart in this case.
Cast your line out long and deep.
One of the keys to solid bass fishing in the rain if you still have a clear lake would be to cast your line out as long as possible. You can use a braided line if you have working plugs and are driving them along the surface. The no-stretch quality of a braided line will make the hook better if you have a bass striking your line from a long distance away.
Consider using spinners.
In rainy bass fishing weather, spinners can basically be your best friend. These spinners are a very versatile type of bait indeed. They are very popular among bass fisherman because they possess a smooth and flowing movement which fools the fish into thinking they are a baitfish. Within the rain, these spinner baits work even better because they will reflect any light that they have. This makes them an incredible asset for you during those rainy days when the water is murky. They should always be matched up with a good topwater lure and you will have a combination that is just about unbeatable.
You will need to spread out.
Again, we cannot emphasize this enough: if you want to catch plenty of bass during a rainy time period, you are going to have to spread out as much as possible. Naturally, there are a lot of old-timers out there that think they can outsmart the bass, and they actually take pride in it. These individuals will definitely stick to one spot, even in the rain. However, this new generation of bass fishermen realizes that the bass will be going crazy during a rainstorm, so they will move around instead. You might as well go with what works, and if the bass are moving, well, then you need to be moving around as well. You should work really hard at “beating them at their own game”, so to speak. In the rain, the fish will be moving because they will want to eat, so play the game with them and you will catch them MUCH more often.
Following these tips will help you catch more of that wonderful bass in the rain. It is definitely worth getting a bit wet if you are going to be catching more bass!
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