Most representatives of the strong half of humanity are fond of fishing. This allows you to escape from everyday problems and be alone with nature. Moreover, fishing is a successful combination of business and pleasure. In addition to being useful, you can get a crazy bite, which can provide a good catch. Someone who, and the family will appreciate it.
But such luck does not always accompany the angler. To catch at least something, you have to work hard. After all, the success of fishing depends not only on the intensity of the bite, but also on the mood of the angler himself, the selection of gear, his ability to correctly determine the bait, etc. Plus, weather conditions and especially atmospheric pressure make their own adjustments to the fish biting. Therefore, when going fishing, it is worth deciding on various external factors that can decide the outcome of all fishing.
Atmospheric pressure and its effect on bite
Natural factors and especially atmospheric pressure have a very significant effect on the behavior of fish. In addition, such a fact as air temperature, season, water temperature, moon phase, wind direction and intensity, water level and its transparency are of no small importance. 3despite the abundance of external factors, one should dwell on atmospheric pressure as one of the most important indicators.
Atmospheric pressure has a serious impact on human life, and even more so on the behavior of animals and fish. Atmospheric pressure depends on weather conditions, and the well-being of all living beings depends on the level of atmospheric pressure.
Why does pressure affect fish?
Atmospheric pressure only partially affects fish behavior directly. But indirect influence is exerted by the consequences of changes in atmospheric pressure. As a result of pressure drops, the density of water and the level of oxygen in it change. But this already seriously affects the behavior of the fish.
Water in a reservoir has its own hydrostatic pressure, which differs from atmospheric pressure, but there is a certain relationship between them. If there is a big difference between them, then the fish loses its orientation, its appetite decreases and lethargy appears. In such conditions, the fish may refuse any bait.
What atmospheric pressure activates the bite?
The best biting can be observed in conditions when atmospheric pressure has stable parameters for several days, or even weeks.
Increased atmospheric pressure also has a positive effect on the bite, but subject to its stability.
The worst conditions for fishing are pressure drops, as well as low pressure. Although not all types of fish respond equally to such changes. Increased pressure has a positive effect on the “little things” that move to the upper layers of the water, in search of food. With reduced pressure, predators are activated. Small fish become lethargic, so predators spend less effort and energy in search of food. With reduced pressure, you should not count on biting small fish, but you can catch a large fish.
The effect of pressure on the air bubbles of fish
Inside each fish you can find an air bubble, inside of which there is oxygen, nitrogen and part of carbon dioxide. The bubble is provided with a mixture of gases as a result of the work of a small gland, which is called the red body. But since there is little blood in the fish, the process of gas entering the bladder is not very active.
The air bubble provides the fish with neutral buoyancy at any depth, so it can easily move across any horizons. As a result of pressure drops, the fish have to additionally adjust the gas concentration in the air bubble, which takes a lot of fish energy. Under such conditions, the fish simply lies on the bottom, without doing any adjustment and waiting for the stabilization of atmospheric pressure.
The fish’s air bladder is directly connected to the lateral line, which helps it navigate through the water column. If the pressure is not stable, the movements of the fish are also not stable: it is simply lost in space and has no time for food, because it is busy with its own problems.
Optimal pressure for fishing
The most normal pressure is 760 mm Hg if the area is at sea level. If the area is above sea level, then every 10,5 meters the mercury column should be lowered by 1 mm. In this regard, one should not take the readings of the instruments in the literal sense, without having decided on the conditions. Each area has its own atmospheric pressure indicators.
Atmospheric pressure is directly related to weather conditions: the arrival of an anticyclone is accompanied by an increase in pressure, and the arrival of a cyclone is accompanied by its decrease. If you have a barometer at home, you can calculate which fish to focus on.
What kind of fish is caught at high pressure?
With the advent of warm weather, atmospheric pressure also rises. The temperature of the water rises and oxygen rises from the depth closer to the surface. If the temperature continues to rise, then oxygen will begin to escape, which will lead to lethargy of the fish and a decrease in its activity. At the beginning of this process, smaller fish rush closer to the surface. Large individuals prefer to stay at depth. Therefore, in hot periods, you can count on the catch of small specimens if you fish with a regular float rod. If you want to catch a larger fish, you will have to arm yourself with a bottom tackle (feeder).
What kind of fish is caught at low atmospheric pressure?
It is believed that with reduced pressure on fishing, it is better not to leave. Experienced anglers know that before the weather worsens, the fish begin to become more active. If you catch this moment, you can count on a significant catch. During this period, almost all fish are active, as they want to stock up on nutrients for the future. But this is a period of a slow decrease in pressure, and if these are pressure surges, then almost all the fish try to go to the depth and wait for the weather to improve there. During this period, predators begin to become more active, anticipating easy prey. Therefore, you can arm yourself with a spinning rod and try to catch a pike or perch.
Pike and atmospheric pressure
Pike must eat up to ten fish per day, weighing 250 grams each, in order to provide themselves with the necessary energy. Therefore, she almost always has a good appetite and is constantly in search of food. Changes in atmospheric pressure in one way or another affect the behavior of the pike. The pike bites almost every day, you just need to interest her in the bait.
If the pressure is low outside, then the pike feels great, unlike some peaceful fish species, which is only good for the pike. Therefore, to catch a pike, it is better to choose the most inclement weather. Of course, this is not entirely comfortable, but it is effective.
Pike behavior at high pressure
When hot weather sets in, which entails an increase in pressure, the pike loses its activity and hides in secluded places, where it simply waits for its potential prey.
During this period, the pike can feed on algae and dead fish, so as not to waste energy chasing prey. To catch her during this period, you need to try hard, using the most sophisticated baits to catch her. The height of summer is considered the most unfavorable period for “hunting” for pike. During this period, the concentration of oxygen in the water, especially in the upper layers, is greatly reduced, and the pike feels uncomfortable. It descends to a depth where the amount of oxygen is somewhat greater.
List of other reasons why fish do not bite
In addition to atmospheric pressure, other factors also affect the behavior of fish. For example:
- Ambient temperature As the temperature fluctuates, the temperature of the water also changes. As a rule, all fish behave actively in warm water. The only exceptions are periods when there is an abnormal increase in water temperature. Then the fish becomes lethargic and does not differ in increased activity, as the fish is looking for places with an optimal temperature.
- The presence of clouds also affects the behavior of fish. When the weather is warm but overcast, most fish species stay closer to the surface. In the presence of sunny weather, the fish tries to move out of the area of direct sunlight. During such periods, fish should be looked for in the shade of trees hanging over the water or in reeds. But after prolonged cold weather, when the first rays of the sun appear, the fish come out of their hiding places to take sunbaths.
- Water level and transparency. Fish are very sensitive to changes in the water level in the reservoir. When this happens, the fish begin to feel uncomfortable, especially in conditions of lower water levels. The fish slowly begin to move to deeper water areas. Therefore, it is not worth counting on active biting in conditions of lowering the water level. If the water level rises, the fish begins to feel safe and leads an active lifestyle. The same can be said if the water level is stable. With very clear water, when the fish can see their bait in detail, catching fish requires special professionalism. If the water is very cloudy, which prevents the fish from seeing the bait at all, fishing may not take place. Therefore, the ideal conditions for fishing are when the water has an acceptable transparency, but not the maximum.
- During the day, the fish behave differently. With the arrival of the summer season, fishing should be preferred in the early morning or late evening. In the daytime, you can also count on bites, but very rare.
In this regard, it can be concluded that atmospheric pressure and other factors affect the activity of biting. Before going fishing, it is better to familiarize yourself with the atmospheric pressure and take into account other factors such as air temperature, presence and direction of wind, etc. Then fishing will always be productive.
But if there is an acute desire to just be alone with nature, then you can go fishing in any weather. And the main thing here is not the number of fish caught, but the amount of time spent in nature.
The perch sticks to the pressure drop, the roach is active. Winter fishing, spring, ice video, the last ice!