fishing in the rain

[tycomps]

been laying low due to a family illness and wouldn't you know it my fishing days are forecast for rain. what's everyone's strategy for rainy day fishing? Pike, SMB, LMB.

[Lard Almighty]

Unless it's a heavy downpour, rain can really turn the fish on. This time of year, bass fishing in the rain with topwaters can be lights out! Trout fishing can also be really good in the rain, because 1) the rain washes worms and bugs into the rivers and puts them on the feed, 2) the water will become murky making it difficult for the fish to see you, and 3) flow will increase moving fish out of deep holding areas and into feeding lanes.

Dude, throw on a rain jacket and get out there!

[kcritch]

Agreed......ponds and lakes from shore anywhere you see water running in can be good too.

[tycomps]

two days with the frog in the rain not even a slap, looks like they've moved from the edges, used to be guaranteed. would you believe my two bass ponds have no visible feed, both have spillways but must be spring fed from below. tried spinnerbait and swimbait today when the sun came out, taking time off has left me with a serious case of the skunk!

[Lard Almighty]

The frog might not be noisy enough. Try a buzzbait.

[tycomps]

the weed free channels in the pond have closed up and there's salad from the surface to about a foot below extending out about 50 feet from the bank so it's next to impossible to get a clean retrieve on a spinnerbait or buzzbait unless I surface burn it. That's why I was throwing weedless frog and stanley ribbit. I'd love for the lettuce to back off enough to throw a plug but that ain't happening any time soon.

[buzzbaiter]

Overcast days are THE best - more so summer/fall. Fish are generally spooky/nervous critters anyways so sunny bright days tend to have them 'on edge'. Add a little drizzle/rain and you can have your best days. Not just because fish tend to be more active , but because there are less anglers. For whatever reason, fisherman are afraid of rain - especially boat guys. I've hit major reservoirs/lakes on lousy weather days and seen no boats. Visit those same places on a nice sunny day and you'll see dozens of boats. A threat of thunder or lightning really keeps boats off the water (and bank beaters too)so those days can be good as well(just make sure the first time u hear thunder, get your ass back to the car)

Basically the theory is: the lousier the weather conditions, the better the fishing.

[Ol Pedro]

I have caught more big bass in overcast/wet conditions than any other time . Almost all have come on Plastic Worm's . try a Senko rigged weedless. Cast it out as far as you can past the mats and slowly work it back . Do you have waders ? If there is hard/sandy bottoms on your ponds you can wade out into the water and work the edges . I carry a crank bait rod and a worm rod . I turn one backwards and hold it in my armpit with the reel in the top of the waders and fish with the other . Miss one on a crank bait ? Throw the plastic right back where you missed it . You can cover the whole water column with 2 baits .

[lunkertaker]

Originally Posted by buzzbaiter

Basically the theory is: the lousier the weather conditions, the better the fishing.

Agreed. I have had more awesome days in the rain than in the sun. If the surface action is absent, the subsurface presentation can often make all the difference. Have had a lot of days that looked to me that would be perfect for top water action with nothing to show. A switch to a swim bait and had all the action I was looking for, just not on the top.

Any day out there with a selection in presentation is kinda like buying a new lure, does it catch your eye or catch fish? I think we all deal with this on almost every trip till ya figure out the pattern.