Barometric pressure and bass
 

You read everywhere about drastic changes in barometric pressure
effecting bass behavior, because it affects the swim bladder, which is
very sensitive. This part I understand, at least in theory. What makes
me scratch my head is knowing that just by changing depth in water by
one foot exerts much more pressure on the fish than any change in air
pressure. It takes sensitive equipment to measure barometric pressure,
but even I can feel the difference in pressure of a few feet of water.
So I wonder?
1. Is it really the barometric pressure that affects bass, or some other
factor that happens at the same that we just haven't discovered?
2. If it really is that tiny change in pressure, wouldn't just a few
inches change in the lake level affect them the same way? (given that
they are staging to structure and not water surface)
3. Would fish in tidal areas, or anywhere that water levels change
quickly not be able to detect barometric pressure changes?

I think I sprained a muscle in my brain. How do you stetch out a brain
before giving it a workout?
Henry

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Barometric pressure's only role is that it tell us there is a change in
weather, and that those changes can effect the bass's behavior (wind
direction & speed, cloud cover or light penetration, rain - be it hot or
cold can cause changes in current speed, etc.) It is the overall effects
that weather changes bring to the situation that causes changes in the
bass's behavior. You don't need a barometer to identify these changes, but
if you have done your homework before going out, and know what is
approaching (a High Front or Low Front), you can use it to identify the
changes as they are about to occur. So that you can anticipate the fish's
movement and react accordingly.

--
Craig Baugher
Be Confident, Focused, but most of all Have FUN!

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Harry raised some great questions and I wish I had some half great answers -
LOL

This 80 year old gentlemen who just told me he got skunked summarized it
nicely when he said,
"I can see them down there. Why don't they bite?"

Good luck!
John

"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
You read everywhere about drastic changes in barometric pressure
effecting bass behavior, because it affects the swim bladder, which is
very sensitive. This part I understand, at least in theory. What makes
me scratch my head is knowing that just by changing depth in water by
one foot exerts much more pressure on the fish than any change in air
pressure. It takes sensitive equipment to measure barometric pressure,
but even I can feel the difference in pressure of a few feet of water.
So I wonder?
1. Is it really the barometric pressure that affects bass, or some other
factor that happens at the same that we just haven't discovered?
2. If it really is that tiny change in pressure, wouldn't just a few
inches change in the lake level affect them the same way? (given that
they are staging to structure and not water surface)
3. Would fish in tidal areas, or anywhere that water levels change
quickly not be able to detect barometric pressure changes?

I think I sprained a muscle in my brain. How do you stetch out a brain
before giving it a workout?
Henry

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Buck Perry seemed to thinkt hat it was the change in light due to clouds or
other conditions pair with Barometrric changes that caused the fish to
change. I know yesterday my onyl bites came during a short period when the
clouds darkened and it started to sprinkle. I caught 2 fish, and got three
or four good solid hits as awell as one I didn't get a good hookset on in
the fifteen or twenty minutes of that mini storm.

Sadly that was not the pattern of the day. Most other teams weighed in more
fish than I did yesterday.

--
Public Fishing Forums
Fishing Link Index
www.YumaBassMan.com

webmaster
at
YumaBsssMan
dot
com
"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
You read everywhere about drastic changes in barometric pressure
effecting bass behavior, because it affects the swim bladder, which is
very sensitive. This part I understand, at least in theory. What makes
me scratch my head is knowing that just by changing depth in water by
one foot exerts much more pressure on the fish than any change in air
pressure. It takes sensitive equipment to measure barometric pressure,
but even I can feel the difference in pressure of a few feet of water.
So I wonder?
1. Is it really the barometric pressure that affects bass, or some other
factor that happens at the same that we just haven't discovered?
2. If it really is that tiny change in pressure, wouldn't just a few
inches change in the lake level affect them the same way? (given that
they are staging to structure and not water surface)
3. Would fish in tidal areas, or anywhere that water levels change
quickly not be able to detect barometric pressure changes?

I think I sprained a muscle in my brain. How do you stetch out a brain
before giving it a workout?
Henry

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Craig Baugher wrote:
Barometric pressure's only role is that it tell us there is a change in
weather, and that those changes can effect the bass's behavior (wind
direction & speed, cloud cover or light penetration, rain - be it hot or
cold can cause changes in current speed, etc.) It is the overall effects
that weather changes bring to the situation that causes changes in the
bass's behavior. You don't need a barometer to identify these changes, but
if you have done your homework before going out, and know what is
approaching (a High Front or Low Front), you can use it to identify the
changes as they are about to occur. So that you can anticipate the fish's
movement and react accordingly.

This is an explanation that I can understand and do believe, but if that
is true, then a lot of people writing articles don't understand. I have
read a number of times that it is in fact the PRESSURE that upsets them.

credited to Bill Dance: "It is a well-known fact that
even minor barometric pressure changes affect a fish’s swim bladder.
This air-filled sac is to a fish what the inner ear is to humans. When
the barometric pressure rises quickly, it exerts pressure upon the
bladder, thus affecting the fishes equilibrium making it hard for the
bass to maintain perfect balance. Naturally, this affects their
behavior and appetite."

The only explanation I have seen that is directly related to pressure
that makes sense to me, is that when the pressure drops, tiny food
particles on the bottom are caused to be just enough more bouyant to
float up and attract bait fish away from cover, which in turn attract
predator fish. This explanation was posted by Rich Z last year. I just
found it googling this newsgroup. If it is true, and the only reason for
a change in bass behavior, there are an awful lot of mistaken authors
out there. Hmmm.. that I can believe!

Henry

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Why then, Henry, does an approaching front put the foodchain in motion?
Could it be that most fish will take advantage of the fast-foodchain
opportunity?
Why does the foodchain get effected by this?
Most fish that can take advantage of easy meals will. Therefore most that
have eaten and gorged themselves will have to use up the energy they have
absorbed? This lessens the number of hungry, catchable(sp?) fish in any
lake. What do you do after a big meal? I know the thoughts of the next
meal are the furthest thing from my mind. I know that fishing becomes
harder after a front but I also know that inactive fish will bite if you
have the abilities to know where they go and how to provoke a strike, even
if they don't want to. This will vary from lake to lake.
--
Stony


"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
Craig Baugher wrote:
Barometric pressure's only role is that it tell us there is a change in
weather, and that those changes can effect the bass's behavior (wind
direction & speed, cloud cover or light penetration, rain - be it hot or
cold can cause changes in current speed, etc.) It is the overall
effects
that weather changes bring to the situation that causes changes in the
bass's behavior. You don't need a barometer to identify these changes,
but
if you have done your homework before going out, and know what is
approaching (a High Front or Low Front), you can use it to identify the
changes as they are about to occur. So that you can anticipate the
fish's
movement and react accordingly.

This is an explanation that I can understand and do believe, but if that
is true, then a lot of people writing articles don't understand. I have
read a number of times that it is in fact the PRESSURE that upsets them.

credited to Bill Dance: "It is a well-known fact that
even minor barometric pressure changes affect a fish’s swim bladder.
This air-filled sac is to a fish what the inner ear is to humans. When
the barometric pressure rises quickly, it exerts pressure upon the
bladder, thus affecting the fishes equilibrium making it hard for the
bass to maintain perfect balance. Naturally, this affects their
behavior and appetite."

The only explanation I have seen that is directly related to pressure
that makes sense to me, is that when the pressure drops, tiny food
particles on the bottom are caused to be just enough more bouyant to
float up and attract bait fish away from cover, which in turn attract
predator fish. This explanation was posted by Rich Z last year. I just
found it googling this newsgroup. If it is true, and the only reason for
a change in bass behavior, there are an awful lot of mistaken authors
out there. Hmmm.. that I can believe!

Henry



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Barometric pressure and bass
 

and as an addition, I'm not so sure I accept the air bladder theory to the
extent some people put on it. All fish have air bladders so they would all
be subject to the same maladies? Fish are probably prone to pressure
sensitivities just as some of us are sensitive to approaching fronts with
headaches and minor joint pains.
--
S


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Barometric pressure and bass
 

Read the December 2003 In-Fisherman. Steve Quinn covers the myth and science
of it all. One paraphrased excerpt : A bass in 33 feet of water is under 2
atmospheres of pressure, twice that of the surface. The largest pressure
changes on record at the surface like during a hurricane would be
equivalent to the bass moving up or down 2.2 feet.
Joe Z.


"Henry Hefner" wrote in message
...
You read everywhere about drastic changes in barometric pressure
effecting bass behavior, because it affects the swim bladder, which is
very sensitive. This part I understand, at least in theory. What makes
me scratch my head is knowing that just by changing depth in water by
one foot exerts much more pressure on the fish than any change in air
pressure. It takes sensitive equipment to measure barometric pressure,
but even I can feel the difference in pressure of a few feet of water.
So I wonder?
1. Is it really the barometric pressure that affects bass, or some other
factor that happens at the same that we just haven't discovered?
2. If it really is that tiny change in pressure, wouldn't just a few
inches change in the lake level affect them the same way? (given that
they are staging to structure and not water surface)
3. Would fish in tidal areas, or anywhere that water levels change
quickly not be able to detect barometric pressure changes?

I think I sprained a muscle in my brain. How do you stetch out a brain
before giving it a workout?
Henry

Barometric pressure and bass
 

HH Wrote: "credited to Bill Dance: "It is a well-known fact that
even minor barometric pressure changes affect a fish’s swim bladder.
This air-filled sac is to a fish what the inner ear is to humans. When
the barometric pressure rises quickly, it exerts pressure upon the
bladder, thus affecting the fishes equilibrium making it hard for the
bass to maintain perfect balance. Naturally, this affects their
behavior and appetite."

This is an old article by Bill. Ask him today, and I bet he has changed his
mind on the subject.

As far a Z's statement. I can understand his reasoning. For with wind
increases (typical on a falling barometer) the water is stirred more by
waves, creating the food chain to react accordingly. High barometric
pressure, typically associated with High Fronts, usually are associated with
bluebird skies, calm winds and water. Well that is, if the storm associated
with most changes in fronts, didn't cause flooding or dam operators to
increase water discharge, which increase the current (my favorite situation
being a smallmouth angler).

--
Craig Baugher
Be Confident, Focused, but most of all Have FUN!

Barometric pressure and bass
 

Henry,

I have long argued the same point you raised in your original post. A few
inches of depth change is all a bass would need to make to adjust for even
the widest variations in barometer. As far as what you may have read, it's
a good general rule to disregard any statement that opens with the words
"It's a well known fact that..."

This usually translates to "This is something that's unsubstantiated, but I
believe it, and I also believe that a lot of other people believe it, too."

For what it's worth, nearly 40 years of record keeping suggest to me that
barometric changes are felt most directly by the lowest life forms (the
bottom of the food chain).


RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing