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