Pre-front fishing.... frenzy?

RodMaker and I took advantage of a sunny, 60-degree afternoon to meet up at
a middle-Tennessee lake for a couple hours. This lake has good populations
of largemouth bass, Cherokee bass (stripe hybrids), bream and catfish, but
more than once we've left there skunked.

Today we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was 48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

How far before a front does it start and end?

When a front moves though, with thickening clouds, blustery wind, and
precipitation, does that shut off the feed, or does it continue until the
sky clears after the front passes?

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

Joe Haubenreich wrote:
R sunny, 60-degree afternoon


we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was 48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

Several points... the "pre-frontal" conditions are found in the last few
hours before the arrival of a storm, and typically include elevated
humidity, cloud cover and a falling barometer. Sound like you didn't
have those conditions today.

Makes no nevermind though, Joe. If you water's 48, most of your bass
have already moved into 'winter' haunts. The thing about thos spots is
that they are the onese that do the best job of insulating the bass from
the effects of daily weather changes. Wbhen their metabolism is slowed
from the cold water, it takes so long to adjust to changing condition
that it amounts to serious stress. Even in environments where they don't
have suitable deep areas to insulate them from short term conditions
above, it's been my experience that seasonally approriate conditions
spur the most reliable fish activity, and at thistime of the year, that
means cold and dreary is better for fishing than warm and sunny.

That sounds reasonable. We had five days in a row of sunny, mild weather, so
I looked for bass to be around laydowns and standing, partially submerged
timber along steep, northern banks where the water might be a little warmer.
The three we caught proved that some fish were in the area, but they were
lethargic. If we'd fished on into the night, things might have picked up,
but it might not have been too much fun to find out.

The lowering clouds and high winds arrived sometime after midnight, and the
predawn sky looks like a solid sheet of lead, and the trees are being
whipped and bowed by wind gusts. Maybe today would produce a better bite, if
one was willing to take a pounding and a cold-water bath.

Joe


"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Joe Haubenreich wrote:
R sunny, 60-degree afternoon


we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was
48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold
winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective
memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

Several points... the "pre-frontal" conditions are found in the last few
hours before the arrival of a storm, and typically include elevated
humidity, cloud cover and a falling barometer. Sound like you didn't
have those conditions today.

Makes no nevermind though, Joe. If you water's 48, most of your bass
have already moved into 'winter' haunts. The thing about thos spots is
that they are the onese that do the best job of insulating the bass from
the effects of daily weather changes. Wbhen their metabolism is slowed
from the cold water, it takes so long to adjust to changing condition
that it amounts to serious stress. Even in environments where they don't
have suitable deep areas to insulate them from short term conditions
above, it's been my experience that seasonally approriate conditions
spur the most reliable fish activity, and at thistime of the year, that
means cold and dreary is better for fishing than warm and sunny.

At least you got out, caught some fish, and got to enjoy the weather!
That's more than some of us can say.
Get em' next time.
Justin Hires
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
www.USABassin.com

At least you got out, caught some fish, and got to enjoy the weather!
That's more than some of us can say.
Get em' next time.
Justin Hires
www.SecretWeaponLures.com
www.USABassin.com

That sounds reasonable. We had five days in a row of sunny, mild weather, so
I looked for bass to be around laydowns and standing, partially submerged
timber along steep, northern banks where the water might be a little warmer.
The three we caught proved that some fish were in the area, but they were
lethargic. If we'd fished on into the night, things might have picked up,
but it might not have been too much fun to find out.

The lowering clouds and high winds arrived sometime after midnight, and the
predawn sky looks like a solid sheet of lead, and the trees are being
whipped and bowed by wind gusts. Maybe today would produce a better bite, if
one was willing to take a pounding and a cold-water bath.

Joe


"RichZ" wrote in message
...
Joe Haubenreich wrote:
R sunny, 60-degree afternoon


we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was
48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold
winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective
memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

Several points... the "pre-frontal" conditions are found in the last few
hours before the arrival of a storm, and typically include elevated
humidity, cloud cover and a falling barometer. Sound like you didn't
have those conditions today.

Makes no nevermind though, Joe. If you water's 48, most of your bass
have already moved into 'winter' haunts. The thing about thos spots is
that they are the onese that do the best job of insulating the bass from
the effects of daily weather changes. Wbhen their metabolism is slowed
from the cold water, it takes so long to adjust to changing condition
that it amounts to serious stress. Even in environments where they don't
have suitable deep areas to insulate them from short term conditions
above, it's been my experience that seasonally approriate conditions
spur the most reliable fish activity, and at thistime of the year, that
means cold and dreary is better for fishing than warm and sunny.

I was expecting the same results. I loaded up and went to Keowee, th e
lake cools a big nuke power plant, so you know the water is a little warmer
then other lakes around here, one big draw back. F*O*G! Was hard to see when
I first launched, I basically putered while using the depth finder, making
sure I was still in deep enough water for my boat. I was able to land 5, all
on different worms, or lures. I caught two on a motor oil finese, rigged
different style, one was normal, pegged 1/16th oz sinker to the top of hook,
and the other was caught when I ripped about 1'' of the worm offf and put
the rest of the tail on a 1/8 ounce jig, and slowly worked under a bridge.
Had fun.




"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
RodMaker and I took advantage of a sunny, 60-degree afternoon to meet up
at
a middle-Tennessee lake for a couple hours. This lake has good
populations
of largemouth bass, Cherokee bass (stripe hybrids), bream and catfish,
but
more than once we've left there skunked.

Today we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet
weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was
48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we
were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it
that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold
winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective
memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

How far before a front does it start and end?

When a front moves though, with thickening clouds, blustery wind, and
precipitation, does that shut off the feed, or does it continue until
the
sky clears after the front passes?

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

You're probably past that point already Joe, with your water in the 40's.
I'm still envious of you though - it's snowing sideways here in SE PA.

--
Warren

http://www.warrenwolk.com
Http://www.tri-statebassmasters.com
2004 NJ B.A.S.S. Federation State Champions

"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
RodMaker and I took advantage of a sunny, 60-degree afternoon to meet up
at
a middle-Tennessee lake for a couple hours. This lake has good populations
of largemouth bass, Cherokee bass (stripe hybrids), bream and catfish, but
more than once we've left there skunked.

Today we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was
48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold
winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective
memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

How far before a front does it start and end?

When a front moves though, with thickening clouds, blustery wind, and
precipitation, does that shut off the feed, or does it continue until the
sky clears after the front passes?

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________

I was expecting the same results. I loaded up and went to Keowee, th e
lake cools a big nuke power plant, so you know the water is a little warmer
then other lakes around here, one big draw back. F*O*G! Was hard to see when
I first launched, I basically putered while using the depth finder, making
sure I was still in deep enough water for my boat. I was able to land 5, all
on different worms, or lures. I caught two on a motor oil finese, rigged
different style, one was normal, pegged 1/16th oz sinker to the top of hook,
and the other was caught when I ripped about 1'' of the worm offf and put
the rest of the tail on a 1/8 ounce jig, and slowly worked under a bridge.
Had fun.




"Joe Haubenreich" rofbmail (at) secretweaponlures (dot) com wrote in
message ...
RodMaker and I took advantage of a sunny, 60-degree afternoon to meet up
at
a middle-Tennessee lake for a couple hours. This lake has good
populations
of largemouth bass, Cherokee bass (stripe hybrids), bream and catfish,
but
more than once we've left there skunked.

Today we were able to eke out just three bass, all caught on the bottom
with very slow-moving, black/red flake tube jigs, 1/4-ounce bullet
weight,
on 3/0 HP hooks. Nothing else we threw today even got a sniff. Water was
48
degrees F. Sky was clear and sunny, with just a few thin clouds. High
tomorrow is supposed to be about 30 degrees lower, with a rain/snow mix.

The question is... what happened to the pre-frontal feeding frenzy we
were
looking for? Especially this time of year, when popular wisdom has it
that
bass are eating voraciously in preparation for the (relatively) cold
winter
months.

Is pre-front feeding frenzy just a bunch of hooey, based on selective
memory
and wishful thinking, or is it a fact?

How far before a front does it start and end?

When a front moves though, with thickening clouds, blustery wind, and
precipitation, does that shut off the feed, or does it continue until
the
sky clears after the front passes?

--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
_______________________