To understand how to catch pike in bad weather, you don’t need to study hundreds of smart books or watch all the TV shows on the “Hunting and Fishing” TV channel.
You just need to go to the reservoir, taking with you the “right suitcase” - bait for pike in cloudy and bad weather. And you will see for yourself how pike bites in bad weather, right on the pond, and you will be very surprised. Because pike bite better in bad weather than on sunny and clear days.
Why is this so, let's find out.
Optimal pressure for pike fishing
To be guaranteed to catch a fat predator on the most ordinary body of water, forget about good weather. On clear and calm days, perch is excellently caught, but pike can be caught in bad weather.
Of course, the “pike tribe” does not like storms that, for example, activate the pike perch bite. But cloudy weather with stable low pressure is the most pike weather.
If you look at the weather forecast and see clear weather, cloudy weather, rain, wind, calm, pressure surges from low to high, and vice versa, you can safely stay home and go about your business. In such weather, they bite mainly on “laces” and “palps”, which need to eat under any conditions in order to grow and survive.
And to catch good large pike, look in the forecast for long periods of 4-5 days with low pressure.
If they promise a little rain or constant wind, then it doesn’t matter. Fishermen are not sugar-coated, wear a better raincoat and don’t get wet.
Put on your raincoat and go to the river to catch your biggest pike.
It is best to go after pike in the very middle of the stable period or a little closer to its end. That is, if a period with consistently low pressure lasts 5 days, then go fishing on the 3rd and 4th day of this period.
Weather indicators for pike fishing
Anyone who has been to a body of water several times notices that sometimes the weather is favorable and sometimes not quite favorable. It is the intricacies of weather conditions for catching trophy pike that we will understand further.
Pressure indicators
Choosing a promising place for pike fishing is not enough; to catch a trophy, you need to contact the heavenly office and find out what the pressure will be during the proposed fishing period. Catching a toothy predator will definitely be successful if the indicators are stable, but sudden jumps and changes will make their inhabitant sluggish and inactive.
The ideal option would be stable pressure for 3-4 days in a row; it is on these days that pike take almost any bait both in lakes and rivers.
Wind
In windy weather, pike can be caught in open water, but everything should be done in moderation. A good indicator of wind strength for each individual body of water that pike loves is large ripples in the water. In a small, closed lake, it is unlikely to achieve ripples at 6 m/s, but in a large one it is quite possible.
Does pike bite in calm weather? The answer to this question is clear, of course not. Such moments of weather are not suitable for her; potential victims can easily see her. But even in a strong wind, it may not respond to any of the proposed baits.
Illumination
In complete darkness it is difficult to catch, but it is not attracted to too bright daylight either. This is explained by the peculiarities of the behavior of the predator’s food base:
- in the dark, almost all the fry and peaceful fish sleep; they will come out to feed with the first rays of the sun;
- sunny weather forces residents of the reservoir to be more careful, since sufficient depths are visible.
What weather is best to catch pike then? A cloudy sky is ideal; the toothy fish will bite especially well in the morning and evening dawn, as well as from 11 a.m. until lunchtime in the complete absence of sunlight.
Precipitation
Wind is important for pike, but precipitation is also not in last place. In the rain with a slight wind, the toothy one bites best in the fall, but even in the summer, such weather will be ideal for catching.
In what weather is it better to catch pike in the spring: in the rain there will definitely not be a bite, you need to go hunting for pike in sunny weather.
Moon phases
The Earth's satellite has a direct impact on fish inhabitants, especially on their bite. Pike is no exception; the phases of the moon do not affect it very much.
| satellite phase | bite quality |
| new moon | bites best, does not overload with baits at all |
| first quarter | the bite remains at the proper level, but the predator does not feed as actively |
| full moon | the bite is very weak, it is very difficult to interest the pike |
| last quarter | the predator begins to be interested in the offered baits again, but the activity is average |
Experienced fishermen say that not everyone will be able to catch a pike on a full moon, despite all the other excellent indicators. To do this you need to have a special fishing skill.
Having learned all the details, I would like to make the following conclusion: you need to go for pike on a new moon, at moderate air temperatures with stable pressure readings for several days and always with light rain. Then everyone who wants to will definitely be able to catch a pike without any problems.
Catching pike in the wind on a pond
Windy weather on a river or lake is an excellent option for catching spotted predator. When there are large ripples, swells or small waves on the surface of the water, it is time to dip baits for large pike into the water.
At this moment, many baits that pike do not bite in clear weather will be attacked by a predator. Why, read a little lower, in the paragraph “Baits for pike in bad weather.”
The same thing happens in sunny weather, when the wind rises on a large body of water. Ripples in sunny weather make the picture of the underwater world “mosaic”, the visual perception of the pike is “fragmented”.
In sunny, windy weather, pike attack more actively noise baits and baits with good amplitude. In such weather, large spinners are the number 1 bait for pike without any exceptions.
The influence of atmospheric pressure on biting
Atmospheric pressure can be safely called the main weather criterion, because the presence of precipitation, sudden changes in outside temperatures, wind strength and lighting intensity depend on its changes. Even on the eve of a pressure surge a couple of days before the onset of the phenomenon, fish can radically change their behavior, and this is not to mention the immediate time when this weather parameter begins to change. Next, we will consider the effect of changes in atmospheric pressure on pike biting and highlight the main characteristics of its behavior at such moments.
Pike biting at high atmospheric pressure
As a rule, with high pressure, the weather is clear and sunny, which is not particularly conducive to the stability of the bite. The illumination promotes better visibility in the water. Pike prey quickly notice the danger in the face of the predator and manage to hide even before the attack begins. Instinctively, the fish stops being active in terms of searching for food and becomes passive. At high pressure, only fairly fast and active pike baits can interest a predator, which must be taken into account when fishing in the conditions prevailing in such a scenario.
Pike biting during periods of low atmospheric pressure
Low atmospheric pressure is considered a favorable period for pike fishing. Cloudy weather with rain can significantly affect the improvement of the bite, and even during such periods large trophy fish come out in search of their prey more readily. A jump in pressure drop before a thunderstorm causes a zhora effect, which, if possible, must be taken advantage of even for a couple of hours of biting, sometimes bringing many times larger catches than a full day’s fishing.
At what pressure does a pike bite?
It is impossible to identify the optimal pressure for pike fishing in dimensional terms, because this value varies from the location of the fishing point to the height above sea level, and the location of the reservoir does not give reason to unify the parameter to a single value.
Important! It is generally accepted that stabilizing atmospheric pressure values, whether high or low, at the same level for three to four days provides the prerequisites for stabilizing the bite.
Sudden changes in levels can only cause a peak surge in fish activity for just a couple of hours, after which it will become passive until the parameter is calm and even.
How to determine atmospheric pressure while fishing
Of course, the best option would be to have a barometer with you so that you can track changes in atmospheric pressure in real time while fishing, and even better, if you have a mobile weather station, see forecasts for its parameters for the next couple of days. And today such devices are already quite accessible to fishermen, and the ability to access the Internet will always allow them to acquire the necessary information.
But a number of long-known methods for determining pressure based on natural phenomena will not hurt the fisherman. In particular, sunny, clear weather indicates a high level of pressure. Finding dense clouds and cloudiness – on the contrary, its lower values. Having paid attention to the oiliness of the water surface, which is justified by the increase in its density, and the presence of foam near the shore, we can safely talk about a drop in pressure and the time when catching pike on a spinning rod, especially in the fall, becomes the most suitable period.
Fishing for pike in the rain on the river and lake
Rain without wind or with little wind also increases the chances of catching a good-sized predator on a lake or river. Raindrops hitting the water create additional “noise” coupled with waves and slight wind.
At such moments, a thick pike attacks much larger baits than in good weather.
One of the options for why this happens is partial disorientation of both forage fish and predators in the rain. White fish become lost and cannot adequately track the approach of a predator.
Pike spinners in windy weather are beyond competition.
The predator takes advantage of this and tries to use this moment to easily obtain food. But he himself is disoriented, and instead of food fish he often attacks a wobbler or spinner, which very vaguely resembles his constant food objects.
What weather is best for pike fishing?
The predator, like peaceful fish, reacts to changes in external habitat conditions, which can favorably or negatively affect the mood of river inhabitants. Fish activity and bite depend on various factors:
- season;
- water and air temperatures;
- the presence of a current or its absence;
- weather conditions;
- atmospheric pressure;
- characteristics of a particular reservoir.
In addition, you can add the phase of the moon or the luck of the fisherman. It is impossible to predict a fine day so that the entire list of factors influencing the bite coincides. The main circumstances that determine the catch are the experience of the fisherman, the time of year, and weather conditions. By putting together such a puzzle, the chances of predicting favorable days for pike fishing increase significantly. Knowledge about the subtleties of the influence of weather conditions on fish at certain times of the year will help you return home with a good catch.
The best lures for pike in bad weather
What does pike bite on in bad weather, what are the best baits for pike in rain or wind?
Firstly, it is worth understanding that the level of illumination on a pond during bad weather is greatly reduced. Also, strong ripples or waves prevent light from penetrating underwater. And at medium and shallow depths, a wave or ripples still create a flickering picture with shadows quickly running along the bottom and plants.
In such conditions, the predator is often disoriented and attacks any bait that passes by within its reach.
Secondly, in such conditions, in conditions of partial disorientation, the predator is much more often deceived and mistakes spoons and wobblers for natural food objects. But just as often, he may not notice artificial baits at all if they are small or partially camouflaged.
This means that in bad weather we catch pike with baits that meet the following requirements:
- Sufficiently large spoons and wobblers that can work at medium depths.
- Sufficiently contrasting and noticeable baits in conditions of constant visual interference.
- Quite bright baits - white, shiny, with flexes or polishing.
The main task for bait in bad weather is to be noticed by the pike and give the predator an opportunity to attack.
If they are spinners, then they are brightly colored and have tails.
That’s why large spinners, classic and long ones, large wobblers with active play, large spinners and large surface baits work great.
Oddly enough, but with good ripples and waves, large poppers and wolves work great for pike, which can leave clearly visible “whiskers” on the agitated surface of the water. We cannot distinguish the “bulks” in this weather, but perhaps they are more obvious to the pike than to us.
A. What lures for pike should I leave at home in bad weather?
Leave at home all the baits with dull (copper, dark brass) and camouflage colors (dark perch, dark crucian carp, etc.), all small baits and lures without their own game (minnow wobblers, small wobblers, small spinners and spoons) .
There is nothing to do in bad weather on a pond with lures for catching pike in the grass - non-hooking baits, spinnerbaits and Croatian eggs. Leave them for calm, clear weather, when the pike is fattening in the grass. In bad weather, pike, along with schools of forage fish, move away from the edge of the grass from shallow water; it is worth looking for it at medium depths.
B. What lures should I take with me for pike in bad weather?
Take large light shiny spinners and spinners, crankbaits and shads with contrasting colors, large poppers and walkers in bright colors and go to the reservoir in the midst of bad weather to catch your biggest pike.
Just remember about safety on the water, and if the wind picks up and a large wave occurs on large bodies of water, go to the shore and wait out this moment. And when the stormy weather sets in, check your chances of catching a fat predator again.
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