Hey Ranger,

That's an awfully big question. It will be hard to answer it here, as there are so many components to it. It really all depends on weather trends, and subtle signs. It's all situational, and if you generalize to much you will miss out on some great action, or take the wrong approach when you're out on the water.

Generally, really generally, a falling barometer is a good thing. It indicates that some type of front is moving in, and usually the fishing turns on. We have all heard reports of big fish caught before a front hit. I certainly have.

But you have to look at the whole picture. Everything from the size of the body of water, water clarity, forage base, I could go on forever.

I left Cave Run this morning after a tough week on the water. I was in a rainsut at the beginning of the week, wind howling out of the NE, and cold as hell. That cold front pushed the water temps down to the high 50's. It was about to turn over, and some parts of the lake (coves), it seems that it did. It started to really warm up by Friday and I was in Jeans and a shirt. The water temps held over the weekend even with the weak front that moved through.

Today, a front was trying to push it's way to the SE, but a strong high pressure held it off from the south, giving the Cave a warm, sunny day, with blue bird skies. Usually that would be a slow day, but you combine what looks like a few warm days like that together, during late pre-turnover, and you have a lake that is about to really turn on as the water temps climb back into the low 60's. Friday was the same type of day, but not quite as warm as today. Even on Friday, the first day of the warming trend, the shallows started heating up and the muskies started moving in numbers for the first time in 5 days.

So the high pressure will probably do well for Cave Run during the next few days. We'll see when the fishing reports are posted later this week. I'm betting on good fishing through Wednesday. Wish I was still there.

Good fishin',

Tyler Campbell

Ranger,

 I applied actual weather station barograph records to 12 years of guiding logs while preparing  a course for Nicolet. I found direct correlation between barometric activity and fish activity, with some interesting twists. To cover it here entirely would take about 5 pages, but to state it simply, ANY change, even slight fluctuations, seemd to have an effect. Recognizing those changes while on the water is difficult to be sure, but is possible.

I am thinking about doing a chat about weather and fishing, as that has been one of my passions to understand. If Slamr is approving, I will set that up.

Hey Steve,

How did you enter the data and organize it? Did you use a spreadsheet?

I know this is alot to ask, but do you think that you could make that available to us? I'd really like to see some of it, even a couple years or so. That must have taken alot of time to put together.

Good fishin,

Tyler

I used caught fish to look at the barograph to see what was happening that time and day, and the readings were entered in the log. Days where I had absolutely no success were also examined, and the pressure and trend entered in the log. You are correct, I have a ton of time in that, and will someday put it all together for consumption.

I think Muskie's Inc used to ask for barometer trends in the forms for the Lunge Log, not sure. Anyone know if that data is available?

I'll be there to learn a few things!

Good fishin',

Tyler