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| Where is a muskie after a big thunderstorm??And why? |
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| I have caught a good number of fish after thunder storms, so they don't leave the lake. However, I feel that a hard rain does do something to the fish. Usually a hard rain/thunder storm will have a rapid cooling effect
on the surface temperature of the water. The surface temps drop quite rapidly (you should see what happens if hail is associated with the storm). I really don't think it's the thunder or lightning that effects them as much as the differance in water temperatures.
I would guess that most fish just drop lower in the water column where the temperature change has moderated. If there is much wind action and there usually is with a thunder storm this effect is usually pretty short lived.
Don't quite fishing after a thunder storm has passed. I've done as well after a storm as before, it just might take a little while.
Doug Johnson |
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| The Pewaukee Lake study suggests that just prior to the front (storm) muskies get "active" and move around. After the storm, they become less mobile. I would guess that when they are not mobile... they will seek shelter. I'd look in the same areas you were hunting before the storm... but get right into the cover (most likely to be weeds).
I do not think a storm will make fish travel to the other side of the lake or bury themselves in the mud with their fins over their eyes. I'd just get right back to what you were doing before the storm. And what I am referring to here as a storm is a thunder shower that only lasts 20 minutes or so before it has passed.
So, I wouldn't change my location much... but I would probably switch my presentation from the run&gun bucktail or topwater type I typically would be using BEFORE the storm to more of a finesse minnowbait or jerkbait in the cover. |
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| One thing I would add about thunderstorms is how dangerous they are and to make sure they have passed before getting back out there. This sounds like a common sense thing, but from experience I know many people don't feel these storms are dangerous. I was fishing a PMTT event at Three Lakes a few years ago when we had a really bad lightning storm. As far as I could see I was the only person to seek shelter. I was completely baffled that no one else got off the lake that day. Lightning can strike up to ten miles ahead of where the storm is. We are using graphite rods and many times the rod is the highest point in the area. They say the chances of somebody being hit by lightning is slim, but that's because most people have the sense to seek shelter when a storm is approaching. I just haven't seen that kind of common sense being used by fishermen. |
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| My dad and I got caught in a tremendous downpour/t-storm a couple seasons ago, and had to stay out till it was through. We were basically stuck on an island due to high winds, lightning, and rain. Immediately after the rain stopped, my dad landed a 44.5" hybrid, and a cast or 2 later I had a 46"er in the boat myself. Since then, we try to be out as soon as we can after a storm, because if we are too late, it is just the oppisite. |
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| I have my best action after a storm passes on shallow rock structures. I use a bumping technique with a small metal lip crank bait to wake 'em up, as I noticed the fish are not real aggressive. In fact you won't even feel them pick it up, your bait will just quit ticking. |
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| I've noticed that it is a 50-50 chance that a thunderstorm will perk up the musky action. What do you think makes for a GOOD thunderstorm and which one's shut the fish off? |
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| I think the water temp changes that DougJ was talking about can make a difference more then the storm itself.
Here is an example from last summer, we had a stretch of about 2 months of hot weather without much rain at all. We were fishing this one night when this small cloud came onto us and started to rain some. I and Bob's wife were actualy laughing at him for going through the hassles of putting on his full rainsuit as we just put our jackets on. We told him that by the time he gets the thing on rain would of stopped, well wouldn't you know it we were wrong as he finaly got his suit on it not only didn't stop but started to downpoor and as we were about to look for our pants one of the 6500 just started screaming. low and behold Bob landed a 51 incher and by the time we released her rain stopped and we were soaked to the bones but he was dry and laughing at us big time.
Here is a picture of Bob with a big girl in the pouring rain.
Sorry the pics is a large one but I could not find a smaller version.
Picture is in next post, did not load on this one.[:blackeye:] |
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| Trying again. |
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| Geez, it's raining so hard the fish probably never knew it was out of the water (ha ha). Nice fish Richard! |
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| Not a huge fish, but one of the few that I have a photo of from a severe thunderstorm. The storm had very HEAVY rain and some major lightning. The fish hit about 20 seconds before the rain started and I had to keep the fish in the livewell so I could seek shelter from the lightning before releasing her. Some of the thunder was so loud... I'd jump when she'd crack. I never went back out to see if the fish stayed active AFTER that brutal system.
Is it just coincidence these fish were caught moments before a storm.... or is this sudden weather change a major trigger????? |
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| Hmmm, here is the photo for the above post. |
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| John/Richard,
Would you be kind to post the pictures of those fish again please? What did they bit on?
Thanks,
MS
[8)] |
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