Posts: 22
Location: Lou's Bay on the 'goon | Ok, sorry about the doube hit. I have a question about cold front tactcs- I was firing small KDC spinner bait and it was being hammered, 8- 10 pound northers.. about 6 caught -all released. MY son managed a follow that resulted in a foot stomping, screaching- holy cr-- did you see THAT!!!!!! follow with the topraider and three casts later something blew up on it about 30 feet out...MY big hockey playing son the said, " Dad thats the first time I have every been scared of a fish."..The weather at this time was overcast and darkening up. Pressure no doubt dropping. The next morning it started to clear, then very clear and hot, next day some clound and threatened to rain-next day sunny again- Variable weather. Nothing biting.. I tried the KDC's bulging, topraider, bulldogs, eagle tails, Mepps killers, Maribou, 5's, Ghost tails, Funky Chicken spinners, a 10 inch Suick, a Doc, and a SHallow raider. but other than that - nothing. I have since digested the latest issue of Musky Hunter and it does speak to the cold front ( (post cold front) How about some help for lure Selection, shallow under 5 feet, casting. Hell I even throw the family cat if it worked..hmmmm. SPeed of retrieve? I must need more lures....
Next time your on the 'goon in Lou's bay, drop in for a beverage and bring a story. |
Posts: 32951
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | There's a wealth of information out there on Cold Front tactics, most of it confusing.
What's a cold front? A low pressure system moves into the area from the west. The barometer begins falling, winds here in Wisconsin usually go over to south from either south west or west off the back side of the last high pressure system. High pressure rotates clockwise, low counter clockwise. As the barometer begins to fall, skies begin to cloud with the high stuff first, then the more substantial lower clouds. If there's moisture streaming in from either the Gulf or another source, as the front approaches it might rain. Temps usually are up alittle to stable as the low approaches, and down some during the 'strom' part of the equasion. Depending on the Low's position, winds can be south to east. As the Low moves off east, if there is a High pressure system moving in, THAT edge where the High replaces the Low influence on local weather, that line where the skies clear, winds here go over to north or west/northwest---That's the cold front by fishing definition. Air mass from Canada and clear skies allowing the night air to cool, dryer air, and depending on the intensity of the High, windy conditions, are the leading effects here. Post cold front the skies are clear to partly cloudy, barometer rising or steady; the ever famous 'bluebird' conditions. As the High moves off the winds will go to SW off the clockwise rotation, and then the process repeats.
What if there's no High, just another Low coming in as the systems move through? Is that a cold front? By definition for fishing purposes, no. That can be very good, or very bad, and I have no idea why the fish react as they do to multiple low pressure systems moving through. One thing for sure, CHANGE is a trigger, opening a window that you'll want to be there for if you can. Post frontal, as weather stabilizes, the windows seem to me to go more to defined periods like first and last light, Solunar Majors and Minors, etc.
The fish WILL move at least some most days, you just need to be where thay are and get a bait in the fish's face. I've had some spectacular days post cold front, and some really bad days. I usually blame my selection of water and baits, because I can't blame the fish, they are there somewhere. However, if I fish every pattern I know, pound the water to a froth, and see nothing, it's weather related, I'm betting. Usually, that means Steve VanLieshout is fishing with me.
Be versatile, fish the entire water column, and find active fish. Do you need to downsize? I use lures that match the speed and depth I want the lure to be running. I catch big muskies on 6" creatures, and 10" Suicks. 4" crankbaits and 10" crankbaits. There is no magic bullet. As SVL says, best time to fish Muskies is when you can.
Here's a link to look over, good reference.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/frnts/cfrnt/def.rxml
Click on the online guides link on the upper left. |
Posts: 22
Location: Lou's Bay on the 'goon | Thanks Steve, I was casting today (beautiful warm day) for 'jacks and fishing some walleye, did fine in the walleye dept. Once back at the dock I threw out a big minnow on a #4 hook and let it sit on the bottom and began to but the boat in the boat house, I looked back at the rod and had a bite.... I reeled up the slack and all hell broke loose , something wheeled off about 50 feet of line..we battle back and forth for a ling time and I could only watch the boils as it got farther away. The 8 lb test was maxed and finalled let go... I wonder.... evil #*^@ fish. Ter
Next time your on the 'goon in Lou's bay, drop in for beverage and bring a story. |
