Fishing In The Rain – What You Need To Know

The weather report calls for a 60% chance of rain this weekend. Will, that report discourage you from fishing in the rain? For many yes! This article just may change how you view fishing on those rainy days.

Why go bass fishing in the rain?

Fewer people on the lake. One of the best reasons to continue fishing even after it begins to rain is, there will be fewer people on the lake. The fewer people on the lake, the fewer people to compete with, and the more fishing opportunities you will have to catch a fish.  Stick it out and you may land yourself a big fish.

More productive fishing. Many fishermen have found fishing just before the rain, fishing in the rain and fishing just after the rain to be some of their most productive days on the water. This is mainly because bass tend to be more active and thus are easier to find and easier to catch.

Less direct sunlight. Bass are not able to quickly adjust their pupils to varying levels of light. This makes them very sensitive to sunlight. That is why on warm sunny days you will find them sticking close to cover where they can receive protection from the direct sunlight.

However, rainy days tend to change things. On rainy days the cloud cover helps to reduce the amount of sunlight that penetrates the water. Also, the act of rain falling on the water tends to diffuse the sunlight.

As a result, bass feel more comfortable as they are able to see better in low light situations. They do not have stick close to shaded areas to receive protection from the light. Thus they tend to move around more freely on rainy days. As we stated earlier the more that bass move around the more opportunities we will have to catch them.

Bass can’t see you. We have always said in the past that if you can see the bass they, they can see you. Under rainy conditions, the rain disturbs the surface of the water making it very difficult for the fish to see you. This will allow you to get much closer to the shallow waters. Because bass can’t see you they will be less likely to become spooked and thus more apt to bite.

How To Catch Bass In The Rain?

Fish shallow water. One great place to start fishing in the rain is in shallow waters. Rain can help to wash in fresh nutrients into the lake. Shad and bluegill flood the shallow waters to feed on this newly founded source of food. As we know where shad and bluegill congregate, bass will be close behind.

Position your boat close to the shoreline and cast parallel to the shore. This will allow you to cover a large area and better your chances of getting a strike.

Water Clarity. Another important aspect to consider when fishing on rainy days is water clarity. A heavy rain can flush out the water and make it very muddy. Under muddy conditions, you want to use big, noisy and dark lures. This will help the bass to hone in on the lure using their lateral lines as their eyesight will be limited.

Learn more: Best Bass Lures For Muddy Water  & How To Catch Bass In Muddy Water

Spinnerbaits. A great lure to using when fishing for bass in the rain is a spinnerbait. Not only do they allow you to cover a large area, they also are great in creating a disturbance on the surface of the water. This disturbance acts as a dinner bell for bass attracting them to your lure.

Another great thing about spinnerbaits is they can be effectively fished both on top of the water surface as well as just below it. This makes them a very versatile lure.

Topwater Lures. Don’t just limit yourself to spinnerbaits. Topwater lures also work very really well in rainy conditions. This is especially true when under a light rain. A light rain brings bugs to the water’s surface which will attract bluegill and other baitfish. Throw a topwater lure under these conditions and you will catch those bass looking for an easy meal.

Important Note: Always be conscious of safety when out on the water. Yes, you can be successful fishing on rainy days. However, fishing in the rain when it is lightning can be very dangerous. When you begin to see lightning or hear thunder it is always wise to seek shelter.

Final Thoughts

Yes, bass fishing in rainy conditions is not the most ideal for the fisherman. However, I promise you, that when you start to catch fish you will quickly forget all about how bad the weather is. So the next time the weather report is calling for 60% chance of rain, don’t allow it to discourage you from fishing. Get out there and catch some fish!

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