Tips For Fishing In The Rain & The Best Rain Suit For Fishing 2021

The weather report calls for a 60% chance of rain this weekend. Will, that report discourage you from fishing in the rain?

For many the answer is yes! However, this article just may change how you view fishing on those rainy days. 

Additionally, be sure to read until the end of this article, because we are going to talk about some of the best rain suits for fishing.

Is it good to fish in the rain?

The answer is yes fishing during the rain is a great time to catch fish. During a rainstorm, fish tend to be more actively searching for food. In addition, the rainwater runoff brings fresh nutrients into the water and as we all know, where there is food, there are fish.

Why go 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 to 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 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? – 10 Tips To Catch More Fish

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. 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 use when fishing for bass in the rain is a spinnerbait.

Not only do they allow you to cover a large area, but 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 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.

Consider the water temperature

So far we have talked about how rainwater can introduce nutrients into the water and how it dirty up the water.

One thing that oftentimes can get overlooked is it can change the water temperature

This can work in our favor when fishing those hot summer months as a quick rain shower can cool things off and get bass moving.

However, during those cold fall months, a cold rain can do the opposite.

So, before heading out during a rainstorm be sure to take into account the water temperate and change your fishing strategies accordingly.

Fish Run-Offs

Rainwater can push whatever is on the surface of the bank into the water. This can include worms, critters, and other organic nutrients.

This will attract baitfish and in turn, attract larger fish.

For that reason, when fishing in the rain, a great place to start is by fishing near any runoffs or drains that are dumping rainwater into the lake.

You can start by fishing with a lure that imitates bugs or insects struggling on the surface of the water.

Take Into Account The Wind

Another thing to take into consideration during a storm is the wind.

This can move nutrients around and get fish moving. In addition, it can create currents that will move baitfish around.

For that reason, many baitfish will gravitate toward areas where there is little or no current. Larger fish will also wait in these areas looking to ambush these unsuspecting prey

For that reason, a great fishing place to start might be downwind of points, docks, and other structures in the water where small fish might get relief from fighting the current.

Look For Clear Water

If it has been raining for awhile chances are the water is looking pretty dirty.

Sometimes this can have a negative effect on the fish’s feeding behavior and they can begin to slow down.

This is a great time to look for pockets of clear water.

Start by fishing pockets near moving water

Wear Appropriate Clothing

If you decide to fish in the rain, it is important to wear warm clothing that is designed for fishing in these conditions.

No matter how many fish a person catches, if they aren’t comfortable, they aren’t going to enjoy it And if they don’t enjoy it, they aren’t going to be successful.

With that being said, I recommend wearing a rain suit that is specifically designed to keep you warm and comfortable in the rain.

Fish Safely

By putting into practice the tips that we covered in this post, a person can have a lot of success in catching fish during a rainstorm.

With that being said, we want to be clear in saying that we are not recommending that you go fishing in a thunderstorm or a lightning storm.

Fishing during a thunderstorm with a graphite rod on an aluminum boat can be extremely dangerous.

For that reason, it is extremely important that you always exercise extreme caution when fishing in the rain. If you see lightning it is best to get off the lake and come back another day.

Learn More About Fishing In The Rain In The Following Video:

Is It Better To Fish Before Or After A Storm?

It is better to fish before a storm than to wait until the storm has passed. As a storm approaches the barometric pressure begins to drop. Bass are sensitive to these changes in pressure and it activates them.

After the storm, the pressure rises, and the fish return back to their normal behavior.

What do fish do in the rain?

Rain aerates the water, introduces fresh nutrients into the water, and during the summer months, it cools the water temperature. All of which will active fish and get them moving around searching for food.

Do Fish Bite In The Rain?

Yes, fish will bite in the rain. As the rainwater brings in more food into the water, it will attract baitfish which in turn will attract bigger fish.

What is the best rain suit for fishing? – My Top 4 Picks

Now that we have talked about all the benefits of fishing in the rain, let’s talk about the next question. What is the best suit for fishing? Here is a quick preview:

• Frogg Toggs All Sport
• Coleman PVC/Nylon Suit
• SWISSWELL Mens Waterproof Rainsuit
• TideWe Rain Suit

Frogg Toggs All Sport

Features:

• Made with 100% Polypropylene
• Waterproof
• Adjustable/detachable hood
• Lightweight

When caught fishing in the rain, we want to be able to throw something on that is comfortable and most importantly something that will keep us dry.

That is exactly what we like most about the Frogg Toggs All Sport.

This suit is made from 100% polypropylene. We like this material selection because the fabric is breathable, lightweight, and comfortable. Best of all they are very quiet.

So if you are the type of angler that gets annoyed when your jacket or pants sound like a plastic bag, this might be a good option for you.

Another great feature is that this suit is designed to fit very easily over your clothes. It is equipped with elastic bands at the wrist and ankles designed to keep the water out and keep you nice and dry.

While there certainly are a lot of features that we like about this suit, there is one improvement we would like to see to make this option the best rain suit for fishing. We want to have pockets!

Unfortunately, neither the jacket nor the pants have pockets. This can be a little annoying when you have to open up your rain suit to access your pockets to say grab your car keys or your wallet.

With that being said if you are looking for an affordable option to have in the boat just in case it starts to rain, you won’t be disappointed with the Frogg Toggs All Sport Rain Suit.

Let’s take a closer look at this option in the following video:

Coleman .20mm PVC/Nylon Suit

Features:

• Made with 20mm PVC
• Waterproof
• Adjustable hood
• Slit Pockets

Another great option that is relatively inexpensive and easy to throw over your clothes is the Coleman .20mm PVC/Nylon Suit.

This model is made from 20mm PVC that helps to keep it waterproof.

Once you hear the word PVC without a doubt the next question is: How breathable is it? Will I be dying in this suit?

Well, first I would like to note that no rain suit is going to breathe well, especially one that is waterproof. With that being said, this option has several breathing holes strategically placed to keep you cool. The best part of this suit being made from PVC is that it will keep you dry.

Another great feature is the slit pockets. The pants are equipped with two slit pockets one on each side that allows you to easily access your pant pockets, but at the same time keep the water out.

I really like this feature as you don’t have to transfer everything from your pockets to the pockets of the suit. Simply throw it on over your clothes and you are ready to go. T

his feature really makes it easy to use when that thunderstorm comes without much warning.

Another convenient feature is that it comes in a carrying bag. This works great not only for storage purposes, but it also makes it easy to bring it with you wherever you happen to be fishing.

Take a closer look at the many great features in the following unboxing video:

SWISSWELL Mens Waterproof Rainsuit

Features:

• Made from polyester
• Waterproof – 3000 waterproof index
• Mesh Lining
• Reflective
• Pockets on Jacket and Pants

Are you looking for a good rain suit that you can throw into your backpack or keep in your boat just in case there is a sudden change in the weather?

If so, you will love the many features that the SWISSWELL Men’s Waterproof Rainsuit has to offer.

Made from a 100% polyester shell that is has a 3000 waterproof index designed to keep the water out and keep you warm and dry. It is also equipped with a soft mesh lining to keep you both dry on the inside and comfortable while out on the water.

Lastly, it has pockets both on the jacket as well as the pockets, plenty of room to store your wallet/cell phone or whatever other tools that you like to carry with you.

One feature that I really like to look for in a good suit is something that is portable and doesn’t take up much space.

After all, the less room that a jacket and pair of pants take up, the more room for what is most important lures and fishing gear.

One of the best features of this option is that the pockets can be used to pack the suit itself. This is a great feature because it makes it super lightweight and easy to take with to just about anywhere.

Just pack it, throw it into your bag and you are ready to go, it can be just that easy.

TideWe Rain Suit

Features:

• 100% waterproof
• High density polyester
• Available in 5 different colors
• Breathable and comfortable
• Portable lightweight bag
• Tape sealed seams

Does the TideWe rain suit have what it takes to be considered the best rain suit for fishing?

Yes, yes, yes!

Let’s talk a little bit more about this rain suit.

The rain suit that TideWe has to offer is made of high-density polyester with tape seal seams. With that being said, it is designed to keep you dry.

However when a person hears the word high-density polyester some may think that this could lead to an even greater problem. It is not breathable.

That is not the case with this product. Yes, it is waterproof, but the rain suit allows for water molecules to escape so that you can stay comfortable and dry all day long.

The cuffs, waist, and hood are also adjustable. This is a nice feature to have so that you can adjust it accordingly to your liking.

Lastly, it features 2 large side pockets. Plenty of room to keep your gear.

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 a 60% chance of rain, don’t allow it to discourage you from fishing.

Get out there and catch some fish!

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