Fishing In The Rain – 10 Tips To Catch More Fish

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.

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.

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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? – 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 using 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 rainsuit that is specifically designed to keep you warm and comfortable in the rain.

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Fish Safely

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 immediately.

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.

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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