You head out towards one of your favorite fishing spots expecting a good day of fishing. However, once you get to your destination it begins to rain. No, it begins to pour.
What do you do?
At this point, you might be wondering, is it good to fish in the rain? Should I just wait it out? Is it better to fish before or after the rain?
Well, in this post, we hope to answer those questions as well as give you some tips to help you capitalize on this opportunity to catch more fish.
To begin, let’s start by answering that first question:
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.
Now that we have answered this question, let’s briefly highlight 6 tips to help you capitalize on this opportunity to catch more fish.
Fish Topwater
Oftentimes just before a rainstorm and even during a rainstorm insects can be seen cruising along just above the surface of the water.
When this happens fish will be hanging out closer to the surface of the water looking to snatch one of these bugs out of the air.
Because fish have their eye on the surface of the water, one of the best ways to catch them during a rainstorm is to throw a topwater lure.
You could initially start by throwing something that imitates a struggling bug on the water’s surface such as the Rebel Crick Hopper.
If that doesn’t work you can have success throwing a stick bait such as the Rapala X-Rap.
The truth is you can have much success with just about any topwater bait, the idea is to throw something where you know the fish will be looking.
You May Also Enjoy Reading: 17 Of The Best Topwater Lures
Try To Cover As Much Water As Possible
As we mentioned earlier oftentimes during a storm fish will be actively moving around in search of food.
With that being said, in order to entice a bite, many anglers have had much success by fishing baits that cover a lot of water.
Some of these baits might include spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or even buzzbaits.
The idea here isn’t to use a finesse worm in where you are slowing trying to coerce a fish to take the bait, but rather to quickly cover a lot of water in hopes of generating a reaction strike.
Look For Sources Of Food
During a heavy rainstorm, water will wash what is on the bank into the body of water. This introduces fresh nutrients into the water.
Small baitfish will then come up and feed on these worms, grubs and small critters that have been washed into the lake.
Where there are baitfish there are big fish.
With that in mind, when fishing during the rain, look for areas where you see the water washing or draining into the lake.
Many times it is near these areas that you will find baitfish and if you find baitfish, you are sure to find their much bigger cousins.
Use Loud Baits
Rainwater runoff is a great source of food however it can also start to muddy up the water.
When the water is dirty fish have limited vision and must rely on other senses to find food. These senses include their sense of smell and their lateral lines
For those that don’t know what a lateral line is?
The lateral line is a visible line that goes down the side of a fish. This line consists of several organs that help a fish feel movement and vibrations in the surrounding water.
Once they detect movement, this line helps them to hone in on their prey and catch bait even when the water is dirty.
With that in mind, when fishing muddy water, it is important to throw a lure that creates a lot of commotion.
You can do this by either throwing a bait that creates a lot of commotion on the surface of the water such as a spinnerbait or buzzbait, or you can throw a crankbait that has a loud rattle.
The important thing here is to choose a lure that is going to give off a lot of noise or vibration so that the fish have an opportunity to hone in on it.
Additional Reading: Best Bass Lures For Muddy Water
Wear Appropriate Clothing
I know this one might sound like an obvious one, but when fishing during a rainstorm it is important that we are dressed for the occasion.
Not only will this help to prevent us from getting sick but ultimately we are going to enjoy it more.
And if we are enjoying what we are doing, we are going to be more successful.
Additional Reading: A Look At The Best Rain Suit For Fishing
Fish Smart
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:
FAQ About Fishing In The Rain
Is It Better To Fish Before Or After The Rain?
Oftentimes it is better to fish before the storm than after the storm. Fish are highly sensitive to changes in barometric pressures. Before a rainstorm, the pressure begins to fall which releases air bubbles into the water. These air bubbles bring nutrients to the surface which in turn will get fish moving and bring them to the surface.
However, after a storm the opposite is true. The pressure begins to rise and the fish return back to their normal feeding habits.
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.
Final Thoughts…
So the next time you go fishing and it starts to rain. Don’t let a little water discourage you.
By putting into practice the above suggestions you can catch yourself a giant.
Now it is your turn. Please share your fishing experience in the comments section below.
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