Thread: Barometer pressure effect on crappie fishing

No.

1" of Hg = 0.49 psi, 1' in the fresh water column = 0.43 psi. So, roughly, a 1" of mercury change would equate to a foot of water. If the fish feel uncomfortable with the pressure change, they'll just move to a different depth - within a foot if pressure on them was so important. As you probably know, the fish are stacked at different depths, +/- a few feet within the water column at all times of the year. That being said, the fish can regulate the pressure they feel regardless of the atmospheric pressure at the time. They are in a different environment.

Originally Posted by parfume4

I heard from a seasoned Texas fishing guide that fishing is generally good when barometer pressure (BP) is in the range of 29.85-30.10, acceptable 29.60-30.40. He won't bring client to fish if out of this range.

Did you notice a similar pattern in BP?
Is BP an important factor when you plan your fishing trip?
Thanks.
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I don't pay attention to BP, so no ... it's not an important factor in planning my fishing.

I once saw Bill Dance say something along those same lines, about a specific "range" of barometric pressure being the most conducive to catching fish. But I think his range was 29.9 to 30.15 ... so your guide's range is within reason.

But, also ... many of the TV anglers, tourney Pros, and even some guides may have an ulterior motive for espousing a particular notion like this ... and that could be the promotion of a product, sponsor, or even their own following. I remember when the TV anglers were always telling us that you had to fish during a specific range of BP, a specific range of water pH, use a specific color to match the light penetration depth ... which was under the control of the clarity of the waters you were fishing ... and that you should spend 90% of your day "searching" for these ideal conditions and effects, and the other 10% of the time should be spent fishing (in what they considered the "ideal" circumstances for success). The point they were making was, you NEED this product or that product that I'm using (and being sponsored by), so that you can determine these conditions. I did purchase some of these products, only to find that they basically told me what I already knew was relevant to the waters I fished, and the other factors this product told me about were irrelevant and time consuming .... while all the other anglers around were catching fish (some of whom were my fishing partners, right there in my own boat)

Now, I'm not saying the info is false or irrelevant to everyone. There is some good science behind a lot of that info. It's just that I've experienced too many trips where the conditions & timing were "perfect", and caught few fish ... and trips where the conditions & timing were totally "screwed up", and did fairly well. And those times have occurred in at least 15% of my trips.

Originally Posted by Tracker123

No.

1" of Hg = 0.49 psi, 1' in the fresh water column = 0.43 psi. So, roughly, a 1" of mercury change would equate to a foot of water. If the fish feel uncomfortable with the pressure change, they'll just move to a different depth - within a foot if pressure on them was so important. As you probably know, the fish are stacked at different depths, +/- a few feet within the water column at all times of the year. That being said, the fish can regulate the pressure they feel regardless of the atmospheric pressure at the time. They are in a different environment.

Make scientific sense!


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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

I don't pay attention to BP, so no ... it's not an important factor in planning my fishing.

I once saw Bill Dance say something along those same lines, about a specific "range" of barometric pressure being the most conducive to catching fish. But I think his range was 29.9 to 30.15 ... so your guide's range is within reason.

But, also ... many of the TV anglers, tourney Pros, and even some guides may have an ulterior motive for espousing a particular notion like this ... and that could be the promotion of a product, sponsor, or even their own following. I remember when the TV anglers were always telling us that you had to fish during a specific range of BP, a specific range of water pH, use a specific color to match the light penetration depth ... which was under the control of the clarity of the waters you were fishing ... and that you should spend 90% of your day "searching" for these ideal conditions and effects, and the other 10% of the time should be spent fishing (in what they considered the "ideal" circumstances for success). The point they were making was, you NEED this product or that product that I'm using (and being sponsored by), so that you can determine these conditions. I did purchase some of these products, only to find that they basically told me what I already knew was relevant to the waters I fished, and the other factors this product told me about were irrelevant and time consuming .... while all the other anglers around were catching fish (some of whom were my fishing partners, right there in my own boat)

Now, I'm not saying the info is false or irrelevant to everyone. There is some good science behind a lot of that info. It's just that I've experienced too many trips where the conditions & timing were "perfect", and caught few fish ... and trips where the conditions & timing were totally "screwed up", and did fairly well. And those times have occurred in at least 15% of my trips.

Thanks for sharing. This is what I hear most from fisherman around me. "You never know unless you go".


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I think I know that guide and for sure if it's who I think he is .....he is good at putting folks on fish . That said I go when I can and pay no attention most of the time to the weather conditions.....
I do think a high barometer and a real low barometer effect fish and in lots of cases very dramatically as well .....sometimes they don't like the change , but if it stays either way long enough they adjust and get back to normal to some degree

Seeing as the barometric pressure impacts other spiecies,it stands to reason it in all probability it affects fish as well.That said,I'm gonna fish and hunt no matter the conditions.My son and I have started watching the barometer in the off season of deer hunting,it is pretty remarkable to see the difference in deer movement during different readings.......Then it all goes out the window during the rut!

If high pressure / blue Bird skies hit , I just fish deeper , slower , and tight to cover .

NIMROD nailed it.