Guess what they say is true: an approaching front makes fish go nuts!

Yesterday was another for the books: numbers and quality. I discovered fish in different locations and in groups of mixed species.

1. The day started out with me seeing a deer in the water drinking at the tree line for over 20 minutes. It saw me as I went passed it in the boat, not moving an inch. It's a county park where are people coming and going, so deer are never ever seen anytime during the day.

2. I told the really weird attack of a swan going repeatedly after a cormorant in another post. Also yesterday.

I know where major structure areas are - deep and shallow flats - and fish were caught in most of them as well as in open water. The strikes of many of the fish were the strongest I've felt this year. Even small sunfish strikes were easily detected and I used five different lure shapes (soft plastic) that all produced.

Sometimes when I suspect success is due to an approaching severe front (so far today over 4" of rain), I wonder what it spells for the near term after today. Things will most likely change seeing as how the waters have gotten deeper with a water temperature drop of around 10 degrees. This algae green will most likely be diluted via the 24 hour torrential downpour.
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I guess the big question is: how fish will respond to the cold front in summer in the next few days?

Some fish feed well after a rain. Especially in areas where runoff water is entering a body of water. Brings in a lot of insects and other tasty bits for fish to feed one

Yes, I have found that can go either way. Sometimes they are off the feed for a day or so, or so it seems. Other times hang on!
Bob

I'm hoping to find out this weekend. Cooler weather moving in with night time temps in the 60s and even high 50s for the first time in months. Good luck.

5" of rain in 24 hours should change a few things along with the temperature dropping into the upper 50's at night and daytime temp around 70 degrees. If I was a fish I'd be shocked from the drastic change in my environment! Maybe tomorrow I'll have a report to post.

But one thing I took note of in my pond:
The same 2 doz. sunfish as usual approached me for bread bits today. The difference from 2 days ago: the murky water caused many of them to be within 2-4" of the surface which is now up 2' due to an inflow pipe adding to the rising water level. Could fish be higher as well in the water column in other waters?

Update: Sept. 3, today

The water level was up but not as much as it could be if there was no damn for the overflow of excess water. Fish again were found in 7' - 4' in different parts of the lake. The bite was no different than last report - 61 fish in 6 hours with some nice crappie, y. perch and sunfish. The bass were the usual 10". The most satisfying discovery post storm was being able to catch fish parallel to the shore 50' from and towards shore where 5 fish could be caught in one spot and repeated up further.
Seeing how far some shallow flat were to the shore still amazes me considering the years I've fished this lake.
The green algae was more diluted from the rain but the water was still green.
Different lure designs, sizes and colors also proved themselves.

When I got to the lake, 6 boats were out. All left the lake by 10 am. More fish for me!!! (Maybe a few got tired of seeing me hold fish up to be photographed for my log.) The bite got even better after 1pm.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spoonminnow

Update: Sept. 3, today

The water level was up but not as much as it could be if there was no damn for the overflow of excess water. Fish again were found in 7' - 4' in different parts of the lake. The bite was no different than last report - 61 fish in 6 hours with some nice crappie, y. perch and sunfish. The bass were the usual 10". The most satisfying discovery post storm was being able to catch fish parallel to the shore 50' from and towards shore where 5 fish could be caught in one spot and repeated up further.
Seeing how far some shallow flat were to the shore still amazes me considering the years I've fished this lake.
The green algae was more diluted from the rain but the water was still green.
Different lure designs, sizes and colors also proved themselves.

When I got to the lake, 6 boats were out. All left the lake by 10 am. More fish for me!!! (Maybe a few got tired of seeing me hold fish up to be photographed for my log.) The bite got even better after 1pm.

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Always a nice thing to see, Spoon. Drives some of those guys nuts!
Bob

I call those banner days and they live on in our memories for a long time. Glad you got to have some fun.

Better yet maintaining folders with photos of each outing that includes the lures that caught fish with lures still hooked and the date of the outing. Helps me to not have to depend on my (failing) memory (which the drug I take doesn't seem to be a bit of help).