One of my weakest pieces to the fishing puzzle is weather and how it effects fishing. With the weather as it is now and how it is predicted for the weekend is this a cold front. I understand that yes the temeratures have dropped but is that all that is needed to qualify as a cold front? And if it is a cold front and the temeratures are to stay low as predicted, is this a really long cold front or just cold weather after a cold front? If it is a long cold spell after a cold front do the fish react like it is a cold front? Sorry if these sound like stupid questions but I really do get confused with the weather stuff. Anyone out there want to educate me?

Muskieswen,
It was a real cold front that moved in this week and it did have an affect on the walleye bite! The cold weather is not the same though and usually does not have a negative affect on the bite, in fact it will improve the bite as the water cools from the colder air!
Cliff

Sounds like Muskie swen really didn't run out of questions at the get-to-gether, just saved some for later.

Ha Ha

Was out tonight for a bit-first time in a while. Caught two 14 inchers and a 19 inch smallie on lindy rigged pike suckers in 10-15 FOW. Crawlers and leaches did not produce a bite....minnow time????

we have a good supply of suckers for those needing some.

BEEGONE, sounds like the minnow might be the ticket, I also was out this late afternoon, only had crawlers with me and brought home dinner (1 @ 15") I was fishing in 25fow and fish were there they just did not move on my crawler.
Regards to all, Darrell.

I was supprised too since there wasnt a very good concentration of fish where I was fishing however the bites I had were solid. Who knows maybe this cold snap helped or maybe those fish just wanted pike suckers tonight and will be back on leeches in the A.M.

Sure, I ask a few to many questions and they start on you. All in fun right guys? Guys? Just in fun right?

Yes, all in fun..... Someone had to get the ball rolling at the GTG, glad you stepped up.

Muskieswen, the term "cold front" really has more to do with high and low pressure systems that are associated with the weather fronts moving through. Typically the fish don't like that sudden atmospheric change from low to high pressure, which is typically what happens after a "cold front" moves in. Also, a cold front/high pressure sytem will most times bring very clean, clear skies, as most dust particles get washed out of the sky during a rain front. Fish (walleyes)operate on an air bladder system to regulate their internal oxygen levels, etc...which is greatly affected by the atmospheric pressure at all times. Combine that with light sensitive eyes and you can see why they can be belly to the bottom and lethargic during post frontal/high pressure situations.
Of course there are many other factors that come in to play such as seasonal patterns (ie: spawning), water temps, forage location, water clarity, etc...that come into play inregard to how quickly they come out of their funk or how big an effect the current weather will factor in.

Having a brother with a master in biology opened my eyes to a lot of stuff that I used to not spend too much time thinking about.........:)

Eyewitness,
Thanks for the explanation. One more question, can a person visualy see the front? I mean when I see the line of clear skies coming that is technically the end of the cold front. This would then be what everyone calls the post cold front conditions i.e. slow bite in fishing terms. Of course then the reverse would be the line of clouds coming in would be the start of a cold front?

Yes, more often than not there is a visual confirmation to see when the high pressure moves in. However the barometer can drop quite a bit prior to an actual storm front or low pressure front moving in and watching that can give you a good idea when things are starting to really change....
My grandparents always kept a good barometer on the wall at heir lake home that we always paid close attention to. Kind of fun too, if you get the liquid measuring type so you can see the water levels go up and down as the pressure goes up and down.

Bob,
And I thought that you only had ONE thing on your mind!!
Cliff

Beegone,
An all minnow bite for me also this morning!
Cliff

HAHAHA! Well once in a while I think about catching fish too!

Interesting! Pretty decent action?

We caught 15. kept 7 and released two slot fish. 21-1/2" and 18"
They hit hard also..
Cliff

Cliff,
How much has the surface temp dropped since Monday? I was reading 73.5- 74 on the West end by Monday afternoon before I packed up and headed home.
That was in the narrows heading up towards Black Bay. The weather looks a little more favorable for this weekends fishing. A jacket will feel good in the mornings and evenings again.

Thanks and Good Luck

Steve

Steve,
Temps in Big Bay and Frazer were around 67-68 degrees this morning.
Cliff

Thats decent and should only get better!

Cliff,
Thanks alot for the info. The big pike bite should be on now With a little luck maybe even the muskies will pick up a little.

Steve

I got 64.8F last night in Niles bay.

Weather has been "confused" (mixed clouds, sun, wind drection changes) for several days. Usually a recipe for poor walleye bite, but the feedbag seems to be on. Rainbows or crawlers lindy rigged on 18-24 feet off rocky points and flats. About 3/4ths of the fish are too long to keep.

Hans,

Besides the weather, how are things going? Sorry to hear about the oversized fish. Drop a note latter in the week.

Backwoods

Hans,
When you rig crawlers on Vermilion, do you use a whole one or just half? I've heard people having success using just a half. Just curious...

always whole for me. I use monster sized ones that I pick in my yard.

Sled, been reading your reports for years as V is my favorite lake to fish. What the heck with the eyes here lately, you seem like a smallie guy.