Tactics while raining

[cobrah]

Trying to dispel the old wives tale that fish don't bite while its raining or after alot of rain, due to salinity levels changing.

I'm not too sure how much of an impact rain like we will have today will have on the fish bite in general but there's a couple question I need to ask some more experienced guys.

When raining is a topwater totally out of the question?

Should I be focused on fishing the bottom or lower in the water column?

I fished Dana's this morning and had a couple good bites on a fatboy but no takers. Probably gonna hit it in the morning if there is no lightning

Any help at all on your experiences while fishing in the rain are greatly appreciated

[plugger]

My two cents........ Don't be waving around a graphite lightening rod while standing in the water , boat if even a hint of lightening . Best is not fish in the rain at all because of the chance of lightening .

Rain oxygenates the water and makes the fish more frisky . Not enough rain falling to change the salinity . River freshwater drainage can . The clouds and drop in air temperature shallow is an asset . Water temperature takes a few days to lower after a real drop in air temperature , like a cold front . Don't know about tops in rain but I would guess a bigger , noisier plug would be best what with the patter of rain on the surface . A dark top water would be on order with cloud cover . A topwater prop bait would be good .... makes a lot of surface noise . I would work a subsurface bait vigorously . A slash bait , brokenback floater/diver ripped hard several times then paused to let it rise is what I would use .

[Curmudgeon]

Fish gotta eat when its raining too. Tops work fine as well as corkys.

[KennyWayne]

I can't answer your question but I can offer a suggestion. Most people don't do this (myself included) make a logbook of your trips. Keep good notes of temps, tides, barometer, wind, moon, fronts, tropics, lures, techniques, results. That's a lot I know, but you can make a "fill-in-the-blank" form to keep records. Or you can use it as a "I need to sit on the porch, drink another beer & fill out this form excuse"

[dPop]

First, Top Waters are NEVER totally out of the question.

Second, if your fishing an area with heavy run off or that has a lot of fresh water you should consider working a bait near the bottom. If there is not a lot of run off then fish it as you normally would. That is a call however that needs to be made once you get to where you want to go and observe what is actually going on there.

[cobrah]

I'm considering what types of topwaters would work best. I'm thinking she dogs and full size spooks, Something big that makes a good amount of noise.

Fatboys are my confidence bait so I got no issues on wanting to chunk one of em or a broke back

[cobrah]

When there's lightning I'm outta there btw. Not trying to reenact caddyshack

[plugger]

Fat boys and corkys are my confidence baits as well . Throw them year round . I didn't mention them as most don't use them much . But the floater divers are great too . ED SPECIAL is a winner .

[SUPER SPOOK]

I think the fish bite better when its raining.

[imhammer]

Fish don't care if it's raining....They are already wet! Tops work in the rain, heat, cold, wind etc. Fish gotta eat and love an easy meal.

[trophytroutman]

Fish don't care if it's raining....They are already wet! Tops work in the rain, heat, cold, wind etc. Fish gotta eat and love an easy meal.

X2!!!

[Silver Wolf]

When it's raining, that means a low pressure system. They will be active more than a high pressure system. Lighting runs me off the water. Some years back, a man got struck by lighting that was 20 miles away. I've fished when it's sprinkling. When it's pouring, it's time to go home. Wait about 2 to 3 days when there's a high pressure system before fishing. This will give them time for their air bladder to equalize. Fish tops, if that don't work, fish the middle, if that don't work, fish deep. That's what I do. They'll be somewhere. When you find them, keep plugging at them. Lord Bless.
robert

[TroutSupport]

Great info from above and spot on.

There are 2 different scenarios within the conversation you posed above. There is the don't fish bite when it's raining, and then there is if it rains a $*## load and changes the salinity. 2 different situations.

I love fishing when it's raining... and what plugger, Dpop and the other say are spot on.

If it rains 1-2 inches in a 8"deep marsh it's going to change the salinity and according to Capt Steve Soule could push the shrimp out of that marsh and that may affect redfish which will move with the shrimp. Find some articles from Steve Soule...the man knows tons ...more than i'll ever even forget. Good guy too.

That 1-2 inch rain over the bay won't affect the trout, that's not enough water to effect the salinity in several feet of water or more (except as Dpop most accurately described if you are in a channel or creek where a concentrated flow occurs from that storm.. Dpop and Soule fish together ... that ought to give you clue).

It takes about 3-4 days of 8-12 inches of rain before theres enough rain to affect the trout location and you need about 10000 cfs flowing down the trinity river for a week to make a big enough push of fresh to move the trout.

[cobrah]

Thanks for all the info guys. I went out the other day and started getting rained on again, I kept chunking a bone one knocker and nailed a few dinks. Rain stopped and the seagrass got so bad I called it a day.

Woulda had nothing if it wasn't for y'all's input so I greatly appreciate it!