Water Pressure

[Copo1978]

I went fishing last night from 4pm. A Nice evening, plenty of cloud, so it wasn't too hot. The fishing was terrible - the only things i caught were small perch. I saw plenty of carp up in the water but it wasn't until 9pm (1 hour until dusk) until the fishing picked up. My mate then had a 6lb mirror - I yet again lost a big carp after a 10 minute battle on 4lb line and an 18's, (i must change my tackle).

Anyway back to the point, somebody mentioned that there was too much pressure in the air and the fish wouldn't bite as much, especially the bigger fish. Could somebody elaborate on this!!!!!

thanks

[baitmaster]

ok i,ll try and answer a really complexed subject with a very simple answer ok here goes
just to say what a cracking question to ask


HIGH PRESSURE : is more common with warmer weather so if you can imagine high pressure and think this pushes down on the water surface and it makes the water will say like trying to swim in treacle the deeper you go the more evident this becomes and fish have a tendacy to be more lerthargic
2 things are more evident than any other they are :

1: the bites are slower especialy during the day and action picks up with changes in pressure as things cool down

2 with carp its more obvious again they tend to bask near the surface not only through water pressure but the top water layers are warmer .

LOW PRESSURE : is basicly the other way round with lower pressure the water is finer so to speak and fish can move and are more comfotable in it and do feed better
i personal like low pressure cause this also brings with it commonly wet weather and this also keeps alot of anglers of the banks so more space for me
now as i said at the start this is a very complexed subject and can be confusing
as angler we look for periods of settle weather to try and work out the best fishing conditions for the species we fish for and every species have there optimum condition when they are more catchable :
example summer = carp /tench ect
winter =pike /zander
now i,ve fished in many different conditon some have been better than other and some have been dire but over time we learn which conditions fish better as a general rule but there are other factors we have to take into consideration and they are the barometer reading we touch on that on simple pressure explaination above
also you have to think about temperture aswell as in really hot conditions are the fish going to be near the top or in the shallows are the water being fished affect by hot weather and the oxygen levels
again if its cold are they going to be in the deeper water also especially in predator fishing knowing when its going to freeze up as predators tend to have a good munch just before this happens and it been recorded on many occasion of big catches a couple of day before this happens ,now we have to consider wind direction and this can be confusing example south westerly are more common with warm winds = mild conditions now north easterly are more common really colder conditions and also this differs from what time of year we get them too .
now wind has the added affect on water and this will go a little way to explain a angler decision where to fish on a lake .
the water below 6m remains a constant 4C in summer this is the coolest layer and in winter this is the warmest this is called the thermocline layer
when you have a wind blowing across the lake will say for example its a strong wind this will tilt this layer which will affect the fish and where they will be
so by now you are probably really confused so lets throw in another variable that angler like to consider and thats moon phases some use it in working out when to go i know i do in my predator fishing .
and all these variable have even different affect on river as due to the water moving and in the sea
so try and in settle weather with prevailing south westerly and your chances are higher but the more you go out and if llike me you keep logs and write every thing down certain patterns of conditions start to be formed and this can some times make decissions easier on when and where to go for your best chances to catch a fish
i hope i have not confused you as this goes a little way to explain what you asked but remember this is not all but does high light a bit about conditions to try and get the best from this very confusing and complexed and sometimes contreversal subject as we all believe we have found the optimum conditions when we go fishing

tightlines
kevin

[biggun]

I am soooooo glad you kept that simple Kev

No seriously, That was a great answer to a great question
Nice one Kev

[Copo1978]

Thanks Kevin,

I've just read this for the first time, and then again. I little confusing, yes but when you start breaking it down it all starts to make sense.

This will definently be read by numerous forum readers, and will defiently go a long way to enjoying better fishing.

As you said it was a good question, but what was even better was the response!

This should be highlighten in some way as a good read, thanks again and happy fishing to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fishypaul]

blow the simple answer kev, give us the long one !!!!