Weather forecast for fishing

How to read the weather forecast for fishing

Atmospheric pressure matters most. Stable pressure, or pressure falling slowly ahead of a front, usually makes fish more active and more willing to bite. Right after a front passes, when pressure rises sharply and the sky clears, fish often turn sluggish for a day or two.

Wind pushes food and oxygen-rich water towards the bank it blows into, so that is where it pays to cast, especially for carp and predators. A light or moderate wind helps, but above 25-30 km/h casting gets hard, and on large lakes the waves can be dangerous for boats.

Air temperature tells you how the water is warming up. In spring, after a few warm days in a row, fish move into the shallows; in summer, during heatwaves, they feed mostly early in the morning and in the evening; in autumn, the gradual cooling makes them feed hard before winter.

Warm rain and overcast skies often bring good days, while thunderstorms with lightning are a reason to pack up your rods. Use the hour-by-hour forecast to pick the window with stable pressure, a suitable wind and no heavy rain.