Fishing and Weather

[camocrazy82]

I am realitively new the game of Ice Fishing. Being the awesome site that it is I figure if this is the place to learn. Do fish react the same to weather conditions (warm fronts, cold fronts) What about barometric pressure? How about fishing pressure? Do they become acustomed to certain baits and presentations? What about water clarity and depth? Not to mention Oxygen levels at various depths? What type of forage do they have during the hard water months?  Do fish mate during hard water? Do they lay eggs? How do they relate to cover? How do various species realt to these conditions? Thanks Guy and Gals!

[rico]

So many questions....not enough time! 

[wax_worm]

I am realitively new the game of Ice Fishing. Being the awesome site that it is I figure if this is the place to learn. Do fish react the same to weather conditions (warm fronts, cold fronts) What about barometric pressure? How about fishing pressure? Do they become acustomed to certain baits and presentations? What about water clarity and depth? Not to mention Oxygen levels at various depths? What type of forage do they have during the hard water months?  Do fish mate during hard water? Do they lay eggs? How do they relate to cover? How do various species realt to these conditions? Thanks Guy and Gals!

Here are some short answers to your questions:

Do fish react the same to weather conditions (warm fronts, cold fronts) :  Fish seem to bite best durning an approaching low, or after several days of stable weather.  Fishing during a snow storm is ususally a good bet.
What about barometric pressure? Super high pressure is not good.  Falling pressure or stable pressure is usually better
How about fishing pressure?Depending on species this can be a big factor.  Fish are cold blooded and do not eat near as much during winter as summer as their metabolism is slowed down.  Go to smaller jigs, change colors, jig a little different or fish away from the crowds to combat the pressure.  Remember though not near as many people ice fish as open water fish, so alot of lakes see minimal pressure
Do they become acustomed to certain baits and presentations?Yes, see the previous answer
What about water clarity and depth?Clear water lakes the fish tend to be deeper and very spooky until you get some snow cover on the ice.  Darker water, they tend to be more shallow, but can not see as well, so jigging them in is more important.  In clear water lakes the fish feed alot by sight and less by vibration
Not to mention Oxygen levels at various depths?Lakes deeper than 20ft turnover in the fall mixing unoxygenated water with the rest of the lake.  I have caught perch in 60 ft before and gills in 30+ ft. Weedy areas will be good at first ice as they are producing oxygen.  By late ice if the snow cover prevents light penetration the weeds die and decay using oxygen.  The fish will move away from weeds if they die.
What type of forage do they have during the hard water months?Same as summer, minus all the insects.  Young of the year fish, minnows, wigglers, blood worms, freshwater shrimp, water fleas, etc...are all present, but remember they eat less due to the slowed metabolism
Do fish mate during hard water? No
Do they lay eggs? No, however, crappie, walleye, perch, and even some gills will have eggs in them developing.  Perch, walleye, and crappie spawn in the spring, some shortly after ice out, so their eggs are growing and developing during the winter months.
How do they relate to cover? Same as in summer, but once weeds die and begin decaying they will move out of them.


Hope this helps a little bit....but like Rico said a book could be written about each of your questions.

[bret]

good info Wax Worm. 

[river_scum]

ill second that bret.

[Jigmup]

nice.... the book of Worm

[Indiana Icefisher]

Is that all? He surely could have thought up a few more questions. 

[camocrazy82]

Thanks a Million! I had a suspicion that they acted alike in the winter but wasnt for sure. Hey jigmup, I have one more question! Wanna go fishin?! :icefish:Thanks guys!

[huntersconstruction]

hey camocrazy im from regina beach sask, you sent me a msg, but i am new to this and couldn't figure out how to reply

[spring bobber]

hey camocrazy im from regina beach sask, you sent me a msg, but i am new to this and couldn't figure out how to reply

I believe you need a few more posts before you can use the PM feature....

[Yogi]

Wax couldnt say it any better.  Really good info!!! I agree with everything you said!!  Yogi

[Mr. gill]

i agree with wax. I caught crappies out of Sowles Bay on Fri. that started to produce eggs already.

[wax_worm]

i agree with wax. I caught crappies out of Sowles Bay on Fri. that started to produce eggs already.

The one day Slabgill and I had 48 crappie in December at first ice, several of those crappie were already developing eggs.

[slabgill]

nice.... the book of Worm

  The book of the worm...LMAO!!!!

[northrn-duck-assassin]

many fish will already of produced eggs just not fully matured and ready for that season. all jakes are the same to they will have a mucussy milk in them just not that time of year for them to start milkin. it all has to do with the water temps before they get ready to dump the eggs! i caught walleye on bass this year with eggs and milk and crappies in webster with eggs and a northern with milk..