weather and it's effect

[HawgTide]

Question for all you smallie experts. How will this cooler weather coming in this week affect the smallies on the Miss?

[Kevin Turner]

I'm no expert, but when a front comes thru, it seems to slow 'em down for a couple days. They'll still bite, just hafta work a little harder for 'em. I tend to slow the boat & bait down when they have lock jaw.

[This message has been edited by Kevin Turner (edited 08-28-2003).]

[Navigator]

Not to dis-credit anyone else BUT I have witnessed very little change in the behavior of smallies or walleyes in rivers after a cold front. I can only speculate as to why...non-stratification of the water column which includes consistencies in temperature and oxygen level or the simple fact that the water is constantly moving. I'm sure everyone has an opinion.

A front, whether it is a high pressure or low pressure system, has a definite change in the activity of fish in lakes and that includes before, during and after the front moves through.

I've found that water temperature and level has more of a bearing on fish activity in a river. I love consistently falling water temps because that means one thing to me...big fish!! Nav

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Jon Navratil
Navigator Guide Service
www.naviguides.com
Serving Central MN rivers & lakes

[Toad]

Agree with Nav as far as to say fronts won't affect smallmouths in rivers nearly so much as fish in lakes. But they can make a difference-- even though I believe it's usually some other factor associated with the weather change, such as cracks of thunder or heavy rain/hail that alter smallmouth response. Actually, heavy rains can often ignite an intense upswing in smallmouth activity-- albeit, it's usually shortlived, as waters continue rising.

If we're just talking about a good old fashioned cold front-- lacking lots of rain or thunder-- rarely have I noticed a real big difference in smallmouth activity. Location can certainly change in subtle ways-- how fish relate to current seams, etc.-- but most cold fronts won't shut river bass down too much.

More related to seasonal weather, though-- there's actually a somewhat difficult transitional period that occurs between summer and fall as fish begin a late season movement-- yet it's nothing so extreme or longlived as say, turnover in a lake. Mostly, it's just that at some point in early fall, bass begin migrating-- typically toward deeper holes (though not always). Might take a day or two to get back on numbers of fish, but again, fish are still feeding.

One real key fall pattern that's fun if things cooperate right relates to rising water levels. If rising waters due to heavy fall rains fill the main river, it can often actually cause feeders to "back up" with reverse current. When this happens, fishing in these feeders can be phenomenal-- maybe the best smallmouth fishing of the year. Gonna be a fun fall on the river regardless .

-a friend,
Cory

[HawgTide]

Thanks for the responses. I'm hoping that this front will be stabilized by this weekend and the fishing will be phenominal. I think I'm going to try the Clearwater to Becker section. Does anyone know if the Clearwater Launch is "launchable"?

[Musky Mike]

A buddy was up there last weekend,but couldnt launch his v-hull. Thought a jon could. Best I can do.

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M.Mike

[HawgTide]

I was able to get my boat in at Clearwater yesterday. Me and 2 friends drifted down to Becker. The fishing was slow. Smallmouths have slowed down considerably. We caught 18 smallies, 2 Walleye, and a 12lb catfish in 7 hours. One of the smallies went 2.9lbs. One Walleye was 24.5 inches. I know those numbers don't sound too bad, but 7 hours is a long time with 3 people. (average 1 fish per person per hour!)