Barometer made a bit of difference this year, East wind did and has for years in Tidal water, but the two seem to coincide. High pressure seemed to push the fish off the banks and the ones that did shoot by didn't bite. Upper rivers the east wind had me into more fish for the last 2 years than most other days.

I quit checking before I go fishing about 5 years ago. Now I check after I get home just to see if there is a trend. Not staying home because of anything but sideways blowing rain if I have a chance to go fishing.

Great information. Now I have an excuse got future skunkings

Haven't noticed a difference for steel, but the only time I really pay attention would be for warm water fish.

Quote Salmo g.
"When the wind is in the north, the fisherman doth go forth;
when the wind is in the east, the fish doth bite the least;
when the wind is in the south, it pushes the bait in the fish's mouth;
when the wind is in the west, the fish do bite the best"!
I love that Saying!

Not sure if it's pressure or river rising. Usually low pressure means rain and river level change. I in my 35+ years of Steelheading have ALWAYS struggled getting bit on a rising river. Maybe on one hand can I count success.

I've noticed that fishing for steel can get very noticeably better the day or two right after a cold high pressure system passes and it warms up. I'm not sure if that is due to the water temp warming or the barometer change.

Fish don't take appointments.

A tremendous exception to this was a day on the Duc with Canyonman and Kev. Huge winds, big time falling low pressure, and 3.75" of rain while fishing. We pushed off that morning prepared for a quick trip thinking it would suck and we'd be miserably soaked. Well we got at least 5, maybe more in the first hole in nightmare conditions. No signs of fish all day. But we caught fish all day on a river void of people, but loaded with falling trees, limbs, and moving biting fish. A great day it was. Laughing, joking, catching fish, having a miserably good time all freaking day.

Over the past 4 decades, I've tried to make these magical correlations between conditions and fishing success. There seem to be major exceptions to every rule.

I've found only 3 unshakable truths in my fishing.

1) Fish are where you find them.
2) Biters is biters. Non-biters ain't.
3) Can't catch fish without a line in the water.

Pressure does affect salmon but who cares, you are out there and will fish anyways in hopes that one of them does not care either!

Pressure may affect Steelhead but temperature has way more affect than pressure. How many times have you fished all morning without a bite and then catch fish from 10:00am to 2:00pm or whenever the bite stops? Most of the time the water temp will rise by mid morning, just enough to turn them on, but again, who cares, you are there and fishing so you just keep chucking gear waiting for the bite!

I agree with the rest here - the best time to go fishing is when you can. I have never caught a steelhead without getting my hook wet!

That said weather conditions; including changing barametric pressure, have effects on the fishing (the willingness to bite). Being aware of how the fish are effective allows the angler (whether a steelheader, trout angler, bass fisher, or salmon chaser) to adjust their approach to maximize their potential success and to insure that we are able to use our limited time to the our best advantage.

Like many my experience has been that the front edge of a major change (a thunder storm being an extreme example) can be a major bite trigger and after that passes there can be a major shut down of activity. Knowing that the angler should consider making sure that they are fishing during that likely bite delaying any moves or lunch break until after the flurry dies.

To the steelhead fishing - when the angler suspects that they are looking at a good bite condition it is time to fish very aggressively and cover lots of water. The fish will likely respond the first time they see the presentation and be willing to move some distance. The more fish you show your gear the more bites you will get. An example of what I consider an aggressive approach that allows the angler to cover lots of water are spoons.

However once that "dead period" hits it is time to change tactics. Slow down and very carefully fish the very highest percentage water (water with the best cover and highest fish comfort). Use a presentation with your best (most?) triggering factors. One water that is heavily fished consider using a change of pace. Under such conditions in low water I have been able to produce a fish or two at times by focusing on the best 5% of the water and replacing my normal gear (small corkies and a small cluster of eggs) with just a small piece of black or purple yarn with a squirt of scent.

It has been my observation that once one moves away from the hatchery meat holes the most success anglers are those that can read both the water and the surrounding conditions and adjust as things change.

Tight lines
Curt

Curt.

Great analysis and IMHO spot on.