Practical guide: Fishing
Experienced anglers know well that weather significantly affects success by the water. Whether it's choosing the right spot, determining the best time to head out, or simply deciding whether to go fishing at all, knowledge of the current forecast can be crucial. Fortunately, we no longer have to rely on TV weather reports because comprehensive information can now be conveniently available on our phones Let's look at the phenomena that interest us as anglers and directly influence our fishing.
Water Temperature
Most fish species are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their body temperature, so they must adapt their metabolism to the surrounding water temperature. In colder waters, fish slow down and generally need less food. In warmer waters, they are more active and require more food. Temperature also affects another critical factor: the amount of oxygen in the water. Generally, colder waters have more dissolved oxygen, while warmer waters have less.
Low temperatures mean fish will feed less, and too high temperatures can make breathing difficult. Each species has its own threshold, but it’s good to keep these general principles in mind.
How does weather affect water temperature? Sunlight and clouds have little influence on large bodies of water due to high thermal inertia. Wind blowing from the shore against the waves can "drive away" warm surface water, replacing it with cold water from deeper layers in coastal areas. However, what significantly affects temperature is rain. Rain introduces fresh water into the body, changing its temperature. Additionally, rainwater alters water clarity and often brings a large amount of nutrients. When these changes occur simultaneously, they can significantly influence fish behavior.
Ventusky offers one of the most accurate rainfall forecasts for any location in the world. Besides the classic meteogram (graph) with a 14-day outlook, it is beneficial to use two map layers: the precipitation forecast map, which sees several days ahead, ideally combined with the radar view, which shows the real-time situation but logically only provides a short-term prediction. And although we know that air temperature slowly affects larger bodies of water, the temperature map in the app will also be useful, even if only to give us an idea of our own comfort by the water.
One of the unique features of the web version of the application is the weather archive. Are we interested in the sea temperature at a specific location compared to today? Five years ago? In 1980? No problem. Tracking these changes is interesting in itself – and even more so for anglers.
Barometric Pressure
If there's something that can trigger fish to feed vigorously, it’s a change in pressure during rapidly changing weather. Barometric or atmospheric pressure is essentially the force exerted by the Earth's atmosphere on a given area. Absolute values aren't that important for anglers, but it’s clear that just as the atmosphere presses down on the Earth's surface, it also does the same with water bodies. These waters, in turn, press on the fish living in them.
Pressure affects fish through two key organs: the lateral line and the swim bladder. The lateral line is an organ that fish use for navigation and detecting the presence of predators or food. It senses even the slightest vibrations in the water and is therefore very sensitive to pressure changes. The swim bladder, on the other hand, is an organ that can fill with air, allowing the fish to achieve buoyancy. As air pressure changes, the pressure on the fish's swim bladder also changes. It’s something like a natural barometer. Fish with larger swim bladders are more sensitive to pressure changes than those with smaller ones.
We know that rising barometric pressure indicates improving weather and clear skies. Falling pressure means an approaching storm or cold front. The pressure continues to drop until the storm ends, then it levels off again to higher values. And what about the fish?
A rapid drop in pressure of 5 or more hPa within a few hours usually brings great fishing. Conversely, when the pressure rises, the fish retreat, and we might as well pack up and go home. After several days of stable pressure, the fish start feeding again.
Ventusky shows a detailed pressure map and, for example, warm and cold fronts. You can also choose the units for pressure, displaying it in hectopascals, millimeters of mercury, or American inches/Hg. A great helper is the graph function, which clearly shows changes up to two weeks ahead.
Rain, Wind, and Waves
Wind can affect water bodies and their inhabitants in several ways. The most obvious is, of course, creating waves. When the wind blows over the water surface, it creates friction that generates waves. The stronger the wind blows, the bigger the waves. If you are determined to fish under these conditions, make sure you have chosen the right type of boat.
Waves can also increase water turbidity but also mean water and nutrient movement within it. All these factors influence fish behavior. If the surface is rough, fish are likely to retreat to deeper waters. If wind and rain cause increased water turbidity, reducing underwater visibility, it also has significance. Fish primarily orient themselves by sight, and in these situations, you may need to rely on brightly colored lures. If visibility is very poor, fast-moving lures can help because fish will rely more on their lateral line.
The app shows both wind strength and direction at various heights using animation and the strength of wind gusts. For sea fishing, the entire section dealing with waves, their height, type, and even sea currents is very useful.
Conclusion
Besides all this information, we are likely interested in simply whether we will have good weather on our fishing trip, what temperatures to expect at the location, or how the journey will be if we are going on a longer trip. Ventusky has an answer to all these questions, and its accuracy can truly be relied upon!