Bass fishing before that nor-westerly blows in can be awesome. You have a mild to strong, warm south wind, and there is an overcast. Simply some of the best conditions for boating bass. But in a matter of a few minutes that can all change and suddenly you are fishing post front. The wind shifts out of the north along with a clearing sky, and the air temps drops enough to make you want to put your life jacket back on just to keep warm!
Now what? Well that’s all relative to the body of water your fishing. If you are fishing southern shallow vegetation or timber filled lakes, it’s best to head for the cover and fish tight. I had a bass in a tank once, and every time the weather would shift he would literally lay up against things almost like he was so asleep that he couldn’t hold himself up right. His water temp didn’t change! The only thing that really changed for him would be the barometer. So did the rising pressure of the front passing through make him uncomfortable or is it just natural for a fish to lay up after a front knowing that the food sources are going to be slim to none? If I would put some minnows in his tank, he would blast them and then go back to being extremely lazy. In shallow water I always break out the flipping stick, and start with small, compact soft plastics as they punch through the thickest stuff the easiest. If I can get a jig through the vegetation, I’ll use it. For wood situations, I love starting with a jig, bigger fish eat jigs!
If you’re fishing a clear, deep reservoir, you can bet that the fish headed for deep water. Usually they are easy to find as they will move to the next vertical drop that they can find. Maybe follow a point from where you were catching them out into deeper water until it drops off into a creek channel. Or move along the flat that they were feed until it hits a ledge or drop off. The hardest part about these deeper fish is they will tend to suspend and while finding them may be easier catching them can be very frustrating. Deep running crank baits can work but sometimes a crank is moving too fast. Vertical jigging spoons and drop shots are great ways to put fish in the boat. Good electronics will allow you to sit right over your target and knock them in the head leading them to believe the gods have just given them and easy meal.
The biggest thing I have learned over the years about fishing post front conditions is don’t quit just because the wind switched out of the north. Look at your situation, look at what the fish were doing and look to see where they might go and start the hunt. You can and will find them if you keep your head in the game and don’t let mother nature play mind games on you..
Get the Net it’s a Hawg
Mike Cork
