3 Pro Tips For Fishing In The Rain

One of the realities of fishing is paying attention to the weather forecast. High air temperatures bring humidity, and humidity brings thunderstorms. While we by no means recommend fishing around lighting, we strongly recommend you don’t call off your next trip just because it’s raining.

Rain breaks up the surface, creates current, and flushes nutrients into a waterbody – which are all things that can turn the bite on in a big way. After all, you’re already wet, so you might as well catch some fish!

Here are 3 dynamite tips for fishing in the rain:

1. Try Topwater

Rainy days with overcast clouds mean fish will be on the move and often willing to strike a topwater.

Because the surface is broken up by the raindrops, and the clouds are obscuring the sun – rainy days are some of the best times to fish topwater baits… All day long. Fish are more willing to roam and actively pursue bait – which makes them much more likely to demolish a topwater as it skitters across the surface. On the famed blueback herring lakes of Georgia and the Carolinas, anglers can have epic days with big stick baits while spotted bass push baitfish up against the surface as it rains. When fishing in the rain, focus on classic schooling areas like points, ditches, ledges, or current seams, but keep a topwater on your deck all day – you never know when a group will come up schooling.

2. Fish Faster

Covering water during a rainstorm can help locate actively feeding fish.

With no sun, bass are more likely to roam when it’s raining than when it’s sunny. For that reason, the bass that were once locked on that little sweet spot are now likely spread out over a much bigger area. To connect, speed up whatever presentation you are fishing – so you can cover more water in a day. If you’re fishing in the rain and throwing a spinnerbait, start burning it. If you are fishing in the rain and throwing a worm – don’t soak it as long. The fish are more aggressive during the rain, so you shouldn’t need to work as hard to make them bite.

3. Look For Runoffs

The spinnerbaits loud thumping blades help bass sitting in stained water hone in on the bait.

Runoff water during a rainstorm brings in nutrients, which attracts baitfish, and in turn – bass. Focus on any places you find where runoff is coming into the lake, particularly if it’s still reasonably clean. Bass will move quite a distance to line up and feed on bait along mud lines, culvert pipes, and creek inlets. Focusing on these areas when fishing in the rain can be extremely effective when it really starts coming down.

3 Bonus Tips For Fishing In The Rain

Here are three bonus fishing tips for the next time you're in a downpour brought to you by the @karlsbaitandtackle page. Stay safe, stay dry and have fun!