How weather can change fish habits
With warmer temperatures and more free time for some, heading to the lakes across the states might be the first thing on many people’s minds. Angler’s across the state check in with weather conditions to check to see their comfortability, but many also check in to see how the forecast can change sport fish habits.
Many people know of fronts, primarily warm and cold fronts. Where one air mass displaces another shifting temperatures and increasing precipitation chances.
Zach Ford is the sports fish program supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation who studies sport fish biology. Zach explains, “Fast changes in pressure can influence the location of Zooplankton/ phytoplankton in the water column and stimulate fish feeding behavior.”
Zach also has noted, “Low-pressure cold fronts in the spring can slow feeding activity of game fish.” This means that dramatic changes in temperatures can correlate to decreasing feeding habits when that change to colder temperatures occurs.
Water levels are also an important factor in fish breeding productivity especially during spawn times.
This is great news for much of Mid-Missouri as you can expect another positive in a variable that points towards increased population totals for the future. If you would like to learn more about fishing MDC is hosting a public seminar in Tipton on 24th and 26th to teach those interested on proper fishing tactics.
