Ever wondered what the best time for salmon fishing is? Most experienced anglers recommend fishing salmon fish in the early morning, just before the sun appears in the sky, or late evening after sunset. But is salmon fishing good in the rain?
It usually depends on the type of water you are fishing in and the amount of rain. Rains create a dark condition that allows salmon fish to be more active. Heavy rains bring aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial insects, and various crawling critters to the fishing water surface. It creates an opportunity to catch more fish when they try to eat the food.
Is Salmon Fishing Good In The Rain?
Like many fish, salmon are less active during daylight hours and more active at night. It helps them to mimic the daily cycle of other creatures inside the water.
Plus, excessive light from the sun may cause stress to fish. They prefer to stay active at night and eat food at night.
Salmon fish may stay inactive under deep water during the day hours, which your fishing rod may not be able to reach.
Rain can be good or bad for salmon fishing, depending on where you are fishing and the amount of rain.
Light Rains
Light rains can be an excellent opportunity to catch various types of salmon fish.
The oxygen level of the water increases, and fish become more active.
To catch salmon fish, you can use Popper, Chatterbait, Buzzbait, Spinnerbait, etc.
However, too much water might be removed from the lake or pond that contains a good number of feeding. It mainly happens when the light rains continue for several days.
Your hooks may not work as much as you expected them.
Heavy Rains For One Or Two Hours
Extreme heat causes the dissolving of oxygen in freshwater. As a result, salmon and other fish stay less active.
Heavy rains make the overall temperature lower because rainwater is pretty cold. If you are fishing during a summer month, it creates convenient conditions.
Due to the lower and more comfortable temperature, the oxygen level rises. Hence, fish become more active. You can utilize this condition to catch more fish.
Plus, heavy rains in freshwater like rivers, creeks, and streams bring various foods for salmon fish from other rivers through continuous flow.
Terrestrial insects, aquatic invertebrates, crawling critters, and other worms start floating on top of the water’s surface.
It works like a feeding frenzy for salmon fish. They try to eat them. Anglers can utilize this opportunity to catch salmon as much as possible.
Heavy Rains For Several Hours
If it continuously and heavily rains for hours, it will muddy up the water.
You will struggle to catch fish due to turbid water and lack of light.
In addition, too much rain will oxygenate and color the water. Swelling up the water creates a dirty brown color for the upper surface.
As a result, you will struggle more to position your fishing gear perfectly.
Be Aware Of Heavy Storms!
Fishing during the run can be fun. If there are any heavy storms or thunderstorms, it may cause a deadly phenomenon.
Many fishermen even died while fishing during the rain due to lightning.
Make sure to have a good idea about the probability of thunderstorms or other similar risky occurrences.
It is better not to go fishing during these weather conditions. It may even kill you from the deadly lighting.
Is Salmon Fishing Good After The Rain?
It can be an excellent chance to catch salmon fish after the rain. The current of the water boosts up and runs off of sediments.
As a result, a good number of aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial insects, and various crawling critters will be in the water.
It will attract hungry salmon fish. They will start visiting the top surface of the water for feeding. Anglers can utilize this situation to catch more salmon.
Another advantage of fishing after the rain is that fewer anglers are present. Hence, you have fewer competitors, meaning you can catch a good number of fish.
However, heavy rains for several days will create flooding conditions. Fish are less likely to come on the top surface of the water due to dirty, muddy water and imbalanced pH levels.
Is Salmon Fishing Good Before The Rain?
Salmon fishing before the rain is known as one of the most productive times.
Fish usually can guess the intensity of the storm before the rain starts.
The barometric pressure will increase just before the rain and decrease during the rain. As a result, salmon might be busing for a feeding frenzy.
If it is going to rain for several days, it will eat as much food as possible. Heavy rains for days will prevent salmon fish from eating regularly.
They will be less active and stay in the deep water area for days. Fish are less likely to come into the top water until the heavy rains with lightning storms.
Anglers can utilize this condition to catch a good number of salmon fish. You can use square-bill crankbait grinding to grab more species.
However, if you see lightning, go inside. So your fishing rod doesn’t get fried. It is our official warning to you!
Is Salmon Fishing Good In Saltwater In The Rain?
The main aspect that affects salmon fishing in saltwater during the rain is atmospheric or Barometric pressure.
The atmospheric pressure level in the deep sea ranges between 1010 to 1030 hPa. But different species prefer different pressure levels.
For example, dusky salmon feels comfortable if the pressure level is between 1014 to 1017 hPa. It is the best condition to target this type of salmon fish.
The atmospheric pressure level of the deep sea decreases during the rain. Fish are likely to stay in the deep water.
They will visit less on the top water during rainy conditions.
If you can go deep fishing far below the surface, you may be able to catch a lot of salmon fish.
Does Rainwater Harm Salmon Fishing Rods And Reels?
Most fishing reels are waterproof. Rainwater is less likely to harm them.
But make sure to double-check your salmon fishing reel‘s screws, magnets, pawls, and drag. They should not loose or go out of their place.
Plus, rainwater can’t harm your salmon fishing rods. Generally, too much heat temperature can only affect its physical structure.
Even extreme cold or freezing weather will not cause any damage to fishing rods.
However, make sure to clean and wipe the fishing gear properly and make them completely dry before storing them.
If possible, you can dissemble the parts and dry off the inner components perfectly. It will prevent unwanted corrosion or rust formation.
Top Tips For Salmon Fishing In The Rain
Rainy weather can affect your fishing performance positively or negatively.
But implementing some practical tips will help you catch your desired fish effortlessly.
Many professional anglers suggest the following tips to tackle salmon fish.
Tip 01: Take Proper Gears
Make sure to wear foul-weather gear to keep yourself dry.
Wearing comfortable gear allows you to concrete more on your fishing. You don’t need repeatedly fix them.
As a result, it allows you to catch more fish by utilizing various opportunities.
Tip 02: Be Quiet
The sound of falling water during the rain already keeps fish busy.
If you can create additional sounds, it makes them confused. Anglers mainly suggest using spinnerbaits and buzzbaits to produce noise and disturb fish.
Make noises from one area and target from the opposite direction where they try to run away.
This allows you to tackle them and grab the opportunity the moment they visit your target area.
Tip 03: Inspect Carefully
Salmon fish usually visit the top of the water in search of food during light rains.
You can set up your fishing gear on top of the water surface or just below a few inches off the top water.
First, inspect the feeding speed of the fish. Then, increase or decrease the retrieval speed of your fishing gear, depending on the situation.
Tip 04: Barometric Pressure Awareness
Remember, salmon and other fish act differently when the barometric pressure increases or decreases.
A slight fluctuation will cause a change in the fish’s behavior.
Generally, barometric pressure slightly decreases during heavy rain due to the slight increase of air.
You may need to wait one or more hours until the pressure level becomes normal.
Start fishing when the atmospheric pressure is between 30.50 and 29.50 inches.
Tip 05: Take Correct Lures
Fast-moving lures come in handy during the rain because fish are more active and aggressive.
This type of lure allows anglers to achieve better coverage and speed up the presentation.
Plus, your retrieval speed will be quicker. Due to the extreme aggressiveness of salmon fish during the rainy weather, you have to give less effort.
Rain usually means darker skies, a lot of disturbance on the surface water, and the water muddying up.
Lean towards using baits with a lot of vibration and movements!
You will also want to try super contrasting colors like chartreuse or black.
Tip 06: Follow Current
Currents pick up when it is raining. Hence, go where the waters are flowing cause it’s probably pushing baitfish there.
You can try run-off areas like drains, feeder creeks, etc.
Wrapping Up
Are you still wondering about this question: Is salmon fishing good in the rain? It can be good or bad depending on the rain intensity and other weather conditions. If the weather is extreme with thunderstorms, avoid going fishing. It is highly risky.
But, if there is light or medium rain, you can catch salmon fish. Knowing the proper techniques is the key. Fish will play hide and seek. You need to know where they are likely to hide during the best. Deep fishing appears better during heavy rains to better casting.
