Fishing for Bass in Extreme Weather Conditions: Safety Tips
If you look at many anglers, they only tend to fish when the weather is perfect. It’s nice and cool, sunny, and barely any wind to worry about. That’s perfectly fine, but if you’ve kept up with our BassForecast blog posts, you know that some of the best fishing opportunities come when other anglers refuse to get on the water.
Extreme weather can be the perfect time to test yourself, get some time alone on the water, and reel in some massive bass.
However, It’s also a little dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Today, we’re going to give you a complete guide to fishing for bass in extreme weather conditions so you can not only enjoy the sport but also get back home to your family in one piece to tell the story.
Hot Weather Fishing and Safety Tips
Since this is when most anglers are likely to experience extreme weather, we’ll start with the hottest days of the year.
The heat doesn’t seem as bad as some of the other conditions we’ll talk about, but it can actually be the most dangerous. If you’re not prepared, and you don’t take the right precautions, you can easily end up dehydrated with no one around to help or suffer a heat stroke.
Since it’s hot, and most anglers don’t come out when it’s uncomfortably hot, you have to expect to be on your own if that happens.
The best way to deal with this is to avoid the hottest part of the day. Even if you come out in the morning or toward evening on an extremely hot day, no one is likely to be around.
Most anglers see how hot it will eventually get and don’t even bother heading out to the lake. Meanwhile, you still get some prime fishing time in.
Another key point is to take plenty of water with you and invest in something that can cool you down. A cooling rag that gets cold when wet is only a few bucks, and every outdoorsman should have a big thermos that will keep plenty of fresh drinking water on hand.
Just make sure you don’t make it ice cold. Your body has to heat itself more to digest it when it’s cold, and even though it feels good, it can put you over the edge.
Finally, you need to have your phone on you, fully charged, and capable of making calls. This isn’t always possible in the most remote areas. So, you might want to choose a spot that’s not far away from society when you fish in the extreme heat.
If you feel like the heat is getting too much, and you can’t get yourself home in time, call for help immediately. Heat illnesses sneak up on you quickly, and “one more cast” might leave you unable to get back to your vehicle.
Why You Should Fish on Extremely Hot Days, Anyway
If there are so many threats, and most anglers stay home, why should you bother fishing on extremely hot days?
Well, primarily, you can get the lake to yourself. You’re unlikely to see anyone else, because they don’t want to be active in the heat. Every bass in that lake is yours. You’re also not stuck sitting around in the heat. If you head out early, you can get plenty of casts in before it warms up and gets dangerous. That’s when the bass will be the most active, anyway.
Another good reason to do so is because you’ll have a better idea of when the bass are the most active and where they are. In extreme heat, the bass dive deep and slow down a bit.
However, before and after that heatwave starts, they’ll be in shallower water enjoying the topwater bugs and the baitfish that are trying to get a meal in before the weather gets bad.
Cold Weather Dangers and Safety Tips
The extreme cold tends to chase off most anglers. That’s a shame because it can be more fruitful than hot summer fishing.
Several problems can occur while fishing in the extreme cold.
First, the temperature can be too low, and if you’re not able to stay warm, it can end your life. Especially if you push through it to the water, notice how much colder it gets when you are on the water, and then your energy is suddenly zapped.
Another issue is that you won’t be as agile and dexterous. Not only will it be harder to fish because of your fingers not working as well, but you’re more likely to slip and fall while you navigate your boat or rocky shores. In frigid water, a sudden dip can be lethal.
Like our previous tip, you need to have a phone on you that is capable of making calls. Don’t go into the middle of nowhere with no cell signal.
You should also let someone know where you are and when you plan to come home. If you’re not home on time, and they can’t reach you, they can call for help and tell them exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Of course, another crucial tip is to focus on staying dry and insulated. Consider an insulated cold-weather outfit, gloves that are warm without interfering with your fishing, and some hand warmers.
There are electric hand warmers and old-fashioned gas-fueled warmers. With either option, you slip them in your gloves or pockets to give you a little heat. There are also disposable ones that don’t require any power, but you’ll want to bring backups.
Also, try to minimize your chance of falling in the water. Don’t climb on rocky banks, stand on your boat deck, or otherwise put yourself in situations where agility is key.
Why Fish in Cold Weather, Anyway?
Fishing in cold weather is extremely rewarding despite being so uncomfortable and dangerous if you’re ill-prepared.
Many giant bass are caught every winter as they need to eat more to keep going than their smaller counterparts.
There’s also the fact that almost no one else is going to be fishing when you are. So, just like in the extreme heat, you have all the best spots to yourself.
Rain and Fishing in Storms
We’ve covered the two extreme conditions in terms of temperature, but there are more situations to talk about. Most notably, rainstorms.
After a certain point, even the best anglers call it a day, but there is plenty of fun to be had in most rain until it reaches a point where it’s too dangerous.
The primary concerns for fishing in the rain are your temperature, shock hazards, and slip and fall hazards.
Even on a hot day, if a torrential downpour sets in, it can lower the temperature quickly and dramatically. If it doesn’t let up in a reasonable amount of time, you can suffer some of the same problems you would by fishing in the snow. It’s important to wear a waterproof poncho or similar item to stay dry if you’re going to fish in the rain.
By “shock hazards” we mainly mean lightning. It accompanies rainstorms often, and your rod is kind of like a big antenna in your hands. If there’s lightning, just call it a day. It’s not worth it, and you can always come back.
Finally, slip and fall hazards are far more serious than you might think. Your vision will be obscured, the ground will be slick and muddy, and it is easy to slide in the mud, off your boat deck, or on the rocks. Since the water is a lot more active this can be even more dangerous than falling in the water normally. Especially if you’re in serious rain and a current has developed.
Your best bet for dealing with that issue is to wear appropriate footwear, be extra careful with your steps, and don’t take any chances you don’t have to.
Why Fish in the Rain?
Fishing in the rain is an awesome opportunity. Like every other situation we’ve gone over, most anglers pack it up the second there’s a single drop of water on their head. So, you’ll be alone. However, depending on how extreme the rain is, the fish might also be a lot more active.
If it’s a light to medium rain on a warm day, you can expect to get some explosive bites.
The trick is to know when enough is enough. A light rain is perfect, a little bit rougher and it’s annoying, and if it’s extreme, there’s no point in staying out in it.
Fishing in the Snow and Ice
Fishing in the snow and ice can be extremely dangerous. Especially if you’re fishing in icy conditions.
First, just getting to the water is dangerous unless you’re experienced with driving in those conditions and have a good idea of where you’re going. It’s certainly not a good time to try out a new lake.
Once you do get there, you have all the issues we talked about when it’s extremely cold, and you need to do the same things. Stay insulated, be prepared, and make sure you not only have a way to contact someone, but you also need to let people know exactly where you’ll be. Again, there aren’t likely to be any people around if you go out in these conditions.
On top of that, snow creates the same fall hazards as rain does, and oftentimes, it’s even worse.
Ice is particularly dangerous. If you’re fishing on the ice, and you don’t know what you’re doing, you can easily find yourself under it, and a catastrophe can unfold. Unless you’re a seasoned ice fisherman who knows how to gauge thickness, properly drill the ice, and fish it properly, we don’t recommend getting on it at all.
However, even just fishing next to the ice can be dangerous. If you slip off the bank or a pier while fishing a partially frozen lake, the water can be cold enough to kill you in minutes, and even if you get back to your vehicle, you’re stuck in frozen clothing.
If you are going to do a bit of winter fishing around partially frozen or extremely cold water, extra caution needs to be taken, spare clothes should be nearby in case you get soaked, and preferably, don’t go alone.
Why Fish in the Ice and Snow?
This is the one serious weather condition where we recommend thinking twice. It’s typically so cold that the bass aren’t biting well at all, and you can spend all day trying to get a single bite.
Considering all the danger that accompanies it, there aren’t many reasons one should try this in most situations. There’s a reason even most dedicated anglers don’t fish like this.
However, it is a surefire way to test your skills at the max level. The fish don’t want to bite, it’s dangerous, and even if you do it safely, it’s uncomfortable, to say the least.
So, if it’s something you’d like to do after you reach a certain skill level, it is a consideration. Just make sure you take every single precaution you possibly can.
Key Items for Fishing in Extreme Conditions
Now that we’ve gone over the various conditions you really need to worry about and some basic tips to stay safe, we’re going to cover some gear that you need to bring along. If something is dependent on a certain type of weather, we’ll label it.
Appropriate clothing and a spare set
Charged phone with service
Food and water
Electric, fuel, or chemical hand warmers (cold weather)
Cooling rag (hot weather)
Basic first aid kit
Signal device (for if you get in trouble while you’re alone)
Basic outdoorsman kit (knife, cordage, water container, poncho, etc)
Mylar blanket (insulate in cold weather/reflect heat in hot weather/signal)
Use the Bass Forecast App
Finally, one tool you should have whether you’re fishing for bass in extreme weather conditions or not is the BassForecast fishing app.
We have highly detailed maps and loads of fishing information. You also get real-time weather information to help you avoid the most extreme issues to come back and fish another day.
Fish safely and push your limits the smart way.