Rain

Rain

Viking Lars | Saturday, 29 April 2017

I work outside most of the year, and when I get off - I often go fishing, and I'm not one ot complain about the weather. Whether on excavation or fishing, I of course like most others do not enjoy wind and rain, and especially during the winter. Getting out of the rain for a break is nice, but it's equally not-nice to put back on damp, wet and cold raingear, whether it's cool breathable fishing-rain-gear or my heavy-gauge PVC excavation rain gear. But apart from that annoying wind/rain/low temperature combination during winter, I really don't mind rain.

In fact, I quite enjoy rain (when I'm not taken by surprise without the proper outerwear). It's not that it's always magical fishing weather that makes all fish loose their self compusure and eat anything you throw at them. Sometimes it's good - pike seem to like it quite a lot, but I do think that the weather change(s) that's often associated with rain is generally good. Once the weather warms up a little (April's been unusually cold here in DK), a good light drizzle and low pressure is also very good for the Baetis-hatches. Just after a drizzle the hatch can really take off.

I know a few salmon fishermen who really believe in the "Barometric breakthrough-book" theories (and they have the experience and catch record to back it up, btw). I really must get a hold of that book and read it. My problem is, I have to fish when I have the time, and not when ever I think conditions are right (mostly), so I really don't pay all that much attention to all that.

Rain does sometimes keep me from going fishing fishing, but usually not, and I do enjoy being out there, listening to the rain drum on my hood and just really enjoy being warm and dry and well protected against the elements. Somehow, I just realised that this is starting to sound like the intro to an add for raingear, so let me get on to what I really wanted to say about rain.

Yesterday, I had a great time at the river with an old friend whom I haven't seen for three years (he's been working abroad), and the weather was not very good. Cold, raining and a cold wind on top. There wasn't much wind and the river was flowing nicely with a good current. This particular river is not that easy to read, because the current is deep and heavy and whatever structure lies beneath doesn't always show on the surface.

This is where the rain comes in, and it was very clear yesterday. From a smooth surface flowing nicely along, the rain suddenly revealed current-seams. I've seen this many times, but it was very instructive yeaterday, and even in a river like River Varde, where salmon can easily hold practically wherever they want, I still believe any changes in current are important to notice. Even small changes can make a difference in where a fish chooses to lie and which exact part it follows up the river.

Check out the PoD. I forgot to take pictures of the water before the rain, but see how clearly current seams/lines stand out from what was just a glass-smooth suface minutes before.

Befriend the rain and have a great weekend!

Lars