A warm summer day, dark clouds gathering and suddenly a heavy rain shower. For many anglers, it may seem like the moment to put the rods away. Yet the period after such a change in weather can be particularly interesting.
After days of warm and stable weather, rain, wind and falling temperatures can change the water considerably. Fish that seemed inactive during the day may start hunting again. For perch, zander and pike in particular, it can therefore be well worth heading back to the water after a summer shower.
Important: never fish during a thunderstorm. Wait until the storm has completely passed and conditions are safe again.
Why Can Fish Become More Active After Rain?
Rain alone is not what makes the difference. Usually it is the combination of rain, wind, cooling and changes in the water.
After a hot period, a strong weather change can locally create cooler water and more movement. Food and small baitfish may move as well, and predatory fish often follow those changes.
That does not mean every rain shower automatically produces fantastic catches. But when the water has been warm and calm for days, a sudden shift can be exactly the trigger you need.
Haven’t read our previous article yet? Also check out Fishing In Hot Weather: Best Times, Spots And Fish Safety.
Where Should You Look For Fish After Rain?
After a weather change, automatically fishing exactly the same spots as before is often not the best approach.
Focus especially on places where something is happening in the water.
Think of inlets, culverts, bridges, windblown banks and areas where clear and murkier water meet. Drop-offs and weed edges also remain interesting because small fish seek shelter there.
On canals and rivers, a little extra current can create attractive areas too. Don’t just fish the middle of the flow; pay particular attention to the transition between fast and calmer water.
Murkier Water? Adjust Your Lures
A heavy rain shower can reduce visibility underwater. That does not have to be a disadvantage at all.
When the water becomes murkier, use lures that are easier to notice. Think of lures with more vibration, a pronounced action or a clearly visible silhouette.
Soft plastics, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and other active lure types can then be very effective.
View our complete range of fishing lures.
If the water is still relatively clear, you can keep your presentation more natural. Let the water conditions decide what comes out of your tackle box instead of always starting with the same favourite colour.
Perch After Rain
Perch can respond quickly to changing conditions.
Look especially around obstacles, bridges, rock banks, weed edges and places where small baitfish gather. If you see activity on the surface, that is a clear sign not to immediately start fishing the bottom.
Small to medium-sized lures are often a good starting point. If the fish react aggressively, you can fish faster and use more noticeable presentations.
View our lures for perch.
Zander After A Weather Change
For zander, changes in current and visibility are particularly interesting.
On canals and rivers after rain, pay extra attention to deeper margins, drop-offs, bridges, locks and other places where the current breaks.
A soft plastic that moves clearly while maintaining good bottom contact is a logical choice. If the water becomes very murky, extra contrast or vibration can help your lure stand out.
View our lures for zander.
Don’t Forget Pike
Pike can also benefit from a change in weather after a warm period.
Fish weed edges, shallow flats, transitions into deeper water and places where baitfish are present. Especially when the temperature drops noticeably after several hot days, these areas are worth trying again.
You do not always need to fish extremely large lures. Look at the baitfish that are present and match your lure accordingly.
View our lures for pike.
When Is The Best Time?
The interesting thing about summer weather is that a body of water can feel completely different within just a few hours.
Has it been hot, calm and sunny for several days before a rain front moves through? The period after the bad weather has passed can be an excellent time to try again.
The following morning can also be interesting, especially when the night was clearly cooler than the previous days.
So don’t only look at the forecast temperature. Wind direction, cloud cover, rain and a sudden temperature drop can be just as important when planning your fishing session.
Don’t Make This Mistake
A common mistake is to keep fishing after a weather change as if nothing has changed.
The spot that was perfect yesterday may not be perfect today.
Move regularly, watch the water and pay attention to small signals. Baitfish on the surface, hunting perch, birds staying over one area or sudden current can tell you much more than blindly casting in the same place for an hour.
And perhaps even more importantly: experiment.
Different depth. Different speed. Different colour. Different size.
Sometimes one small adjustment is all it takes to turn a quiet session into a completely different day of fishing.
So, Should You Stay Home After It Has Rained?
Definitely not.
A dark sky and a wet bank may look less appealing than a sunny summer day, but for an angler, changing conditions can be exactly what makes things interesting.
Once the thunderstorm has safely passed, it can be well worth picking up the rod.
Because sometimes the best fishing only starts after everyone else has gone home.