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How The Weather's Air Pressure Affects Carp Behaviour:
Considering Water Temperature, Air Pressure and Oxygen Levels
UK weather patterns often change suddenly and dramatically. When it's
scorching hot, even though you may see carp, they may not be feeding. If
it's windy, and the skies are overcast, even though it seems like perfect
fishing weather, the carp may be nowhere to be found. Especially for carp
anglers, it is wise to understand how differing weather patterns affect the
air pressure, water temperature, available oxygen - and the feeding
behaviour of carp.
Air pressure affects oxygen levels.
Carp behaviour is directly affected by the amount of oxygen available. When
the water has lower levels of oxygen, the carp tend to act lazy and
lethargic. They may not want to eat. It's like they lack the energy
necessary for feeding.
Oxygen levels drop when air pressure is up. This most often occurs during
warm spells which do not replace the oxygen that is being used up by fish,
other animals, plants and microscopic organisms effectively. For that
reason, it's always better to go carp fishing when the air pressure is
low.
Low air pressure situations (below 1000mb) are ideal. The oxygen levels are
increased in the water and the carp start to feel vibrant! Rainy, windy days
oxygenate the water supply and that's when it's best to go carp fishing.
Air pressure and oxygen levels affect the depths that carp swim at.
Most of the time, when the air pressure is high, the carp will be swimming
in the upper levels of the water. Conversely, when air pressure is low, the
carp may be lower down in the water depths. For the carp angler, it would not
make any sense to use bottom baits on a hot, high air pressure day.
The direction of the wind also affects where carp hang out.
In the UK, winds from the southwest bring in warm air which helps the carp
feel like eating. Cold air streams from northern and eastern winds tend to
do the opposite. Also, stronger winds tend to make carp feed better. This is
probably due to the fact that the strength of the winds causes the water to
flow faster and therefore bring in more food. That's the reason that many
carp anglers prefer to fish with the wind blowing in their faces. That means
that the food supply is being blown towards them - and food attracts the
carp.
There's an old saying; it goes:
"When the winds come from the west, the fish bite best. When the winds
come from the east, the fish bite least!"
Water temperatures affect carp feeding as well.
Carp feed most prolifically when the water temperature is up to 10° C.
If the temperatures drop very far beneath this level, the fish will not feed
as much because they are more likely to be busy searching for warmer thermal layers in the
waters. And just because there is a dramatic and sudden change in air
temperature, does not mean that the water temperature is instantly affected
as well. When temperatures drop outside, it will take the water a couple of
days to drop to that same level. Additionally, the deeper that a given water
supply is, the longer it will take air temperatures to affect water
temperatures.
Remember that carp like to be warm. Larger ponds and lakes will most likely
contain different thermal layers. And these thermal layers will be located
based on the water's depth and the air's temperature. And on cold mornings
in the winter, you will often find carp in shallow waters because the sun
warms them quickly.
Always consider air pressure, oxygen content, water temperature and wind
direction/strength when trying to locate those huge carp!
Applying a New Carp Bait
Fishing for Carp in Rivers
Locating
Big Carp in the Spring
Carp
Location in the Summertime
Finding
Large Carp in the Cold Winter
Location
of Most Carp in Autumn
The
Case for Quality Carp Bait
Fishing Tactics for Snags & Trees
Boilie Placement on the Hair rig
Different types of carp rigs to use
Attempting to Catch Wary Carp
A Carp's Digestive System in Detail
Common
Baiting Tactics When Fishing
The Various Carp Bait
used to Catch Bigger Carp
When to use Pop-ups or Bottom Bait for Carp Fishing
How to
complete a Baiting
Campaign on Lakes & Ponds
The
Basic Carp Fishing
Baits Used to Catch Large Carp
Fishing Tactics when Fishing for Carp during Long-stay Sessions
Advice & Articles on How to Fish for Big Carp
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