Fishing in the Rain: 3 Key Factors for a Successful Bite

Fishing in the Rain. 3 Key Factors for a Successful Bite. Rain is one of the most powerful natural triggers for a bite, especially in Siberia, where clear weather often leads to intense pressure on fish. Many anglers perceive rain as a hindrance: it's wet, cold, and difficult to cast. But experience shows the opposite—it's precisely in the rain that fish, both benign and predatory, most often come out to feed. Properly organized fishing in the rain can yield 3-5 times more bites than on a clear day with the same pressure and temperature.

To ensure rain truly delivers results, rather than simply soaking your clothes, three key factors must be considered. Below is a detailed analysis of each.

1. Rain phase and atmospheric pressure dynamics

The strongest bite occurs not during the rain itself, but in strictly defined phases.

• Before rain (1-4 hours before), the pressure begins to drop gradually (by 5-12 mm over several hours). Fish sense the approaching front and begin feeding actively. This is the best time to go fishing: the bites are sharp, and the fish bite greedily.
• The onset of rain (the first 30–90 minutes) marks the peak of the feeding frenzy. The water becomes enriched with oxygen, the pressure continues to drop, and the fish move into shallows, along the edges, and along the grass. Peaceful fish (bream, roach, crucian carp) bite in mid-water and near the surface, while predators (pike, perch, zander) begin to hunt.
• The middle and end of the rain—the bite weakens, especially if the rain is prolonged and the pressure stabilizes at low levels. The fish have already fed and retreat to cover.
• After rain, if the pressure remains low and stable, the bite can last for another 2-4 hours. If the pressure rises sharply, the activity quickly dies down.

On the Putorana Plateau, rainfall is often short and sharp. The best fishing is in the first 1-2 hours after it begins—grayling, lenok, and char come out to the currents and riptides, while taimen are active in pits and under cliffs. Long rains are rare here, so the peak of the bite usually coincides with this initial phase.

Conclusion: the strongest bite occurs 1-2 hours before and during the first 1-2 hours after the rain begins. After that, the intensity decreases.

2. Water and air temperature

Rain affects the bite differently depending on the temperature.

• Warm summer (+18…+26 °C air, water +14…+22 °C)
  Rain offers relief from the heat. Fish emerge from the depths into shallow water, into the grass, and into stream mouths. Pike, perch, crucian carp, roach, and rudd are especially prolific. Peaceful fish bite in mid-water, while predators feed near the surface and in the grass.
• Cool weather (+8…+15 °C air, water +6…+12 °C)
  Rain increases the bite of predatory fish (pike, perch, zander, taimen). Peaceful fish (bream, roach) bite less, but if the rain is warm and not too heavy, you can get a good catch with a bottom fishing rod.
• Cold autumn/spring (+2…+10 °C air, water +4…+8 °C)
  Rain is one of the best triggers. Fish sense the influx of oxygen and fresh food from the surface. Pike, perch, taimen, and lenok become very aggressive. Bream and roach bite in the deep.

On the Putorana Plateau, even in the height of summer, the water temperature rarely rises above 12–14°C. Rain here is almost always cold, so the bite intensifies for all salmon species ( grayling, lenok, char, taimen ). The fish come to the currents and riffles, where the oxygen levels are highest. This makes taimen fishing truly exciting.

Conclusion: In warm weather, rain draws fish into shallow water and toward the surface. In cold weather, it increases the bite of predators in the deep and salmon in the current.

3. The strength and character of the rain + wind

Not all rain is equally beneficial.

• A light drizzle is the best. The water gradually becomes oxygenated, the ripples on the surface camouflage the angler, and the fish aren't afraid to come close to the shore. The bite can last all day.
• A moderate, steady rain is also good. The fish feed actively for 2-4 hours after it starts. After that, the bite slows down.
• A heavy rain and thunderstorm result in explosive fishing for the first 30–90 minutes. Afterward, the fish become quiet, especially if the barometric pressure rises sharply after the thunderstorm.
• A prolonged cold rain for 2-3 days - the bite is good for the first day, then the fish get full and become passive.

Wind enhances the effect:

• Light wind (1–4 m/s) and rain are ideal. The ripples disguise the angler and mix up the bait.
• A moderate wind in the face is also good: the fish does not see the angler, and the wave washes the bait to the shore.
• Strong winds (>8–10 m/s) — the bite deteriorates. Fish retreat to cover, making casting difficult.

On the Putorana Plateau, rains are often short and sharp due to the mountainous terrain. The best time to fish is during the first 1-2 hours after the rain begins—grayling, lenok, and char come out to the currents, while taimen are active in the pits. Long rains are rare here, so the peak of the bite usually coincides with this initial phase.

Conclusion: Three main rules for successful fishing in the rain

1. Leave 1-2 hours before the rain starts or in the first 1-2 hours after it starts - this is the heaviest time.
2. Choose rain when the air temperature is +12…+22 °C (summer) or +4…+12 °C (spring/autumn) - fish come out to shallow water or become active in the current.
3. Use light or medium rain + light/moderate wind - the ripples will mask you and the fish won't be afraid to come close.

When these three factors coincide, rain turns from a nuisance into one of nature's best bite triggers. On such days, even the most "dead" bodies of water can yield a trophy. Good luck in the rain!