You’d be surprised by how generous carp fishing in the rain can be. It even sometimes exceeds what you can normally catch on sunny days. This is because carp tend to be more active and move to shallow waters to feed on terrestrial insects steered by the rain.
It’s worth noting that rainy weather dictates a different fishing approach on your end. For instance, floater fishing is much more productive in such conditions.
Introduction
If you’re bold enough to leave your cosy blanket behind and head to your favourite carp fishing spot on a rainy day, you’ll get rewarded for your adventurous spirit. You’ll have one of those unforgettable carp fishing trips worth telling your friends about for years to come!
Plenty of factors come into play during and after heavy rain, which all contribute to fish feeding. Changes in water temperature, current flow, and riverbank clarity are just a few variables that work in favour of carp anglers during bad weather.
With that being said, you’d expect that fishing in the rain comes with its all unique set of tactics and gear. So, we’re here to ensure you’re all set up for your next carp fishing outing under the cloudy skies!
Factors to Consider When Carp Fishing in the Rain
We’d go on record to report that some of our most successful fishing runs have been after heavy rainy spells. This isn’t a mere coincidence, though, as there are a number of gains that fishing in the rain brings to the table. So, if you know how exactly to make the most of such favourable conditions, you’ll be catching fish that only other anglers would dream of landing!
You can also visit our post here on day ticket carp lakes to see the places where you can enjoy carp fishing.
1. Higher Oxygen Levels in the Water
Water temperatures influence how much the river currents can hold oxygen. During the winter season, colder water temperatures make oxygen levels in the water more favourable, which encourages carp to become more energetic and move around looking for their next meal.
The same isn’t true in the summer season, as carp tend to be lazier, and wary carp aren’t as likely to get out of their way and wander around that often.
With that being said, rainy spells can be a huge blessing, especially during summer. Rain tends to get the water’s temperature down, resulting in higher oxygen levels available for the carp.
Such a sequence of events creates the perfect chain reaction for catching carp, as the big carp now has enough energy and incentive to seek your best baits.
2. Air Pressure
If you weren’t paying much attention back then in your physics class, fear not, as we’ve got one physics quickie for you! In simple, plain English, air pressure is the driving force behind developing rain in the first place.
For the uninitiated, low-pressure air tends to move upwards higher in the atmosphere. As it cycles towards the colder layers of the atmosphere, it condenses and ends up going down as rain. So, you might ask what brings such a topic when talking about carp fishing.
The answer is pretty simple; as you can tell by now, air pressure changes directly impact the chance of rain. However, that’s only one half of the story, as low air pressure indirectly boosts the carp waters’ oxygenation, giving the fish a healthy dose of energy and range of motion.
Furthermore, rainy spells often bring about wind to the riverbanks, which contributes to the water’s oxygenation level. All such weather conditions accumulate to deliver a pulse of activity in the carp waters, making your float fishing trips much more rewarding.
3. Reduced Visibility
After heavy rain spells, surface water will drain into carp waters transporting with it tons of sediments and mud. So, your lake bed can turn murky brown, creating an uncharted territory where carp will have limited visibility.
At first glance, you might wonder how murky lakes can be great for fly fishing, as your vision through sallower areas will be impacted as well, and you won’t be able to easily spot any lurking carp. The answer is pretty simple – as long as carp can’t see you, this should be more than enough to secure your catch.
It’s also worth noting that some fish species will be rendered completely clueless by the reduced visibility of their waters. However, this isn’t the case with carp, as such fish can rely on smell and touch to find their way around murky waters and navigate across weed beds to reach your delicious bait.
Furthermore, not being able to spot anglers waiting patiently at riverbanks makes carp more likely to move closer. The coloured water might give carp a false sense of safety and encourage them to carp feed in shallower areas making it an easy catch!
Also, reduced visibility adds to the carp’s tendency to move around more, searching for natural food sources. This makes total sense, as such fish are stripped of one of their key sensory stimuli, giving them a harder time navigating their environment.
The end result is more sloppy carp that’s hyperactive in a desperate effort to find its way around the now unrecognizable rivers. Such sloppiness dramatically increases the odds of one carp taking your bait and giving you the run for your money and patience!
4. Organic Matter Run-Off
Similar to how the rain drives sediments and mud into the carp’s water bodies, it also carries about some delicious goods for the fish to savour. Organic materials and insects can be swept into the carp waters, giving feeding fish a holly feast like no other.
As an angler, you always want to hit choke areas in the river near water drains. Such spots are where the larger fish are likely heading and should be a good starting point for your rain fishing trip.
Again, the murkier waters come into play here, attracting bigger fish that otherwise rarely make an appearance at such shallow spots. You’ll be surprised by the larger specimens that lay their guard down and end up falling for your baits!
5. Less Fishing Pressure
Not all anglers are willing to put up with the lightning storm, cloudy skies, and rainy spells to pursue their ultimate catch. So, if you’re willing to spend your winter months on the riverbank instead of your cosy home, you’ll be rewarded for your dedication.
The river is all yours, and you can pick the ideal angling location! If the spot doesn’t work out in your favour, you can easily pack up your gear and be on the move till you find the magical fishing spot.
With hours and hours of fishing experience under our belt, we found out that common carp usually lurk at given spots. However, if you’re after other fish species like trout or bass, you’ll need to constantly change your location and actively seek the areas where such fish tends to start feeding.
So, having fewer boats on the river will prove more convenient for those anglers seeking hard-to-get species that can be easily scared away by the loud boat engines.
Another added benefit of having fewer lines in the water is alleviating the stress that fish might experience from the so many baits floating around. Carp will feel more comfortable swimming around looking for food with fewer humans disturbing their favourite feeding spots.
Essential Gear to Catch Carp in the Rain
Being ill-prepared for the harsh weather conditions out there can bring your fishing trip to an early end. Luckily, we’ve listed all the essential gear you’ll need to enjoy your time on the lake and experiment with different tactics to catch carp in the rain.
Top-Notch Rain Gear
There’s nothing called bad weather; it’s more about being less optimally prepared for the weather conditions ahead, so you need to choose your rain gear carefully. Having a quality raincoat ensures you remain dry and warm no matter how hard the rain pours.
KEFITEVD men’s waterproof jacket is a contender for your money with its polyester fibre outer shell that’s designed to repel water droplets. That’s not all; you also get a fleece-lined inner layer that’s guaranteed to keep you warm throughout the winter season.
The icing on top is the high jacket’s collar that extends beyond the brim of the hat to ensure no water slips in. Add a bunch of pockets to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a multi-purpose rain jacket that’ll make a huge difference in how you tackle fishing in the rain.
Waterproof Footwear
Choosing the right footwear will ensure your feet remain dry and warm throughout your fishing trip and prevent unwanted slips and injuries on the riverbank. For instance, the Jack Pyke Neoprene boots offer a completely water-tight seal, so you can confidently conquer puddles that come your way without fear of wetting your socks.
The boots also implement a unique lug pattern specifically designed to add more grip to their rubber soles. This way, you can maintain excellent traction on a wide variety of surfaces, including slippery rocks that are a mainstay at riverbanks.
If you are interested, you can check out our top picks of carp fishing boots here.
Fully-Enclosed Boat
Having a boat with a full stand-up top is much needed to tackle rainy weather. The stand-up enclosure comes in handy to keep you high and dry no matter how crazy the rainy spells might get.
Furthermore, bringing a bivvy bag and a bivvy table proves useful, especially during extended fishing sessions or if you plan to camp outdoors. For that, we recommend the Honyao survival sleeping bag as it’s 100% waterproof and offers exceptional heat retention. In terms of portability, the emergency blanket can be folded into a compact pouch that can fit in your fishing rig bag with zero issues.
Special Fishing Rig
It’s always a great idea to pack your float fishing gear and river carp rig as rain is likely to drive fish towards shallow waters. The murky water is also another factor that drives carp to tread more often towards the surface in search of the natural food sources brought about by the draining rainwater.
Don’t forget to pack your trusty float fishing tackle, as this can be a game-changer in boosting your chances of catching carp. That’s not all; a quality float fishing rod like the Fishzone GT series gives you a wide range of flexibility over a large casting distance.
It’s also worth noting that some anglers like to experiment with fly fishing and let the wind carry their lightweight fly baits over large distances. For that, you’ll need a special type of fishing rod that’s tuned to enable long casting distances.
For that matter, the Maxcatch Sky High Series fly rod is an easy recommendation. It’s hand-made of carbon helical core, which combines flexibility and durability.
Furthermore, it comes with an anodized reel seat compatible with a wide range of fly reels. Also, the high-grade solid titanium guides prove to be an integral part of the fly rod experience, as they ensure your line feels silky smooth when cast, allowing you to precisely hit your designated casting spot.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve managed to change your mind about carp fishing in the rain. So, next time the cloudy skies start pouring, you’ll be rushing to get your fishing rig ready and head to your favourite fishing spot to take advantage of what such weather conditions bring to the carp fishing game.
Changes in the water’s oxygenation, temperatures, and organic materials all contribute to encouraging carp to become more energetic and seek feeding opportunities. All such factors accumulate in raising your odds of catching carp and getting more bites.
Finally, being fully prepared for harsh weather conditions and having the right fishing rig will give you the tactical advantage you need to land bigger carp. Such fish don’t leave their comfy river beds and head for the surface every day, and only rain is the holly occasion when they’re willing to make such a pilgrimage right next to your waiting baits.
Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you have any further questions or inquiries!
