by Marc Phillippe Babineau

Created on: June 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2011

Knowing what makes fish bite is only the first step in a successful fishing trip for the weekend angler as well as the serious fisherman.  From species to species, and within each species from location to location the reasons for fish to bite an offered hook will vary.  The professional angler will have thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of fishing lures, scents and other fish attractants, and has the luxury of trying different setups until the right combination of leader, spinner and bait is found. Even the size of the fishing line used will have an effect on whether or not fish will bite when fishing for sport fish, like trout (almost all species and cross-species of trout, like the splake), walleye, northern grayling, arctic char, Atlantic salmon and other predatory fish, as they will see or sense a thicker fishing line.

The amount of cloud cover, the present and expected barometric pressure (whether it will be rising, lowering or remaining stable), water temperature, whether the fish are spawning or not, and the clarity of the water will all have effects on whether or not a fish will bite. Sometimes it is about the fishing and not about the fish, and, yes, a bad day’s fishing is still better than a good day at work. But, what does make a fish bite?

Some fish may bite more aggressively and more frequently before or after a big storm, at sunrise or sunset, during a full moon, or in the weeks leading up to their spawning time. If a storm is approaching or just past and the fish aren't biting, one sure fire way to get some fishing action is to try fishing the deeper spots in the water, as many fish will go deep during storms. Large, predatory fish, like the muskie, trout or pike, may bite simply for aggressive reasons, if the baited hook appears to be infringing upon their nesting territory. Therefore, when fishing for an aggressive fish species, a lure like a crank bait that makes a lot of noise and water displacement can work wonders for filling a cooler full of fish, or working out those arm muscles and building lifetime memories for the catch and release crowd.

Fish will bite for territorial disputes or for feeding purposes, in order to store strength for a long swim, like for spawning upstream. That is why it is illegal to fish for any species that are 2 weeks prior to or 2 weeks after their spawning period, as they need to feed for their spawn, and their spawning is what keeps the fish population rising.  Fishing at the

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