Why You Shouldn’t Cast Your Fishing Rod When Fish Are Jumping Out of the Water
Fishing is a popular hobby for many people during their free time. Experienced anglers often share that there are three things you should avoid while fishing.
- First, don’t fish when it’s hot.
- Second, don’t fish during a storm.
- Third, don’t cast your line when fish are jumping or flipping.
The first two points refer to weather conditions. However, the third point addresses a phenomenon: fish suddenly jumping or flipping out of the water.
In this situation, professional anglers advise against casting your rod for three main reasons.
Do not fish when you see fish jumping out of the water.
Three Reasons Not to Cast When Fish Are Jumping
First, fish jumping out of the water unexpectedly is a physiological response. Specifically, during mating season, especially when water quality is favorable, fish often jump to attract mates. It is normal for fish to leap during this period.
Moreover, during spawning season, fish typically lay eggs on the stems, leaves, and branches of aquatic plants near the water’s surface. Therefore, when you see fish jumping or flipping, anglers should refrain from casting their lines as they may catch spawning fish.
There are many reasons fish jump out of the water.
Second, when you see fish jumping out of the water, it may also mean they are hunting prey on the surface. Some species of fish often hunt small fish and shrimp in the mid and upper water layers. Even some omnivorous fish jump out of the water to catch insects. Alternatively, fish might leap when they are being pursued by predators. Jumping out of the water is one way for them to escape from predators.
In fact, most fish will quickly jump out of the water when their lives are threatened and then use the inertia of gravity to dive down to escape.
The reason for the above two situations is that anglers should not cast their lines is that these fish are focused on mating or hunting. They will not be attracted to any bait thrown into the water. Thus, even if the angler casts bait, the chances of catching fish will be low.
Fish jumping out of the water may also be due to lack of oxygen.
Third, fish jumping or flipping out of the water can be due to a lack of oxygen at the bottom.
When water quality changes suddenly or if water temperature stratifies clearly, fish may feel a certain level of “restlessness” and stress, and if the situation worsens, they will jump out.
On hot days, when atmospheric pressure causes the dissolved oxygen levels (a crucial factor for aquatic life) in the water to drop significantly, freshwater fish will jump out of the water to absorb dissolved oxygen from the mid and upper layers.
Additionally, there is another reason. On windy days, the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water also increases. Excessive oxygen can stimulate fish in deep water to jump erratically. Due to over-excitement, these fish will leap out of the water. This phenomenon can occur in large surface water reservoirs.
In this case, anglers should not cast their lines as the fish are agitated and not focused on any bait.
In aquaculture ponds, if fish continue to jump out of the water for an extended period, even after oxygen and medication have been added, there is a risk of widespread fish death. Therefore, fish farmers need to pay attention to this phenomenon.
