Even if the cows are laying down. I don't figure they are going to lay there all day. I want to be there when they get up. If they get up to eat then maybe the fish see them along the bank and decide it is time to eat also. As far as the storms, my dad used to say the thunder must have spooked the shallow crappie. Actually the pressure change seems to shut them down.

Oh, I gotta get my 2 cents in here. As an avid crappie gal myself, we fish 4 avg days a week at local lakes. I'm the passenger and I always look at the cows, the moon, the goats. And am a true believer in the cow's "so called" myth.

Not only am I looking on the way to the lakes, but also when we leave. On bad days when you can't buy a bite, the cows are laying down w/heads hung low and laughing at us. There is an odd looking Longhorn on some property nearby. He is at the fence when they are biting and laying down up-pasture when they're not.

To be honest on the moon, I haven't quite figured it out yet.
See ya on the dark side..

High pressure gives shallow fish a headache and they don't feel like biting.
Does this mean you can't catch fish when the barometer climbs?
Nope. Just means they are easier to catch in deep water where the barometric pressure has less affect on them...

Wow. Lots of awesome viewpoints. I never even thought these "myths" were this widespread. Thanks for all the wisdom! Hopefully the cows are hungry today cuz I don't work this afternoon!!!

Face it, fisherman are a superstitious bunch. If we notice something on a day when we catch or don't catch, we attribute our luck to it. Favorite lure, cows standing, whatever.

I fish when I can, regardless of what the cows are doing or anything else. Barometric pressure is a definite factor worth paying attention to though.

If you know anything about cows then you know that they always lay down or rest after feeding for awhile. They have two stomachs and when the first one gets full they lay down and regurgitate chunks and chew it awhile and swallow it into the second stomach. (called chewing their Cud) They do that regardless of the weather or pressure so forget that old wives tale. Fish when you get the chance.

I guess I need to go driving around for a while before taking the boat out, need to find some cows since I only live 5 min from the lake and dont see any on my way to the ramp.

What if half are laying down, half are standing up, and half are in between? Surely I ain't the only one that has cussed cows out for providing false information on the way to the lake!

It has to do with the Barometer and whether or not it is falling or rising or holding steady. The barometer affects everything from the weather to how a person feels. When the barometer is high people feel pretty up beat and happy. When it is low you feel gloomy and dumpy. It also affects animals like cows and fish, deer etc. etc. If the cows are laying down you can bet there is something happening with the barometric pressure such as falling. When the barometer falls the weather changes as it does when it rises. To make a long story short read up on the barometer and how it's affects on the weather and people so on and so on...

Read this...http://www.quickoneplus.com/fish/articles/page.asp?page=barometric

What a crock of s--t .I can assure you if you have some tiger stripe heifers they will feed all the time if you have some herfords they will lay down anytime. A cow lays down when its sick tired or full the barometer aint got shi- to do with it.Fish feed when there hungry or you present a bait they cant resist .What a bunch of cry babies .Location and presetation and you will catch fish on any color any color line .Wake up america.Ha Darrell

I don't think you can divide the herd in 3 halfs my friend.. Maybe 1/3 are standing, 1/3 are sitting and 1/3 are in between?

Sheesh, you surely don't have to know math to be a Champion.

I do know this.....if the fish are not biting...i'm eating cow.

I dont know about the cow theory But the full moon most definatly has a negative effect on daytime fishing