Moon Phases

[ElwoodNeedaMac]

Another quick question. I read somewhere that the fishing picks up 4 days prior to and 4 days after a full moon. Is this true? After reading a post on this site that doesnt seem to be the case. It looks to me like it actually gets worse. Whats your opinion?
Thanks,
ELWOOD
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[mikecromaine]

I HAVE NEVER FOUND A RYME OR REASON TO WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING TO BE HONEST. I THINK MOST OR OLD WISE TALES. BUT WHO KNOWS I MAYBE WRONG I AM ALOT
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[casthookreel]

I have never had luck around the full moon before I ever learned that it was bad for fishing. never heard that a couple days before and after were good
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[prov17]

I don't buy in to most of those urban legends either, but as far as the full moon goes, I absolutely believe daylight fishing sucks at this time. It happens too often to just be coincidence.
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[chayden]

Welcome aboard. I too have read about the moon phase. I have had both success and failure using it. So I agree that they bite when they bite????? Here is the link to the phase if you want to go check it out.

[url "http://www.fishsniffer.com/moonphase"]http://www.fishsniffer.com/moonphase[/url]
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[wiperhunter2]

I've heard three days on each side of the full moon can be tough. I think it depends on the fish, some fish are effected by the moon phase, some aren't but it is always a good excuse to use if the fishing is slow. WH2
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[TubeDude]

[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url][#0000ff]There are a lot of opinions on just exactly how the moon phases affect fishing, but I do not know of any unbiased scientific studies that have conclusively proven anything, one way or another. My own experience has been that a bright moonlit night makes for enjoyable night fishing, during the warmer months of the year, but is not always the only determining factor in the quality of the fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Much of the hoopla about moon phases has been started with the bass-chasing folks. And, since springtime bass spawning tends to heighten during the full moon period of the month they spawn in the spring, it can affect fishing. Of course, depending on the part of the country you are in, spawning can take place anywhere from February to July...whenever water temps rise to between 65 to 70 degrees. That's when "nest fishing" for the biggest females has the best chance of hooking a "wall fish", a big female full of eggs. It is also a good time to play with the aggressive smaller males that build and guard the nests.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have personally found that fishing for predatory species that feed on shad or other forage can be tougher during a bright moonlit night period. This is especially true during the hot summer months, when fish stay deeper during the day and feed more at night. They come up when the surface temps cool at night, and feed effectively in the moonlight. When it gets light, they retreat to the depths to snooze and digest.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Blaming a poor fishing trip on a full moon is handy, but often not totally true. Fish follow their own cycles of feeding and not feeding. Sometimes they simply glut during hours the anglers are not about, and then develop lockjaw until their meals have digested. Big browns in both lakes and moving waters follow this routine. They feed aggressively until full, and then do not feed again for several hours or a couple of days.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That brings up another point. Many insect hatches occur during lunar cycles too. If there is an abundance of food in the water, the fish can simply be full up and not responsive to your bait or lures.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And, weather plays a big part in fish moods. Fronts moving through or storms which raise or lower water temps...or affect clarity...can make a difference.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The best time to go fishing is whenever you can. Following that logic, I have had both good and bad trips during full moon periods, just like any other time of the month. In fact, some of my most memorable trips, for several species, have been during the daytime when there was a full moon the night before.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That being said, I can also plead guilty to having used the full moon as an excuse when the fish outsmarted me. Any excuse is better than simply admitting that we can't figure out the pattern for that day. And, there are some days when the timing is just off. We should have been there yesterday...or wait until tomorrow. Ever hear those before?[/#0000ff]
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[icefool]

I think you hit the nail on the head with your post. I don't really care about the moon phase.But I have also used it as an excuse when the fish have out smarted me.I fish whenever I can.
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[Jedburton]

what I have observed in my vast knowledge of fishing and it's tecniques (this is a joke if you haven't figured it out yet) Just kidding . From what I have observed it seems like what tubedude said, I find that night fishing gets better the closer to the full moon you are and as far as night catfishing goes, they seem to bite more as the moon rises and sets. I have also observed that daytime fishing tends to be a little better the closer to no moon that you are. Just my 2 cents.
jed
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[Hellsangler69]

TubeDude has a great response to this . I like to blame the moon on my lack of fish catching skill . But did hook my biggest Cutt this year on a full moon . One thing I do have to add is when I fish for browns at night , it seems to bring me luck if there is no moon out , but cutts , rainbows , and brooks I have hooked with the moon glowing or not . My bigger smallies were caught in the new moon last year at night , but if I remember right that was the only time I went so not sure what a moon would of done for me . Just need to go fishing when the fishes are hungry and you should do well . If someone can tell me when that is I would be happy to go . LOL
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[Curtisfish]

Although my first reaction (and probably the correct reaction) is to agree with sensai TD, "The best time to go fishing is whenever you can"

I really enjoy getting out under the full moon. I have had many of my favorite, and more productive trips on, or within, one day of the full moon. Of course I am talking Browns and Walleye. They do seem to react to the moon a little different than Rainbows or Cutts. From what I've seen, I would say the Walleye get a little (minute change) more agressive when they have a little better night vision than they already have. The Browns seem to come up a couple of hours before the dawn after the full moon and just hammer a jig or crank swimming by at the right speed.
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