Fishing Moon Phases?

[Anglinarcher]

Once in a while a good discussion is worth while. A couple of off hand discussions have recently been made about the last full moon so I thought I would bring up the subject of fishing moon phases.

Without stating my position at this time, what is your position on fishing moon phases?

[fishin]
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[a_bow_nut]

At times it seems to put the fish off a bit. But at times when I'm fishing the bite at dusk it helps extend the twilight some making for some extra opportunity.
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[fishnotphish]

I suspect it has some effect but for me it serves mostly as an excuse when the fishing turns out to be slow. "It must be that dang full moon."
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Good topic. Rabble-rouser.

I know there are plenty of fisherfolk who are passionate in their aversion to fishing during a full moon. Most "seasoned" anglers I know tend to believe that it can have some effect...on some species, on some waters, during some times of the year and under some conditions. But many of us have found through personal experience that there are no hard and fast rules about either positive or negative influences of a full moon.

There are times that other influences...like water clarity, water temperatures, water levels, wind conditions, food availability, boating and recreational activity...all may modify fish activity.

I have had both good and bad trips while challenging a full moon. But I strongly believe that on those days when I did poorly the fault was more a matter of not finding active fish than because of a moon phase. There have been full moon trips in which I was ready to use moon phase as an excuse...and then managed to search out some active fish and finish with a productive trip. And I know of other situations where guys were skunked...and blamed the moon...while other guys on the same water had super days of fishing.

That being said, I do know that some species of fish routinely feed at night...and will feed more actively on nights with more available light...with a bright moon. If there is plenty of available food for them, nocturnal feeders are more likely to feed heavily at night and are less likely to fall to foolish anglers the next day.

The one generality I have personally observed is that fish tend to use the full moon more during warmer months of the year...when their metabolism is higher. They move faster and digest food more quickly so they feed more often then. And on some waters...and with some species...they become more nocturnal to escape overly warm water temps and/or heavy recreational activity (power squadron).

During colder months, the best time to fish is often later in the day...after the sun has warmed the water a few degrees. During a full moon period that bite may extend into the night...until water temps drop again. The fact that fish don't bite the next morning is due more to colder water than the influences of the full moon.

In matters of fishing, never say never and never say always.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Well said Pat, I think you put it very close to my thoughts... When I was a more occasional fisher, I had, had several really good trips during the quarter to half moon phase... So I was sure that was the key, in fact I'd had the bad trips during the full moon and I was a believer in the moon phase theory, but with more experience I've come to believe your views that everyday is a new day and finding the active fish has more to do with success than what the moon is doing... Like you mentioned so many other factors tend to modify the day, that I think the moon is only a minor part of how the day will fish... Weather seems to be more of a factor than the moon, but that's just my thoughts... Later J
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[T-DOG91]

The moon is a great cover for my poor fishing. So I will continue with that excuse as it's all I have left at this point!! Darn moon
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[Anglinarcher]

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[quote TubeDude].............Rabble-rouser.


In matters of fishing, never say never and never say always.
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I am sorry, guilty as charged. [img]data:image/png;base64,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[/img]
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As a kid, I grew up fishing in Arizona and Southern Utah in the days when you actually could not fish at night in Utah. I don't remember the time, but I seem to recall that you had to stop fishing by 10:00 PM and could not start until 6:00 AM.
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My father, my original mentor, was noted as a great fisherman, but he would not even bother to go trout fishing on a full moon, convinced that the trout feed all night and would not feed during the day. I believed that as a child, but I grew up. [img]data:image/png;base64,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[/img]
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In either the late 60's or early 70's I use to read "Field and Stream" religiously. I was young, gullible, and believed everything I read. I don't know if they still do, but they use to have "big fish" awards for people who reported fish of different species over a specified size. You had to give specific information to be awarded the certificate. They used this information for "statistical" purposes.
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The result of the statistical reports at the time (just remember that their are liars, damn liars, and then their are statisticians [img]data:image/png;base64,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[/img]) was that a notable number if bigger fish were caught in in a period that ranged from 3 days before to 3 days after the full moon. BUT, they also noted the same pattern for 2 days before to 2 days after the NEW MOON (no moon visible). I do not recall any statement as to rather the fish were caught during day or night. OK, so was dad wrong?
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I think that same article introduced me to the "Solanar Tables". I was sold, bought several versions, and, to my frustration, they DID NOT AGREE with each other. What was a young fisherman to do?
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I have a friend in Washington State that use to have a Pacific Northwest Fishing Show. He believes, for some fish, at some times of the year, the moon means everything. We are friends, but we don't always agree. [img]data:image/png;base64,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[/img] His first name is Seth.
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Over the years I have learned a lot, fished too much (ask my wife), even caught a few fish. [img]data:image/png;base64,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[/img]
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Here is what I have concluded, subject to change as I learn more. Moon phases do indeed make a difference, for SOME SPECIES AND SOME TIMES. For example, in costal streams in Alaska, the moon position is directly related to tides. The river/stream spawning fish move upstream with the high tides. Planning on fishing the high tide is a very good idea. I learned while fishing the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana area, that the same effect is true. The high tides would move salt water into the brackish bays and as a result, the Redfish and Sea Trout would move in and feed. Having a 2 to 6 foot change in water depth also made a huge difference.
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In Fresh Water, we don’t have a tidal effect. I once read that the tidal impact on Lake Superior was less than an inch. I quick search found this:
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“True tides—changes in water level caused by the gravitational forces of the sun and moon—do occur in a semi-diurnal (twice daily) pattern on the Great Lakes. Studies indicate that the Great Lakes spring tide, the largest tides caused by the combined forces of the sun and moon, is less than five centimeters in height. These minor variations are masked by the greater fluctuations in lake levels produced by wind and barometric pressure changes.
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Consequently, the Great Lakes are considered to be non-tidal.”
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So, any impact to freshwater fishing due to the moon would need to be from something else.
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I have always been taught that Bass spawn on a full moon, but I have observed bass moving up to spawn during all moon phases. I have been told that Bluegill spawn on every full moon when the water is over 60 degrees, but, again, I have seen spawning beads empty on the full moon and full a week later with warmer weather. Additionally, I always catch more, and bigger, fish fishing the staging areas instead of the beds anyway.
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Pat said “That being said, I do know that some species of fish routinely feed at night...and will feed more actively on nights with more available light...with a bright moon.” I could not agree more. Conversely, some species of fish routinely go dormant at night, and might only feed a little on a full moon, and none on a new moon. Walleye are examples of the former and their smaller cousin perch are the latter (I have videoed perch so dormant at night that you could reach down and pick them out of the water by hand).
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But, Walleye are the rule that makes the exception. My friend Seth fishes a specific area in December, at night, during the full moon, and once caught a 17+ pound walleye, on film, shown on his fishing show. He is convinced that it is not worth fishing any other time in December. Of course I took him to the same area during the new moon, at night, and the two of us caught numerous walleye over 10 pounds that night, a couple near 15 pounds, and to me that disproved his theory. But, in his mind, his 17+ single fish trumps our 10 to 15 pounders. Go figure. LOL
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Pat said “The one generality I have personally observed is that fish tend to use the full moon more during warmer months of the year...when their metabolism is higher. They move faster and digest food more quickly so they feed more often then. And on some waters...and with some species...they become more nocturnal to escape overly warm water temps and/or heavy recreational activity (power squadron).” Good advice, but keep your species in mind. For example, Bass may hit better at during the afternoon and early night during these conditions because of the advantage they have over their prey, and the warmer waters, but trout, often stressed by high temperatures, may feed more during the cooler late night and early morning temperatures. I have fished a lot of multi-story multi-species fisheries at night and could determine when it was time to change from one species to another just using my water temperature probe.
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Pat said “There are times that other influences...like water clarity, water temperatures, water levels, wind conditions, food availability, boating and recreational activity...all may modify fish activity.” I propose that this is the answer. And, as of the time I write this, 79% agree. In fact, I would propose that this is the overriding truism. In Professional Bass Tournaments, no matter how bad the conditions, no matter how cold, or hot, or windy, or calm, it is said that someone always figures out the pattern. It is my opinion that the fish are always catchable, if you can figure out the “other influences” and how they are working to “modify fish activity”.
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In conclusion, I have been asked ‘when is the best time to go fishing’? My answer is always something like this:
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I prefer to go fishing when the wind is blowing out of the West, or the South, or the North, or the East. I prefer to go out when it is calm, or when the wind is below 15 miles per hour. I prefer to go out when we have had 3 stable days of weather, or when the weather is about to change, or when it has just changed. [#008000]I guess, I should say, I prefer to go fishing when I can get out.[fishin][/#008000]
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[Stickleback]

I had a friend with a personal fishing policy that is similar to Anglinarcher’s. He said the “the best time to fish is when it is raining and when it is not.” When neither of those conditions apply then I follow the moon charts.
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[Anglinarcher]

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[SkunkedAgain]

I can go with that, I fish when I can and hope there will be enough factors going in my favor that I can at least catch a few... I do prefer to avoid winds over 10 mph, but have been know to catch fish in conditions over that, but it's more fun to fish when you don't have to worry about sinking... Oh and Catfish follow Pat's summer temperature and feeding at night recommendation very closely... Come July and August the night fishing is much better for the bigger cats... Now as far as moon versus no moon I don't have enough data to give a reading, but I've caught fish on both nights with moon and without... However, my biggest was on a full moon night so maybe that means that's when to catch a big one... Later J
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