Moon phase opinions

[wormdunker]

Hey folks. I would like to get opinions on how the different moon phases effect your fishing. I know that some people swear by the full moon, but I swear that I never seem to do much good on the full moon. Today, for instance, went down below Cheatham Dam, and did not get as much as a nibble. Was nice to get out on the water, but it is always nicer to catch fish! Anyway, what's your experience with the different phases and catching fish? Thanks for any input.

[agelesssone]

I rarely fish on or close to a full moon because I've never caught many fish during those times.

[Trealtree]

Yeah I've tried a couple times with no luck.

[Alphahawk]

You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. I went yesterday to Pickwick and the fish were all over the place and in the attack mode. I have never kept track of the moon in my fishing logs...but need to do that. I read an article several years back about how 90 percent of hybrids over 20 pounds were caught at or around full or new moon. So I don't have an answer.....but thanks for the question as I will now start logging moon phases on a fishing trip.



Regards

[wormdunker]

I seem to have much better luck around the new moon, or maybe I'm just not holdin my mouth right near the full moon.

[MNfisher]

I do VERY well within a few days before or after the full moon. But all night fishing. It's when the big girls come out to play. Back in MN, almost all our biggest muskies of the year came 2-3 days before the full moon at night. Year after year the patterned proved to be successful. I have noticed a similarity in night striper fishing in TN.

[MNfisher]

But I have noticed that daytime fishing is harder around full moons because i think they feed so much heavier during the night.

[Travis C.]

For me the actual moon phase does more for activating the biological clocks on fish than basing it on my fishing luck. I put more into the moon rise and moon set times than the phase for fishing success. It has the same effect as sun rise and set for feeding time in my experience.

Caught fish on all moon phases but record speaking more big fish have been taken around the new or full moon than others. I have a book around here somewhere with the record stats in it done by In-Fisherman.. If I can find it will post results.

[SAMBOLIE]

I have fished with the moon so bright I wished for sun glasses (no lie). Never caught as many fish under the full moon.

[tacklemake]

I have found though the years of fishing its always a little harder fishing a moon during the daytime because of all the feeding at night. Fishing a bite full moon at night I love the black jitterbug because I have caught more big bass on a full moon at night. But going out at night on OHL you take a chance of hittting a floating tree that would mess your boat up,so no thanks I will go in the daytime. I still catch something its just a little harder...............woody

[bfish]

outside the spawn of some species; i think it way down the list of things to consider. water temp, water level, wind direction, inflow/outflow etc have a much greater influence imo.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by Alphahawk

You will get a lot of opinions on this subject. I went yesterday to Pickwick and the fish were all over the place and in the attack mode. I have never kept track of the moon in my fishing logs...but need to do that. I read an article several years back about how 90 percent of hybrids over 20 pounds were caught at or around full or new moon. So I don't have an answer.....but thanks for the question as I will now start logging moon phases on a fishing trip.



Regards

Good observation Randy !! ... As far as Bass, as well as other species ... They are nocturnal and mostly feed at night ... I think this moon phase Idea (with some educated scientific studies) started because of this factor ... Because the fish can feed better at night etc ... Well My experience over the years that fish regardless of the time of day or moon phase will eat when 1. They are hungry. 2.They are enticed in to striking. or 3. Will over eat in the Spring before (for storage) or after spawn (hungry)...

Also The true Bass the Striper has 4 olfactory glands which evolved when they were only Ocean fish in a sandy water environment; before being trapped in Santee Cooper and Lake Moultrie In South Carolina ... Their very similar to a catfish and as far as that goes, a dog ... They find food by smell ...

Like the moon phase science, there is the Barometric Pressures that supposed to effect most fish species bladder ... You know Blue Bird Skies after a front is usually not good ... Before fronts is usually good ... etc.

With all this said ... Lets look at the Wife's and I great day Thursday (The Fantastic day post) .. The Back side of the Full Moon by 1 or 2 Days ... Normally you would not suspect much also barometric pressure up some what ... ??

Past experience in the 70's with my fishing partner and Friend Dillon Michener. We had a yearly pilgrimage to Fla. to fish for hogs, at night during the week of the full moon, usually 3 days either side... Made our own 18 inch plastic worms from molds we made from plaster .. Between the two of us we have a 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 pound bass mounted on the wall over a 6 year span .. Now two of those years were a bust .. ...

But one of the biggest things I learned when guiding for Trophy Stripers is (Remember I fished the Rivers) ... When the weather is not fit for man nor beast ... Is the day you will get your arm broke ... Also when the odds are against you as far as the Moon, Barometric Pressure ... Yea you go in with a negative mind set ... Go as if it was going to be the best day in your fishing life ... Because it might .. But the fact is you are out there .. You are learning little things like the wild life activities on the bank, muskrat, river ferrets, squirrels, dear, birds ... Even Calves frolicking in the pastures ... Write it down in your trip log, Number of and species of fish ... weather, where, when ...

Mother nature knows what she is doing ... Learn from Her <'TK><

[Transplanted Sportsman]

that was great post TK!!, thanks for sharing that wealth of info!!!, I think (based on Mr Randy's observations) I will try to keep a fishing log from now on at least I will have some info to look revert back to and know what to do and not to do on future trips!!

[agelesssone]

SAMBOLIE, after "investing" in bars as much as you did in your youth, you probably needed sunglasses day and night, full moon or not!

[wormdunker]

Thanks for the input. I guess when it comes right down to it, any day is a good day to fish, even if nothing gets caught it is always good to be outdoors. I didn't realize the "smell" thing about Stripers, interesting. I guess that's why hybrids (and I guess rockfish, too) are sometimes caught on livers. I have noticed that when there is a lot of other animal activity (birds, squirrels, even moles feeding) the fishing usually is better. I remember one day that the sauger were just biting wild (one of those days "not fit for man or beast") Caught a limit pretty quickly. Later that evening I talked to a friend who had gone hunting that day, and he said that all creatures in the woods were just moving like crazy that day. Thanks again for the responses