How Many Of You Actually Use Lunar Info?

[mddrew88]

Pretty straight forward question, how many of you experienced anglers actually check the lunar cycle before heading out? Does it affect any of your tactics or willingness to go out that particular day?

 

I ask because I've been using the weather.com fishing report and thus far I haven't noticed any real benefit. For example, this is my outlook for tomorrow:

 

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/fishing/75766

[Catt]

I'm aware of the moon's but it doesn't control my fishing.

The best time to go fishing is any time you can go

[Hattrick7]

I heard about that and I've tried it but I'm starting to think its a bunch of baloney.

[WRB]

Pure science is always changing with new information and solunar tables are not purely scientific.

What isn't in question is the moons affect on waterways like tides. Tidal cycles are a primary factor for the aquatic lives living in tidal waterways, ocean coastal zones.

The full moon has a long documented history on the behavior of animals. Putting the two factors together, tidal and moon phase = lunar tables. You can ignor the behavior patterns of animals and the tidal affects on aquatic life and go fishing or take advantage, it's a choice.

During pre spawn through spawn I keep tabs on lunar cycles and weather that affects water temps and spawning behavior. During summer nights I also keep tabs on lunar cycles. I prefer the 2 days surrounding the full moon and max/min tidal cycles and try to be on the water during those high % time periods.

The bottom line is;.go fishing whenever the opportunity is available.

Tom

[AJMichigan]

I have an app on my windows phone called "Time To Fish." It shows me the best days/specific times to fish according to the lunar cycle and it's usually pretty spot on.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Ive looked at the tables on occasion after I caught a good bass that particular day and found it was caught during the "poor" time to fish, go figure. My PB was during "poor" time.

 

I just looked and for 8/22/13 two seperate sites give differing "peak" time periods so which one to follow??? 11:13am-1:43pm  or  2:20pm-4:20pm. The good thing is the rain should end around 9 here so head out then will be out fishing during both time periods.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm going fishing every morning.   I always do my homework before I leave the house, the moonphase is not part of that homework.  Making saltwater my first venue of the day I check tides, wind direction, surf height and direction and the weather forecast.  Based on that information I select my target species, location I want to fish, clothing, and rods and reels, the lures are pretty constant and I probably don't use more than 4 or 5 different ones.  I don't log anything, the conditions today are never exactly what they were 365 days ago, but I have a pretty good mental log on when certain fish should be arriving.  All said, probably have done better on the new moon and not the full.  No bearing on what I'm doing but both the new and full moon creates faster water current and the low tide is lower and high tide is higher, this is most noticeable in November. 

[Diablos]

Most people have limited time to fish and wouldn't care if the moon flew away.

[Bankbeater]

Never use it.  I go fishing whether the moon is up or down.

[flechero]

I believe that the predator instinct is much stronger than the lunar influence.  And that would also support the fact that good fisherman catch fish regardless of moon phase and height.

 

The lunar charts don't say anything about you being in the right place, using the right baits or knowing what to do that day.  Just because a fish might be a little more willing to feed, doesn't mean he'll eat your lure!

 

Worry about & work on the things you can influence, and you'll be a much better fisherman.

[bighed]

From my experience there are a couple "times" during the day when the bit seems to turn on.  Not that you can't catch fish all day but a morning and mid day bite that noticably increases.  I think they would follow the Prime times lunar info.  Also night fishing on a new moon is much better than a full moon although that has to do with the ability of the fish to hunt it's pray rather than gravitational influences.  That said, I get out every chance I get regardless of lunar influences.  Just my humble two cents worth.

[A-Jay]

During the warmer months, the majority of my time on the water is at night. 

The moon plays an obvious role here; light.

I do believe that when combined with other conditions, certain lunar phases have the potential to produce better than others.

I've found that some bodies of water fish better on dark nights and others do well with some lunar light present.

Full moon / bright nights have rarely been especially productive for me. 

However, nights with a full or near full moon that is partially or better yet, completely obscured by cloud cover, have often been some of the best producers for both numbers and size of green and brown bass.

Moon rise/sets have often produced well, even if I couldn't actually see it.

So although I do fish when I can, I'm especially excited during certain lunar phases.

 

A-Jay

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have never paid any attention to it.  I go when i can and every chance I get. 

[mddrew88]

Had some luck this morning despite the lunar calendar. 3 bass, 2 silver crappie. My bro caught 2 as well. Best fishing I've had in a few months now, must have been the swimbaits that got their attention.

 

 

[SirSnookalot]

Don't know what it was 45 minutes before sunrise this morning, caught 4 snook one after another, one 17-20#, first snook in about a week.  Sun comes up and caught about 15 blue runners, but they have been around all week. 

[38 Super Fan]

I fish whenever I get the chance, but I have noticed that I seem to catch bigger fish around the full and new moons. My PB smallie and Spot were both caught on "excellent" rated days, so were most of the big Largemouths I've caught. My personal experience says there is a little something to the lunar cycle.

[Raul]

Don´t count me in.

[Darren.]

I pay attention to it, sometimes it's on, sometimes it's off. Things like fronts, water level, also play into the catch factor.

 

Been out sometimes when all the charts said was the worst time, but I had a great outing. So I'm tuned in, but it doesn't dictate what I do.

[papajoe222]

The majority of my outings aren't planned, I just go. When I do plan a trip or for a one day outing that involves a good amount of driving, I plan it around either a new or full moon.  Over the years, I have more confidence in being able to catch active fish under those two phases.  The fish aren't always cooperative, as we all know there are a lot of other factors to consider, but this is the only one that is predictable so it's the first one I consider.

[Team9nine]

Check the moon phase around the pre-spawn/spawn time to get an idea of if/when the bass or gills might be moving to beds (full/new moon), but otherwise never pay attention any other time. 

 

-T9

[TiNuts]

In my experience it has been accurate some times and not relevant at others. I've watched the fishing activity pick up as the peak hours came on and then rapidly drop off as they expired. I've been out at night on full moons and not caught a thing. I've caught fish during the worst hours of the worst days.

I did go out the other day during the peak hours of the full moon in the afternoon and had the best fishing I've ever had at this place. It did quickly die off as the peak hours passed.

It's just another tool amongst many.

[jignfule]

I'm aware of the moon's but it doesn't control my fishing.

The best time to go fishing is any time you can go

X2

[RAMBLER]

I go fishing when I can take the time.  However, I do check the tide on the St. John's River to help me decide where I will fish that day.

[WRB]

It's interesting to read back through this thread; vast majority ignor solunar tables or disregard them.

Doug Hannon, the late Bass professor believed in his tables, I developed my Cosmic Clock and Bass Behavior prior to Hannon and based on Lunar-solar affects. Between Doug and I, we have caught hundreds of DD LMB.....maybe you all should rethink how you approach your time on the water!

Tom

[A-Jay]

It's interesting to read back through this thread; vast majority ignor solunar tables or disregard them.

Doug Hannon, the late Bass professor believed in his tables, I developed my Cosmic Clock and Bass Behavior prior to Hannon and based on Lunar-solar affects. Between Doug and I, we have caught hundreds of DD LMB.....maybe you all should rethink how you approach your time on the water!

Tom

Nah ~ There's no need of that Tom. 

 

Everybody knows that them darn Lunar Tables are just unreliable (cough, cough)

 

btw, I'm heading out now, moonrise was at 9:03 PM and will set at 9:51 tomorrow morning. 

Illumination will be at 97.9% at 42.1 degrees. 

 

But that stuff is just hog wash anyway.

 

 

A-Jay