How Many Of You Actually Use Lunar Info?

[mddrew88]

I assume it would make a lot more sense to use lunar info if I were fishing on a lake or larger body of water instead of a pond. Right? Wrong?

[WRB]

Here is the real deal; you can catch active bass and can't catch inactive bass. IF you could predict when the bass would be actively feeding, would you ignor that prediction?

There is no doubt in my mind that during pre spawn big bass are more active the days around the full moon and followed by the days around the new moon. The active periods coincide when the moon is at mid point (high noon) on the horizon, the sun near the horizon (within 30 degrees). These periods are short time periods,, you need to be where the bass are located, using the right lure at the right depth. Put all this together and your odds go dramatically.

Tom

PS; your odds of catching bass on the water are 100% better than mine writing this setting on my arsh!

[Catt]

Sorry Tom

1 1/2 hours prior to & 1 1/2 hours after the rise, set, directly over head, and directly under foot.

That's your major & minor periods as per Poor Richard's Almanac.

It does not take into consideration weather, season, water conditions, pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn and many other factors.

Oh yea without Mr. Hannon I've caught 30+ DD bass under numerous moon phases.

[aquaholic]

What is the science behind the moon effecting eating pattern? Can the bass see the moon? Does the moon make the bass feel funny? I eat everyday, and i assume most fish eat when they get an opportunity otherwise they will die. Do i like going fishing when its suppose to be a good moon? Yes , because it gives a little more confidence. Do i think it plays a major role in catching fish? No.  

[SirSnookalot]

IMO it's more about location than the moon. The biggest fish of any species are caught in places where they have more of them, increasing your chances.  Using a DD bass as a reference as to what a large fish is doesn't cut it. How many DD bass could I catch in Ontario, Canada compared to Ca., Tx, or Fl.?  Most of the better fish are usually caught in the best fisheries.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I didn't feel like reading all the other responses so sorry if this has already been said.  Sometimes I'll check the lunar forecast before I go out (mainly using weather.com as well) but I've never really noticed any accuracy to it.  I've had it say the fishing is going to be slow and caught plenty of fish and I've had it say the fishing is going to be excellent and come up empty.  I don't use it to dictate whether I fish or not.  If I have the time and I wanna fish, I fish.  Sometimes when I get back, I'll look at the lunar chart and compare it to how I did just for fun but it's rare that it actually syncs up.  If I see its a new moon or a full moon or something like that, I may tell myself, 'the fishing is gonna be good tomorrow' but I really won't know for sure til I get to the lake and actually get my line wet.  Basically what I'm saying is, if you wanna fish, then go fish and don't worry so much about the lunar charts.

[derekxec]

i only pay attention to the harvest moon and the full moon.....harvest moon has been excellent fishing every year for me and full moons are awesome for snapper fishing

[mddrew88]

Thanks guys, lots of good info here. I still can't say that I know exactly how to benefit from the solar events, but I didn't really expect to learn overnight. Time to do some homework.

[Fishing Rhino]

Not me.  If the weather is not nasty, I'm going fishing regardless of what the lunar tables say.

 

I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty.  I'll definitely catch more fishing on a "poor Solunar" day than I will if I stay home because some fishing crystal ball prognostication says the fishing will be poor.

[bigbill]

I go most of the time anyway but I make sure I go when the moon phases are right. I fish by the mauori charts. My PB of 10lbs was caught when the mauori charts said good early. Make sure you figure the charts to your time zone. I think this is why so many don't believe.

Remember on the days the fish are biting the deer are moving too. I see deer all the time when the fish are biting.

[WRB]

Sorry Tom

1 1/2 hours prior to & 1 1/2 hours after the rise, set, directly over head, and directly under foot.

That's your major & minor periods as per Poor Richard's Almanac.

It does not take into consideration weather, season, water conditions, pre-spawn, spawn, post spawn and many other factors.

Oh yea without Mr. Hannon I've caught 30+ DD bass under numerous moon phases.

Only 30!

[Catt]

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

Define "hundreds", we all know how many Mr. Hannon caught!

[DogBone_384]

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.

'Ditto' - I follow the tables when my schedule allows and find the tables are fairly accurate

[bigbill]

The Mauori charts were dead on.

The most bass I ever caught at one time was when the moon phases were timed with a weather front during the full Moon phases. It happens once a year to me. The bass feeding frenzy is so extreme I swear they would bite a bare hook.

[Broc]

Yes, i do like to fish during full moons HOWEVER in my opinion, Weather > Sun rise/set >  Moon phase

 

Honestly i dont pay a whole lot of attention to moon phase other than look up at the sky.  From my experience current weather patterns have a much greater effect on the fishing. Although sun rise, sun set, moon rise, moon set can certainty open up brief feeding windows on tough days.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I go most of the time anyway but I make sure I go when the moon phases are right. I fish by the mauori charts. My PB of 10lbs was caught when the mauori charts said good early. Make sure you figure the charts to your time zone. I think this is why so many don't believe.

Remember on the days the fish are biting the deer are moving too. I see deer all the time when the fish are biting.

 

Now this I have noticed to be true.  I drive on a lot of country back roads for my job and if I see a lot of deer or really a lot of animals in general, the fishing usually tends to be good that day or the next morning.

[RAMBLER]

I think it is commendable that someone has taken the time to do the research and set up a table that tells us when the fish are going to bite. 

 

Now, if that person will bake and frost the cake I need for tonight's dinner at the church, go to the church early and set up for the dinner, and mow my lawn, I will be more than happy to go fishing. 

 

Not ranting, just saying.  Since I retired I fish about 3-4 times a month.  I don't have the luxury of picking and choosing when I go. 

 

When I was working two jobs, somehow I managed to fish 2-3 times a week.  This all seems to have gotten backwards somehow.  I guess priorities change.

 

God is good.

[derekxec]

really the only thing that will keep from going fishing is right before a hurricane comes...like the day before it hits i will never go fishing...not sure if its the same for everyone but wow on these days i have never even gotten a hit...i think it might have something to do with the barometer but i havent figured it out yet

[SudburyBasser]

I use the tables to convince a reluctant brother-in-law to go fishing -- his is the boat -- but outside of that I don't put a lot of stock in them. Some...but not a lot. 

[derekxec]

sorry i forgot to say that i go anyway but the if its a full moon or harvest moon that dictates the species ill go after

[WRB]

Define "hundreds", we all know how many Mr. Hannon caught!

My 1st DD LMB was caught Easter vacation back in '57 at lake Havasu on a live water dog; 11 lbs and may still be the lake record. Stopped keeping track of 10 to 14 lb LMB in '73 when I logged my 100th from Lower Otay. My best single day was 18 LMB , 10 bs class was on a Scrounger w/Sluggo at lake Castaic in May of '91. Started keep tract of 15+ lb LMB in '71, currently 17, top 5 LMB are:

17.3 lbs, 17.4 lbs, 19.3 lbs from lake Castiac

17.4 lb, 18.6 lbs from lake Casitas

All top 5 caught on hair jigs during pre spawn, and during the 5 days around the full moon. The fact I fished that week, every year when the water temp 58-60 degrees coincided with the full moon phase could be a big factor.

Have not caught a LMB 15 lbs since 2006. LMB 10 to 12 lbs were not uncommon at the lakes I fished, 15+ lbs are rare. I don't consider FLMB strain to be a trophy unless it exceeds 15 lbs in CA.

Tom

[lanzbass]

We use the , "Farmers Almanac ", all of my family have since my Great Grandfather! They seem to do a good job for letting you know when the best time the fish feed the most and they base it on the moons stages ...

[Nitrofreak]

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

Tom , it's not that we do not believe in what you guys have presented here in this forum, between you and Catt and anyone who post these SIGNIFICANT facts but honestly , a lot of us these days are chasing jobs that will allow us the time to simply pay our bills, would we love the same opportunities to spend as much time on the water , duh ! But seriously , we are only trying to take advantage of our very limited time on the water and really make the most of what little time that is.

I can't express how much these facts are appreciated , nor how much effort you guys put fourth , but the simple fact is we just don't have the time to fish like we wish we could , I for one can't thank you guys enough for putting this extremely detailed info out there for us to observe and learn by, but it's much more important for a lot of us to learn how to make the most of what very little time we have on the water any more .

Things are tight , really tight for a lot of us , we can't just pick and choose our time on the water as we used to do , guys like you and Catt and a lot of other folk here are tremendously knowledgeable because of your time on the water , your studies and advice are second to none anywhere we look , this fast paced world we live in now is no longer allowing us the spare time we once had , and the things we care most about are also fading away , from the bottom of my heart I can't thank you guys enough !!!