How many of you, Fish like this?

[WRB]

Take a look at The Cosmic Clock and Bass Calender, there is a lot put into that however as Catt likes to point out bass can't read, there ain't no shot cuts. I believe this will get anyone started in the right direction.

Tom

*search cosmic clock

[Looking for the big one]

22 hours ago, Scott F said:

What is it about the different moon phases that could possibly affect fresh water bass? Gravity? The combination of the sun and the moon causes the tides in oceans, but fresh water lakes are far too small to have tides. Your boat has more gravitational pull on a bass than the moon does. Light? If you fish during the day, the moon is generally not visible. How could the moon change how fish behave?

The only thing I know about the moon phasing is that in the warmer months a full moon or bright moon makes the fishing worse during the day because the fish are more tuned into biting at night when it is cooler and theoretically easier for them because of the moonlight. When there is a new moon the day bite should be at its peak, but conditions can change that. I haven't tried night fishing yet, but a buzz bait on a late summer night with a nice bright full moon is on my list. Crickets and bullfrogs on the background. Then a toilet flush strike and a hook set, a minute later pulling a 10+ pounder into the boat. Dang winter is getting to my head.

[FloridaFishinFool]

Here in central Florida I would say barometric pressure does affect the fish and my fishing.

When a cold front is approaching colder air is heavier and this weight pushes down on the surface of the water and I think fish can sense and feel this change in pressure before the temperature starts to drop. And when this happens the fish tend to go deep and stay there and feed less and are harder to catch until the reverse begins to happen when the air temps begin to rise, the atmospheric pressure is lifting up taking pressure off the surface of the lakes and rivers and the fish then begin to come up move around more and are more active at feeding and are easier to catch.

So yeah barometric pressure does have an effect on when I go fishing. When I know a cold front is coming, sometimes there is a feeding frenzy in front of it, but timing for that still eludes me and it is hit and miss, but if I know barometric pressure is increasing rapidly due to an approaching cold front, quite often I won't even bother to go bass fishing.

Another "issue" for lack of a better word that sometimes plays a roll in whether I wet a line or not is something my father taught me. This was something his father had taught him back in the 1930's before our instant weather updates and modern weather predicting. Back then they often just looked out the window to see if the weather was good enough to go fishing, and usually they were fishing for food to feed the family so it was more important to them when putting food on the table versus sport fishing catch and release we see today.

My dad said that cows and birds feed on cycles that go hand in hand with moon phases. I don't recall him saying their feeding cycles had anything to do with the weather though... so the old saying my dad taught me was that when the cows are laying down and the birds aren't flying then the fish are not biting. But if the cows are up and feeding and the birds are flying around, then go fishing!

To this day I often wonder how valid this old timey information really is. Around here when I drive down to the river I pass by quite a few different cow pastures and find it kind of funny to pass one and see the cows laying down and birds sitting on the power wires overhead, and then drive a little further on and see that in the next pasture the cows are all up and feeding. So how do I judge this I can only wonder?

But regardless of how true or not this old methodology really is, I still tell it to my own sons and pass it on down to the next generation as it was done to me.

 

[MFBAB]

On 1/25/2016 at 6:43 AM, Scott F said:

What is it about the different moon phases that could possibly affect fresh water bass? Gravity? The combination of the sun and the moon causes the tides in oceans, but fresh water lakes are far too small to have tides. Your boat has more gravitational pull on a bass than the moon does. Light? If you fish during the day, the moon is generally not visible. How could the moon change how fish behave?

Richard Alden Knight (originator of Solunar Theory) wrote in his book that lab research showed all sorts of ocean creatures reacting to the solunar periods, rise and fall of the sun and moon.

The point is, they weren't in the water or experiencing high or low tide, they weren't even exposed to light, but they still kept on the schedule. 

Having said that, there is nothing I've seen on the water or read, and I've read a lot on it, that convinces me that there is anything more than a marginal advantage at best to fishing during certain phases or solunar periods...except, during the spawn.  Everything in the lake hits the bank during those full moons in the spring, the timing varies by species (white bass, then crappie, then bass, then bream in my area), some spawn earlier than others, etc...but don't take my word for it, get a list of full moon dates for this spring and see if it isn't true  

[scaleface]

I  have bad days under  good conditions . I just chalk it up to me fishing poorly those days .

[CarlF]

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2016 at 4:34 AM, Bankbeater said:

I can only get out on the water about once a week, usually on the weekends.  I go regardless of the moon.

This ^

At some point in my life, I will be able to pick and choose when I go fishing. At this point, I go when I can, and deal with whatever elements happen to occur at the time.

[scaleface]

When the owls are hooting the fish are biting .  Being I can imitate an owl real well , i ought to be able to put the fish in a  positive feeding mood . I'll try that this year .

[Nitrofreak]

9 minutes ago, scaleface said:

When the owls are hooting the fish are biting .  Being I can imitate an owl real well , i ought to be able to put the fish in a feeding mod . I'll try that this year .

Be sure and let us know how that works out for ya, I may just have to take up a new technique LOL !!

[Jigfishn10]

4 minutes ago, Nitrofreak said:

Be sure and let us know how that works out for ya, I may just have to take up a new technique LOL !!

What happened to the stick of dynamite technique you usually employ after say....10 minutes of casting practice?

[tander]

I have a good friend who is in charge of the state mental institution and he said that it is something to having a full moon. I believe there is something to the full moon affecting different things but I have no proof of it . I do know I went to the dentist on a full moon. He gave me all the shots he could give and never got me completely numb. I don't got to the dentist or the doctor on a full moon if I got a choice, no use in taking a chance.

[FloridaFishinFool]

You know, I always wanted to try the electro-shock method to see what I could shock up out of our lakes and rivers! I know how the state does it, and I know how to do it too, but it is also illegal... shame! And it does not hurt the fish or have any lasting negative effects I am aware of, just a temporary stunning, and they float up. Simple as that! Even the biggest bass can not outrun an electrical shocking!

I'd never need a hook, lure, live bait or rod and reel again!

[A-Jay]

27 minutes ago, scaleface said:

When the owls are hooting the fish are biting .  Being I can imitate an owl real well , i ought to be able to put the fish in a  positive feeding mood . I'll try that this year .

 

That's a new one on me - but you better believe I'm trying it.

A-Jay

[Catt]

There have been numerous books, articles, clocks, charts, ect. Published on this great mystery of bass fishing. A lot of the authors of these publications go through great lengths explaining how difficult it is to determine these times. It is really quite simple to determine these times for yourself with a little inside information. River and salt water publications go through great lengths explaining how difficult it is to determine tidal movements. The reality is that these best times and tidal movements are related to the moon's phases.

People in animal husbandry, farming, hunting, and fishing have used the moons phases for centuries. One of the oldest publications giving this information is the "Poor Richard's Almanac". The moon's phases are divided into four quarters, two of which are your minor times, and two of which are your major times.

The times for the major periods are as follows
An hour and a half prior the moon reaching its apex
An hour and a half prior to the moon reaching its perigee
The major periods are the first quarter new moon and the third quarter full moon.
The gravitational pull of the sun and moon is three times greater on the new moon than the full moon. At the time of the new moon the earth has the moon and the sun in a straight line pulling together. This first quarter, dark night phase differs from the third quarter full moon phase when the earth moves between the moon and the sun. The new moon dark night is only difficult on the angler because you must rely on your sense of feel when working your bait. If you want to really learn how to fish baits that require a lot of feel like worm or jigs try new moon nights.

The times for the minor periods of these moon phases are as follows
An hour and a half prior to the raising of the moon on the horizon.
An hour and a half prior to the setting of the moon.

Now take into consideration the above listed times you end up with 3 hrs. of major time periods and 3 hrs. of minor times periods. This does not take into account weather, seasons, or your ability to locate fish!

[Nitrofreak]

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

What happened to the stick of dynamite technique you usually employ after say....10 minutes of casting practice?

You say that as if it's a bad thing, besides, I'm all about trickin some finicky ladies into biting my worm, whatever helps right !! LOL !!

[Jigfishn10]

9 minutes ago, Nitrofreak said:

You say that as if it's a bad thing, besides, I'm all about trickin some finicky ladies into biting my worm, whatever helps right !! LOL !!

I can't comment on this...That just doesn't read right!

[Nitrofreak]

19 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I can't comment on this...That just doesn't read right!

If hooting around a body of water gets the fish to bite then who am I to argue, there, does that simplify it enough for ya ??? LOL !!!

[Worm Man 2020]

BING, BING, BING !!!!!!!

Catt, your the man!

Ben Franklin published from Dec. 28, 1732-1758. Under Richard Saunders.

Then it was changed to "Poor Richards Almanack" and the rest is history!  FYI: That was, how it was spelled, also.....

That was, 284 years, our fore fathers, thought Ben was pretty smart.

Secret: They hide stuff in these, They called them books!  Answer: Knowledge.......

Great debate.....Everyone won, that one...

 

[Worm Man 2020]

Catt, Any Political Aspirations?

Just a thought, Not a sermon.....

Sounds like, your a person, that looks at " ALL"  the factors, That, might improve, ones final outcome.

Mike Iaconelli , said; The Hydro-wave only works 30% of the time. Now as I professional, do I want something that, might give me an advantage?

His response; Definitely !!!!!!!!!!!

Tight Lines.

[Catt]

Political aspirations...uhh no!

I wrote that back in the 70s & after years of night fishing I've long since graduated beyond it.

The only correlation I've observed between moon phases & fishing is in tidal movements.

I usually start night fishing during the April full moon & continue through the October full moon & have done quite well during every moon phase.

i fish with the same techniques, with the same lures, in the same colors, on the same locations as I would during the day. If it was working during the day it will continue working at night, bass do not morph into a new creature when the sun sets.

The only thing different I add to my repertoire at night is a Q-Beam!

[LittlePineyAngler]

Personally i don't pay any attention to the moon phases. Especially this time of year when you're a fool not to get a line in the water when you get some nice weather. I'm so busy that anytime i can get out is a good day. Im no pro by any means, but sticking to what i know and being patient is what i do most of the time when approaching a day of fishing. I refer to my grandpa a lot in these threads but thats where most of my knowledge comes from. lol As he would always tell me when in doubt "Keep it simple stupid"

[everythingthatswims]

I go when I can, but sometimes the conditions tell me that I need to get a friend to cover my shift at work or tell my friends that I'm busy and can't hang out that day 

[Choporoz]

OP, if the waters you're coming down to fish are tidal Potomac waters, then the tide tables are what you should be studying (and thus, indirectly, the moon phases.)

[Worm Man 2020]

On ‎2‎/‎2‎/‎2016 at 10:35 AM, Choporoz said:

OP, if the waters you're coming down to fish are tidal Potomac waters, then the tide tables are what you should be studying (and thus, indirectly, the moon phases.)

Thank you for comment,

Talking about putting two and two together! That was, my thought process, when I first joined this site. Sense then, with all the great informative answers/opinions received from members, it has morphed into tidal migrations and learning my pray. Not to mention navigation & boat positioning.

I'd love to fish Potomac River, once I'm more educated.

I'm Fishing on Lake Moultrie & Lake Marion down in S.C. I have family & home in that region, most friends fish inter-coastal waterways and off-shore. (guess, I'll be getting Boston Whaler, in future)

Since, I'm novice boater, I've tricked out, my New Tracker, Pro Team190 TX, w/90Mercury 4-stroke, with the best equipment, for safely navigating, most waters, I'll ever fish.

New to fishing, I need all the help, I can get.

Any Pointers?

Any advice would be greatly, appreciated.

 

["hamma"]

Many years ago i tried to log all the parameters, and it just got me more confused than when i started the log. What i did figure out is.,....the fish are in the water,....lmao. Being that I was engaged in tourneys at that time I relied on "the fish are in the water" more often. i just fished whatever the parame.ters threw at me that day and figured that i need to catch a decent bag to place. id watch my finder carefully in the am, add up the waters color, clarity, wind direction for the last few days and seasonal patterns and gave it my best shot for the first hour or two with search type baits , if i didnt hook up yet, id change to something slower and smaller and so on and so on. when i finally hook up,...its time to asess if a pattern can be determined 

 Now ,...Do parameters have effect on the fish?

 Of course they do, but to actually use them to your advantage you would need to consider what the parameters did to the fish for the previous week or so to be spot on, Considering all the variables for the past week or so and storing all that info to fish one day? You'd need to have supercomputer for a brain  , or,. fish every day to stay on top of them.. And as any tourney angler knows there is usually off limits for a week or two on the lake your going to fish the t on. so fishing "every" day doesnt apply..

So,. to answer the original questions?   I let "all" the parameters "direct" me to techniques and tactics within "each" lure im using, area i choose and direction i fish in, But i refuse to let them dictate.

Many a day i left the ramp thinking of one pattern, to only have it fail,... and have the exact opposite pan out,..then yet there have been days I was spot on to begin with.

If its windy i'll start with a spinnerbait, one that fits the waters " conditions" if that doesn't work ill move on to a jerkbait

If its cloudy a top water,.,,. sunny i'll flip docks with a jig and pig.,...... and so on,.... but the key is???? i know how to fish these lures and many many more

 what im getting at is you need to go with "your" strengths and fish what you have confidence in. I can tell you what to fish and where but if you have no confidence in it ,.. it wont work.

 If you want to learn a new lure you are going to have to fish with it for some time and gain confidence in it before you can be consistent with it.

Me telling you to use a 3 inch kalins smoke with silver flake grub on a 1/4 oz darter jighead along the sides of  weed edges in 12 feet of semi-clear waters during a slight ripple on the waters surface in 70 degree water temps in mid summer with the sun to your back is a great tip,....but you will need to fish it for a while before you get good at it

 It all takes time, and trial by error

 As far as turn-over? its a crap shoot in my eyes,  the fish are everywhere,... best bet is to find the bait, and fish around them with a match the hatch lure,...at least thats what i do,... if that doesnt panout i will fish every different water depth til i find what they are relating to that day and stick with it , cuz tommorrow will be different

 just my .02