Lunar Cycle

[Bpett2552]

Do you guys think that the lunar cycle affects your bass fishing? I just read an article by a guy who believed that it didn't affect much, unless you were fishing at night where a full moon would just provide the angler with more light. I'm interested to hear your opinions on the subject. http://www.lurenet.com/blog/wrong-about-moon/

[Catt]

45 yrs of night fishing from April through October during every possible moon phase I've logged no distinct advantage of one phase over another.

[BiteFiend]

I don't necessarily catch more fish around a full moon but I do seem to catch bigger fish on average. I don't keep a fishing log though. So whether this is just coincidence or not, I can't prove. 

[fishballer06]

Bass fishing, I haven't noticed much of an effect with the moon phase. 

Walleye fishing, certain moon phases play a factor on how well I do. 

 

I fish in Canada for a week at a time, a few times a year, for the past ~20 years and the moon phase can certainly play a factor in the success of our week. 

[Onvacation]

Absolutely. If the moon phases is "wrong", I know exactly why I didn't catch any fish.  Wasn't my fault. I'd write more, but I Gotta run and see if this woman floats or sinks to determine if she's a witch or not. 

[papajoe222]

Other than the spawn, I don't believe any particular moon phase is better than another. However, I do think that the moon's position in the sky has a lot to do with feeding activity. Because from one day to the next, the time of day it rises and sets differs so much is the reason,IMO, you can see major activity occurring mid-day despite 'poor' conditions. 

I try to be on the water an hour or so before it peaks and have noticed recently  a major activity level occurring 2-2.5hrs. after. On my home water anyway. 

[bigbill]

First the Linder boys at Infisherman say if you want to catch trophy fish, go out during the full moon.

I fished by the mauri charts adjusting them to my time zone. My PB 10lbs was caught around 5:am when the charts said good early.

I fish at anytime but pay close attention to the charts and moon phases. I also watch the approaching weather fronts. About two hours before the front/rain hits the fish can put on the feed bag. During the warm rain they can turn on too. I wish I knew what actually causes this to time it better.

 

[WRB]

The fact that all my giant bass over 15 lbs caught over 45 years were pre spawn-spawn during  the 5 day period coinciding with the full & new moon phases is hard to ignor. I realize that 10 days of the 29 day moon cycle is about 1/3rd of the cycle.

I prefer to fish during full moon nights and that is when our local summer night derbies are scheduled.

Whn you believe in something it can motivate you to be on the water and stay focused on catching big bass and I only missed a few fishing pre spawns.

Tom

[bigbill]

Bravo

[Logan S]

It definitely effects the tides, so on tidal fisheries it can make a difference.  New/full moons will have stronger tides and quarter moons have weaker tides...and it effects the high and low.  So a new/full moon will have a slightly higher-high and lower-low (bigger swings).  Quarter moons will be the opposite, lower-highs and higher-lows (smaller swings).  It's not a huge difference but if you have something like strong winds up or down river on a day near a full/new moon you can have some pretty extreme highs or lows.  

I also believe full moons effect 'waves' of spawning fish.  You'll usually get bigger waves of fish moving up when a full moon coincides with the other optimal conditions for them to start heading to the banks.  I don't know if it effects the actual time they spawn, but it seems to at least effect when they head to the banks.  

I'm not fanatical about moon phases, but I pay attention when it's applicable to what I'm doing.  

[Bpett2552]

Thank you for all the responses so far. As usual, you guys always provide me with a plethora of useful information.

[A-Jay]

Seemed to make a difference today ~

A-Jay

[Catt]

When we throw out the word "spawn", we have changed the entire discussion!

[frosty]

The farmers almanac says all this week and weekend is in the best catagory for fishing. Now if it wasn't going to be a million degrees out with 200,000 % humidity, this fat boy might go fishing!

[Bankbeater]

I get out on the water when I can.  I don't worry about the moon.

[blckshirt98]

Crud, I was gonna take this weekend off but now I might go out because of the current moon phase.

[Turtle135]

4 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

Fantastic! I was unfortunately going to have to take this weekend off but now I am excited to get out there fishing because of the current moon phase!

I fixed that for you!

[BobP]

Except for the spawn period when they key in on full moon periods, and for tidal waters where the moon phase controls the strength and timing of tides, my experience is that fishing during the daytime during a full moon period is worse than other times.  My best times are usually during the new moon period.  I believe the darkest nights curtail bass success in finding forage, which makes for hungrier bass during the daytime.  Same for overcast weather at night.  That said, like most, I go fishing when I can, not when the witch doctor says the time is right. 

[Catt]

On 7/20/2016 at 3:32 PM, WRB said:

The fact that all my giant bass over 15 lbs caught over 45 years were pre spawn-spawn during  the 5 day period coinciding with the full & new moon phases is hard to ignor. I realize that 10 days of the 29 day moon cycle is about 1/3rd of the cycle.

I prefer to fish during full moon nights and that is when our local summer night derbies are scheduled.

Whn you believe in something it can motivate you to be on the water and stay focused on catching big bass and I only missed a few fishing pre spawns.

Tom

Were those bass located where they were because of the moon or because of the spawn?

The spawn is only 4 months out of 12, kinda hard to look at evidence that ignores 8 months of the year. 

Even when I day fish I enter moon phase into my spread sheets & after sorting by moon phase nothing jumps out at ya!

The only thing that does jump out is the month of August; I've caught more big bass, big stringers, & bigger averages during the dog days of summer!

[WRB]

Don't believe the moon phase has a major impact outside of the 3 to 4 months of pre spawn through spawn. Don't have enough long term experience with summer nights, the full moon and new moon phase are the nights I been able to night fish. Low light periods have always been an advantage for big bass for me; light rain, very early morning or late afternoon during full or new moon phases.

The 8 months outside of the spawn cycle I catch very few giant bass, none after May.

Tom

[Josh Smith]

My observation is that it's a recessive factor; that a full or new moon adds to already favorable conditions but has little to no impact on poor fishing conditions. Same with hunting.

Critters, both terrestrial and aquatic, seem to get worked up over the same conditions, like the approach of foul weather. Increased activity has been traditionally observed during full moons. This extends to humans as well. I worked in a nursing home for a year and full moons were dreaded by the staff because they were directly linked to an increase in dementia-related behaviors. However, the modern nursing home is also conducive to these behaviors; it's viewed as kinder to not reorient the patient and let the delusion play out unless it becomes dangerous.

In a more restricted environment, would the moon have the same effect? I bet not.

A bass in the presence of baitfish with a front approaching will probably feed slightly more heavily in the presence of a full moon than not. 

Josh

[Catt]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

The 8 months outside of the spawn cycle I catch very few giant bass, none after May.

Tom

Exactly!

Ya catching em because of the spawn not the moon phase. If it were the moon phase it would continue all year.

Humans are "visual" creatures, relying heavily on eyesight; this is the #1 attraction for humans to the full moon.

One would be quite surprised by how much you can see on a clear moonless night.

Bass are predators, they like ambushing their prey, night covers up their presents.

Man was created hunters...some of us have forgotten how!

[drew4779]

I only reference lunar tables when planning an out of town trip.  I want to give myself as best a chance as possible if driving hours to catch bass.  Since doing this, all my trips has been successful (over the last 10 years).  I can't say this is the reason why I've experienced such a good streak, there could be many other factors, but I will continue to do this until it stops working.  When fishing close to home, I don't even bother looking at them.

[hoosierbass07]

A few years ago I bought the fishing/hunting lunar calendar that is published in Bassmaster magazine.  Although I didn't notice anything about the moon phases and my catch rates (because I couldn't go fishing at the best moon times because of work) it was fun to look at and read.  I think everyone should buy this calendar and hang it up at least once.  It may not be scientific but it's still fun to look at for one year. 

http://www.primetimes2.com/pages/02-catalog.html