Lunar Tables - How does everyone use them in their plan

[fishintroop]

We have all heard about the peak times and moon phases. How does everyone figure them into their attack plans and patterns (if at all) when fishing a body of water?

[Daniel A.]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

[farmpond1]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

Ditto.  I wish I had the luxury of choosing when I get to fish.  But I don't (not really anyway) so the lunar table doesn't factor in.  Am not sure I believe in it anyway.

[Surgin]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

Yep couldn't agree more.

[WRB]

The moon's position effects nearly all animals, including bass, and is an important factor to be considered. It's a lot easier to catch active bass, then inactive bass. I try to be at my best locations during the times when bass are most active; and lunar, solar, weather, water temperature, seasonal periods, other bass fishermen, all factor in to my day on the water.

Do I fish on poor lunar times? Yes, I fish whenever I can, like everyone else, but I take lunar affects into consideration.

WRB

[SnowBass23]

I've looked at lunar tables but never put much faith in it.

[Triton21]

I have used these tables for over 30 years and I know the work.  You non-believers just keep believing the way you do so I and and the rest of the believers can catch more fish and kill more and bigger game.

Kelley

[Daniel A.]

I have used these tables for over 30 years and I know the work. You non-believers just keep believing the way you do so I and and the rest of the believers can catch more fish and kill more and bigger game.

Kelley

It's not a matter of not believing. It's just my fishing schedule doesn't exactly line up with lunar tables. :

[Team9nine]

For bass, nearly worthless (IMHO).....

For confidence, if it works for you, then that's great!

-T9

[SLO_ROLL]

There was a big thread on this awhile back.

[dallas0996]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

Ditto. I wish I had the luxury of choosing when I get to fish. But I don't (not really anyway) so the lunar table doesn't factor in. Am not sure I believe in it anyway.

If you had the luxury of choosing when you get to fish....wouldn't it be...ALWAYS! ?? It would for me.. ;D ;D ;D

[Matt Fly]

I like to glance at them in the spring for the first big wave of spawners that normally comes in when the temps are ball park for spawning.

You have to remember, these charts are written years in advance, and don't take into effect of the passing fronts we recieve during those months.  When its a cloudy all day.

  So for the most part, its during the spring for the spawn.   I'm going when the opportuniity arises, even when it says POOR on the charts.

Goes back to Rule #1,    

A Bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.    Anytime!!!!

[farmpond1]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

Ditto. I wish I had the luxury of choosing when I get to fish. But I don't (not really anyway) so the lunar table doesn't factor in. Am not sure I believe in it anyway.

If you had the luxury of choosing when you get to fish....wouldn't it be...ALWAYS! ?? It would for me.. ;D ;D ;D

Perhaps not always but purtnear.

[fishintroop]

Trust me, they don't factor into when I fish.  I fish whenever I can.  My thoughts were should I be keying on what I believe are the hotspots during the peak times, and does the peak times dictate in anyway what might be a hotspot.   I'm probably over complicating this, but I'd like to hear more of TR21 or WRB strategies.

[Catt]

There is no single controlling factors but rather a combination of factors all playing a roll.

[Hammer 4]

I usually check the barometric pressure along with the weather, i.e. cold fronts ect. But like the others, I fish when I can, rain or shine, windy or calm..ect.

Just for those wondering...could you elaborate Catt..?

There is no single controlling factors but rather a combination of factors all playing a roll.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Because I can't fish anytime I like, I don't let lunar tables sway me from fishing. If I have the chance, I'm going. If I happen to fish during peak lunar times, so be it. Fish when you can.

Wow, this pretty much sums it up for the majority of us! I wish i had the luxury of choosing when i go fishing. Unfortunately, my company does it for me, LOL!

[Catt]

While I absolutely believe that the moon affects all life on earth and it is what causes tidal movement in all bodies of water regardless of how small.

Moon phase is but one part of the total picture you still have to take into account bait fish activity, weather, seasons, water conditions & your ability to locate fish!

Each trip out I strive to control the things I have power over; boat control, lure selections, techniques, locations and so forth.

[Sam]

Moon phases are supposed to have an affect on all animals, especially largemouth bass.

This has been known for generations.

Usually, the most productive time to fish is a week before and three days after a full moon.

Some guys think the new moon is also a good time to fish.

The moon affects our gravity and tides and supposedly this sparks fish activity.

In fact, some old bass fishermen watch the full moon to determine when the bass will start to spawn.  They swear that the moon's phases have a direct effect on the fish and the fish's habits.

With this in mind, you have to take other factors into consideration, such as the water temperature, water clarity, pH factors, oxygen levels, wind, cold fronts, weather conditions for starters.

Each year I note the dates of the full moon and make an orange circle on my calendar, knowing that it is best to fish a week before, the day of, and two or three days after the full moon.

Does it work all the time?  No, it does not.  But at least it signals me to start checking the weather for this time of the month.  

[CODbasser]

i dont use them unless its in the spring...if i think the bass might be on the bed... i look at the moon phase...if its a full moon, the water is over 55 and its spring of the year there will be fish shallow, 10 ft of water or less..a couple weeks ago i fished a tourney at smith mtn lake and the water was in the upper 50s and it was the day after the full moon..the bass where really shallow..i found a couple on the bed also

[Catt]

While many people believe the full moon to have the most effect the gravitational pull of the sun and moon is three times greater on the new moon than the full moon.

I normally prefer fishing during the full moon vs. the new moon because it is easier for the bass & angler to connect; the light from the full moon illuminates the bait against the surface for more contrast.

It is more difficult to fish the new moon because it is harder to keep my boat off of stumps

What the moon does

It causes a tidal moment in a body of water

This positions the bait fish on a certain point on the structure

This in turn positions the bass

This allows the angler to locate the bass easier.

[zaraspook_dylan2]

I always hear about the different moon phases making the fishing better/worse. But I never put it into my plan. If it is a tournament im preparing for I may look at them, but generally I stay away from them.

I just like getting out on the water, whether its a certain moon phase or not.

[Paul Roberts]

I'm skeptical (although I go in to everything that way). Several things bother me:

-Angling is a lousy sampling method way too many intervening factors.

-Anglers (many of renown) have published moon theories that, collectively, cover every possible period of the lunar month. They can't all be right. Smacks of a statistical black hole that could be explained by all the intervening variables present in angling, and our penchant for grasping at straws.

-The statistics on lunar phases on available (albeit generally poor) angling data sets I've seen just don't hold up.

-So far, science has found nothing (as far as I've seen) that corroborates any of this. In fact, the few things out there I've seen show nothing.

There's one place I believe I've seen possible influence, and that is in spawn timing. I've spent the last two seasons, (and am half way into this season) observing and documenting the spawn on small ponds. There is a clumping of activity around the full and new moons, but so far I cannot quite separate it from temperature influence -which is strong. It may yet turn out that that clumping is simply coincidental. I'm not jumping to any conclusions.

[Catt]

Tidal movements coincide with the moons rising, setting, when it's over head and when it's underfoot. When the moon rises, sets, is over head, and underfoot can be timed years in advance. This repositioning of bait by tidal movement is what causes the bass to become active and is why it applies to every moon phases.

[Paul Roberts]

But Catt, there are no tides in most bass waters.