Full Moon

[Bruce Slightom]

I just read the poll regarding bananas. I fish with guys that believe that bananas are bad luck. They also believe that the full moon has no influence on the fishing. I am talking about freshwater fishing.

A few years ago during a full moon you could sit in the parking lot at midnight and read a newspaper, the moon was that bright. I was fishing the lower Klamath. There were lots of fish in the river but the bite was off except early and late in the day. I had three guys that were very good fishermen. Around noon we had maybe ten fish to hand. As we were having lunch some cloud cover moved in, and the fishing turned on for the rest of the day. I have encountered the situation many times where on a full moon the fishing goes dour.

I would like to hear what others have encountered and your thoughts.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Hi Bruce,

I have 2 full moon stories:

We drove up to Pyramid Lake out of Reno, Nevada in mid-winter. When we were buying our fishing permit from the native Americans up there I saw an old timer sitting off by himself. I asked him how the fishing was. He said, "Big moon, no fish." He was right on for that trip.

We went to El Pescador Lodge in Belize some time back and the owners told me they had about 17 years of records of the daily fishing at the lodge. They told me not to come on a full moon because the tarpon fishing was not good then.

I don't care about the "banana deal" but I don't like a full moon.

[Darian]

Hmmmm,.... I believe that a full moon phase does affect the way that fish feed and whether they feel exposed. 8) 8) In the case of Pelagic fish, I'm not sure that it changes their feeding interval as much as it impacts when/where they feed. It seems to me that feeding becomes more of a nocturnal activity since exposure to predation is probably reduced during these lower light phases. 8)

As for anadromlous species, I'm sure that they're affected by permitting migration without exposure and enhancing feeding at night.... While in fresh water, all anadromous fish are exposed to predation from above by being in shallow water (compared to where they came from). I believe that the majority of Salmon and Steelhead choose to migrate at night or under low light conditions/periods (water levels permitting) as part of their strategy to reach spawning areas, safely. 8) 8)

Native Americans long ago realized the value of using a monofilament nets to take Salmon/Steelhead at night in their fisheries.... 8) 8)

I guess what makes it good or bad is that in some areas there're regulations against fishing at night. Thus, night feeding or migration makes a full moon is a bad thing. 8) 8) 8)

Anyawy, that's my story and I'm stickin' too it. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[2short]

Not fishing related but while hunting mulies in Texas just before and after the full moon the hunting turned sour. But at night you could see deer feeding on the hill sides and right before the sun came up they would retreat to their beds.

[Darian]

I guess I can understand that because I've been know to howl at a full moon, myself (when I was much younger, of course :lol: :lol: :lol: )

[Jgoding]

I've briefly looked into the phenomenon of the big moon and fishing a little while ago. It's not so much that the moon full moon puts down the fish it's that their feeding periods change and they are less likely to be actively feeding at the usual key times as the full moon allows for more night feeding (I think that's how I intepreted it). But there are other factors as well but nothing has ever been proven. Personally, I've had good and bad days with the moon out, half moon, no moon, actually, I'll admit, pretty much everyday is a full moon day for me when I'm fishing..... errr I'm just practicing my casting...

Jeff

[lee s.]

We have fished trout on a full moon at night on a heavily fished pay to play pond three seasons running in March. Did REAL well useing minnow immies. :paranoid: Big fish eat little fish. :wink:
We have fished LM's at night on a full moon often. Sometimes doing well, sometimes not good at all. :?
We have fished stripers at night during a full moon often. Again, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. :?
Guess that doesn't help much, huh? :roll:
I know we DO like fishing a full moon night (or any night) where legal.....less crowds than daytime fishing. \:D/
.....lee s.

[Neal Humphrey]

I can show you how to win big at casinos using the solunar tables ...

[Jgoding]

LOL neal, I really laughed at that one..

Jeff

[jbird]

Fish are in the middle of the survival food chain, that is to say, they are opportunistic feeders. If the full moon allows them to see better and eat at night, then theyll eat at night. does that mean theyre too full to eat during the day? I doubt it. I think there is something more scientific going on. From my experiences, nothing affects fish behaviour more than radically changing berometric pressure. What exactly happens to fish during these changes, I dont know. But I think there is a similar phenomenon with the moon. Gravitational pull??? I dont really know. But I dont buy the fish are too full cause theyve been eating all night.

Jay

[Rob]

I know that it does not seem to affect the Logan or blacksmiths rivers or spawn Creek here in Utah. :) Our best days of fishing have been on a new moon or when this moon chart says it should be a bad day to fish . :?: http://www.fishsniffer.com/moonphase/july06.html
Cody and I fished the 10 th and 24th of July on Logan for a few hrs each day and landed 12-15 fish each and lost 1/2 as many and missed a tons of fish . But this river does run through a canyon and has trees that over hang the river . We also fished Spawn creek after a full moon which is out in the open with no trees at all . :?: So I would never stay home from fishing a RIVER because of the moon.

Rob

[David Lee]

I can show you how to win big at casinos using the solunar tables ...

:)

Already learned it from Ed Zern .

David :D

[jbird]

I have heard from folks who really pay attention to these details, that the best time to fish is during a waining moon, or the week following a full moon. I have definitely noticed more than a few skunkings on full moons on lakes and rivers. Gotta blame something tho, right? :lol:

[Hairstacker]

This topic was discussed here once before. Here's what I said last time on this subject:

In Douglas "The Bass Professor" Hannon's book, "Big Bass Magic," he details the results of a study of big largemouth bass he had caught during various moon phases. He charted the results of 307 big (5-16 pound) bass against the lunar phases and found that he typically experienced the best fishing (catch rates per hour) for big bass during the dark moon, except during the summer and winter when his catch rates were highest during the full moon. Interestingly, he experienced his lowest catch rates during the spring and fall around the full moon.

He also reviewed the IGFA listings of world records and found that the 3 days on each side of the full and dark moons plus the day of each 1/2-moon produced 73% of the world records from 1970 through 1979. The world records for striper hybrid, redeye bass, rock bass, spotted bass, redear sunfish, warmouth, red breast sunfish, sauger, and tiger trout were ALL caught within a 3-day period on either side of the full moon. As of that point in time, the world records for striped bass and smallmouth bass had also been set during this 3-day timeframe around the full moon. In fact, looking at the graph, it appears the world record striped bass was caught on the very day of the full moon.

On the other hand, I tracked my largemouth bass catch rates over a season against lunar phases and found absolutely no correlation either way. I concluded it's best to go fishing whenever you can and haven't paid attention to lunar phases since.

By the way, Hannon also found that most of his really big bass (over 10 lbs) were caught between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. This coming from a guy who had literally caught 100's (over 400?) of such fish by the time of the book's publication.

[Neal Humphrey]

David Lee --

I'm a member of the Madison Avenue Rod, Gun, Bloody Mary & Labrador Retriever Benevolent Association.

And I can show you how to train a Labrador Retriever using the solunar tables ...

[David Lee]

Neal -

The world is a worse place without Ed Zern in it .

David :( :(

[Darian]

Hmmmm,.... Just how many items are on the list of things you can do using the solunar tables :?: :?: :?: Actually, I'm really interested in the one about winning at the casino's :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Neal Humphrey]

I can even show you how to prepare a Sunday morning sermon using the solunar tables ...

[Rob]

Now if I saw this in the shy I would definity not go fishing !!! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/rgkempton/Life/sky.jpg

[Jgoding]

The sign of the fishing apocalypse..LOL