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How Much Does Full Moon Effect Day Fishing? 2024


fishing user avatardday07 reply : 

always seem to do good at diamond valley lake here in cal.(1 of top lakes in country)but have a tough time on the days there is a full moon.how many out there think the full moon effects the day fishing?(5 dollar bet going with my bro on this one)


fishing user avatarkms399 reply : 

for me when there is a full moon I pretty much only fish evening or really early morning as in 3 am. It seems like whenever I get out after a full moon the fishing is terrible, sunday I caught 1 little 3 lb snot rocket for 5 hours of fishing throwing everything from spinnerbaits, crankbaits, shakyhead just about every soft plastic I own. the pike came on a walk the dog topwater at around 6 30 am. I was late to the launch and didn't even launch till 6. I fished big stuff and little stuff and in depths from 0-20 ft I just couldn't get on them!


fishing user avatarbassgrabber1 reply : 

I heard that about DVL...I usually do pretty good at Perris when there is a full moon..... I try not to follow the moon phase to much for lake fishing.


fishing user avatarNick reply : 

Many think that in clear water lakes, the bite is tougher during the day in the warm water period during the full moon. The bass seem to prefer night feeding then.


fishing user avatarNorcalBassin reply : 

Around the spawn I seem to do really well but other parts of the year it pretty much stinks (during the day).


fishing user avatarjeb2 reply : 

Agreed. It really depends on the body of water, time of year and weather. I for sure have not had better luck fishing during the day after a full moon most of the year. Usually it's worse.


fishing user avatarHEEF reply : 

I think the moon phase has alot to do with the fishing. When it is clear nights during the full moon phase the fish are much more active. They can see better so they take advantage of the extra light for hunting, they are ambush predators. I think this is really evident on clear bodies of water, during the day the fish are just chilling out more I think. It can be really tough fishing around full moons. I agree with kms399 you have to get on them super early or in the evenings. I get really frustrated fishing around this moon phase, but some fishing is better than no fishing at all!


fishing user avatarWRB reply : 
  On 10/13/2011 at 11:11 PM, HEEF said:

I think the moon phase has alot to do with the fishing. When it is clear nights during the full moon phase the fish are much more active. They can see better so they take advantage of the extra light for hunting, they are ambush predators. I think this is really evident on clear bodies of water, during the day the fish are just chilling out more I think. It can be really tough fishing around full moons. I agree with kms399 you have to get on them super early or in the evenings. I get really frustrated fishing around this moon phase, but some fishing is better than no fishing at all!

The full moon has a direct affect on tides and nearly every living creature on earth, including fish.

bass (LMB, SM, Spots) time the start of major spawning activity with the 1st full moon phase, so it affects the pre spawn and spawn periods.

The light the full moon adds to night affects the insect and other animal activity during the summer period.

I haven't experienced any positive affect the full moon has during the cold water or winter period, the sun warming the water has a much bigger affect during the winter.

Tom

PS; DVL is still in the late summer early fall transition (70 degree water)and targeting threadfin shad. Shad hide during the low light periods in cover and move out into open water during the sun light periods to feed on phytoplankton. Shorter days = less light, the shad stay deeper.

Tom


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

Pay attention to when the moon raises and sets ;)

Example for today:

The time for the first major feeding period is an hour and a half prior the moon reaching its apex which is now.

The time for the first minor feeding period is an hour and a half prior to the setting of the moon.

The time for the second major feeding period is an hour and a half prior the moon reaching its perigee.

The time for the second minor feeding period is an hour and a half prior to the raising of the moon on the horizon.

This does not take into account weather, seasons, or your ability to locate fish!


fishing user avatarHyrule Bass reply : 

or sometimes you can just throw all the scientific overthinking mumbo jumbo to the side and just fish


fishing user avatarWRB reply : 

Catt tried to make it simple; anyone can take a minute to look at the moon phase and determine it's location in reference to the horizon. Does the position of a full or new moon make any difference? It's a factor to consider when trying to be at the right place at the right time.

The full moon phase is so important to me I take time off work to fish the 5 day periods around the full moon during pre-spawn transtition to spawn. I plan my night fishing for the same 5 day full moon phase.

Tom


fishing user avatardday07 reply : 

thanks for the replies,i think i have enough here to win the bet...LOL!


fishing user avatarscrutch reply : 

I think it's got a lot to do with HOW MUCH light. I think that bass start feeding when the light conditions are right for their style of feeding.

I believe that the bass feed all night during a CLEAR full moon night. Not so much on a CLOUDY full moon night.

I believe the bass are just full from feeding all night after the CLEAR night, and are just starting to feed before sunrise after a CLOUDY full moon night.

I love to fish those nights when you can see all the way across the lake and you don't need lights to see. They're always a great time to catch lots of bass.

SO...

Clear full moon night... Fish at night.

Cloudy full moon night...fish sunrise & sunset.


fishing user avatarRHuff reply : 
  On 10/15/2011 at 1:31 AM, WRB said:

Catt tried to make it simple; anyone can take a minute to look at the moon phase and determine it's location in reference to the horizon. Does the position of a full or new moon make any difference? It's a factor to consider when trying to be at the right place at the right time.

The full moon phase is so important to me I take time off work to fish the 5 day periods around the full moon during pre-spawn transtition to spawn. I plan my night fishing for the same 5 day full moon phase.

Tom

 

Do you consider the pre-spawn transition to spawn to be a specific water temperature? For example, do you look for the first full moon after the water first hits 50 degrees? 55 degrees? 60 degrees? 


fishing user avatarWRB reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 12:09 AM, RHuff said:

 

Do you consider the pre-spawn transition to spawn to be a specific water temperature? For example, do you look for the first full moon after the water first hits 50 degrees? 55 degrees? 60 degrees? 

See my Cosmic Clock and Bass Calendar, Goggle search.

Tom


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

There have been numerous books, articles, 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 quiet simple to determine these times for your self 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 has 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 nights.

 

The times for the minor periods of these moonphases 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!


fishing user avatarTOXIC reply : 

All I know is that according to my grandfather, the fish won't bite if the cows are laying down.  :lol:


fishing user avatargreentrout reply : 

 

https://www.mdwfp.com/apps/feeding-times/

 

it's a good idea to know the moon phases if you fish the marshes with brackish water...

 

good fishing... 


fishing user avatarTeam9nine reply : 

One must always be aware of the behavioral dimension (of anglers) in anything related to the explanation of why fish do what they do.


fishing user avatarOCdockskipper reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 2:03 AM, TOXIC said:

All I know is that according to my grandfather, the fish won't bite if the cows are laying down.  :lol:

It sounds like the reason your grandfather didn't catch any fish was because he was fishing at a dairy farm.


fishing user avatarTennessee Boy reply : 

"High Percentage Fishing: A statistical Approach To Improving Catch Rates" by Josh Alwine has a chapter on moon phases.  He discusses the arguments for gravity, light levels,  and position of the moon.  He also looks at some studies like the moon phase when world records catches were made.  He makes a pretty strong case that the link between fishing and moon phase is a myth.  Then he makes an exception for muskie fishing ????.  Personally,  I don't consider the moon phase when planning my fishing.  I always catch more fish when I'm on my boat than I do when I'm on my couch.    


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 2:14 AM, greentrout said:

it's a good idea to know the moon phases if you fish the marshes with brackish water.

 

Tidal waters, the tide is directly related to moon phase

 

Do you know when the strongest tides are?

 

New moon not full !

 

My personal opinion it's a length of time, from full moon to full moon is one month not 30 or 31 days.

 

The first day of spring is Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 5:58 P.M. EDT.

 

Bet y'all the bass say otherwise ????


fishing user avatarTennessee Boy reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 3:59 AM, Catt said:

The first day of spring is Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 5:58 P.M. EDT.

 

Bet y'all the bass say otherwise ????

I'm not following you on this.  Can you explain?


fishing user avatarscbassin reply : 

Catt is right on, If you pay attention to your surroundings while fishing in these time periods you will notice the the activity or lack of feeding with birds & animals. During the major & minor periods there is more feeding going on.  


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 4:09 AM, Tennessee Boy said:

I'm not following you on this.  Can you explain?

Bass  spawn at different times in the various regions. Florida is already into pre-spawn and many of the southern states will be gearing up shortly.


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 4:09 AM, Tennessee Boy said:

I'm not following you on this.  Can you explain?

 

@scbassin & @roadwarrior pretty much explained it

 

I've said it a thousand times & will continue saying it, pre-spawn starts long before most anglers realize.

 

If you're sitting around waiting on a moon phase or watching a thermometer you're missing out!

 

It was said the bass feed better during the full moon because they can see better.

 

I don't know about your bass but mine have a lateral line allowing them to zero in a my lure easily regardless of ambient light.


fishing user avatarthe reel ess reply : 

Bill Dance broke down some data on one of his Q&A shows (really, that's what most of his shows are now) and the overwhelming evidence showed that bigger bass bite better around a new moon than any other time of the month.


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 

Friday December 21st is the first day of winter 

 

Look outside, winter has been here ????


fishing user avatarthe reel ess reply : 
  On 12/21/2018 at 9:06 PM, Catt said:

Friday December 21st is the first day of winter 

 

Look outside, winter has been here ????

And I, for one, am already tired of it.


fishing user avatarscaleface reply : 

I pay no attention to the moon phase what-so-ever during day light outings .  


fishing user avatarHeartland reply : 

The only thing that I believe I have ever noticed is that sometimes I have fished during periods of full moon at certain places during the day and done a whole lot less than expected.    I have tended to blame it on the fish feeding at night more and being a little less interested in my offerings.  

 

How do you prove that?   


fishing user avatarTOXIC reply : 

Regular fishing.  Not so much.  During the spawn.  A lot.  


fishing user avatarTennessee Boy reply : 
  On 12/22/2018 at 2:36 AM, Heartland said:

How do you prove that?   

Yeah,   that's the difficult question that most people never ask,  probably because it's almost impossible to prove it.


fishing user avatarCatt reply : 
  On 12/22/2018 at 2:36 AM, Heartland said:

How do you prove that?   

 

The fish are always biting somewhere... it's our job to find somewhere!


fishing user avatarMobasser reply : 

I like 3 days of consistent weather, regardless of the moon phase


fishing user avatarBassWhole! reply : 
  On 10/13/2011 at 4:06 AM, dday07 said:

How Much Does Full Moon Effect Day Fishing?

1.083792


fishing user avatarnew2BC4bass reply : 

I fish when I can get out....which isn't often and hardly at all this past year...and the heck with the moon phase.  Now if I could fish several days a week, then I might pay more attention to the moon just to see if it did affect my success.


fishing user avatarIgotWood reply : 

The moon may be more specific to the body of water, and also the season. Spring thru fall, you have all kinds of critters hatching; bugs, baitfish, leeches, etc. The moon effects reproduction cycles more than it effects the mentality of the fish. However, bass forage is likely to been feeding on the hatches, which, in turn could get the bass riled up on the forage.


fishing user avatargobig reply : 
  On 10/14/2011 at 7:09 PM, Catt said:

Pay attention to when the moon raises and sets ;)

Example for today:

The time for the first major feeding period is an hour and a half prior the moon reaching its apex which is now.

The time for the first minor feeding period is an hour and a half prior to the setting of the moon.

The time for the second major feeding period is an hour and a half prior the moon reaching its perigee.

The time for the second minor feeding period is an hour and a half prior to the raising of the moon on the horizon.

This does not take into account weather, seasons, or your ability to locate fish!

Bingo. 


fishing user avatarN Florida Mike reply : 

What I have experienced is good fishing 3 days before and after a full moon., and similar around a new moon but not quite as good.

I caught a 6 pounder on a full moon once, but usually the day of the full moon isnt great.

Bass definitely will be bedding more actively around full moons and new moons in spring. Ive seen them on beds as early as december, and as late as april or early may in my area.

I rarely check on the moon anymore, except full moons in the above months.

I believe the minor and major feeding times based on the moon is significant, but I just fish whenever I can and usually do alright .????

If Im planning a trip out of town to fish, I check it to see what the best day(s) may be.

I tend to spend more time on cloud cover and wind . Barometer is a hole 'nuther can of worms.


fishing user avatarsoflabasser reply : 

Full Moon during the spawn = big bass might be on a nest

Find a big bass on a nest = easy way to get a new personal best bass




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