See The Moon
by Don Allphin
Feb 12, 2006
From wolves to elk oysters to catfish, the moon and its orbit has an astounding affect on earth life. We’re now just beginning to understand how moon phases affect game and fish activity.
To say that the moon is the key to behavior changes in animals is oversimplifying the issue. What I’m writing about here is electromagnetism, the interaction between the earth, moon, sun, and for that matter other planets in our solar system. The reason the moon gets singled out as the director of this phenomenon is that each month we are able to measure game and fish behavior against the backdrop of an ever-changing moon. Let’s review some basics on how to use phases of the moon to enhance the angling experience.
The two best times each month to be on the water are first, during the full moon and second, during the new moon. For some reason, three day prior to and three days following either phase, fish tend to be more active. Throughout the year most species of fish spawn during either or both of these periods. A wise angler would choose to schedule a fishing trip as close to the new or full moon as possible.
There are also mini cycles that occur daily, regardless of the moon phase. The moon is either directly overhead or underfoot once during each 24-hour cycle. And again, because of the electromagnetic interaction, fish tend to eat better during those times. Of course, air and water temperatures, wind, weather, and other factors can certainly affect fish behavior and must be considered.
The very best way to limit the influence of these factors is to fish through ice. The water under ice is more stable than at any other time in the year. Wind doesn’t affect it, air temperature is meaningless, and even snow storms do little to affect the water under the ice. Of course, when the barometric pressure drops fish may relocate to a different depth, but in general, even then it is just a matter of a few feet one way or the other.
If you don’t already have a source to assist you in determining the best times to be on the water, take a moment and search the internet. You’ll be amazed at the resources that are now available in the form of watches, calendars, and journals that will allow you to pinpoint the best times to fish. If the internet is still a mystery to you, your local sporting goods store should be able to help. Then if you still don’t catch fish you can always just blame it on the moon.
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