I believe it may effect them in one way or another, but with everything else, you just have to change they way you normally fish to catch them, but I believe there are always fish biting somewhere somehow. Keeping a log with all the variables will give you a better idea of what and when the moon effects them more so than the weather, such as barometer. I have followed the barometer for the last 2 months when going fishing and can pretty much tell you how aggressive they will be as long as the water temp hasn’t dropped dramatically plus depending on what you are fishing for.
Moon phases have never really been paid attention to by me. Sometimes I catch fish , and sometimes I only catch a few fish…lol. I have noticed something strange in this area. If I see a deer or two on my way to fishing at night, the fish don’t bite the greatest. I have never been able to figure out why, but I dread it when I’m going fishing at night, if I see deer wandering around. Hmmmm. Anyone have an idea on that subject?
I have found that on really overcast days, or nights, on the verge of a big front, I catch alot of fish.
Hmm. I dont know too much about the deer thing. I have tried to pattern some days after what the cows are doing, I go anyway, but check them as I drive home. If I have had a bad day of fishing, they are usually all laying down, but on days they just tore it up they are all feeding. I have tried to use this pattern during the winter and it has not worked at all. Usually the opposite. I have found what this means, it means squat. I have come to the conclusion on days I have not done well it is because I sucked that day at picking the correct combination. I believe that somewhere on the lake the bite is happening, I just dont always figure it out till I am headed home then say" awe, I should have done this" or that. Anyway, the guys out in here in texas have always said that that the 3 days before and the 3rd day after a full moon are the best times. I have fished all night and tore them up with a full moon and talked to guys that same night that caught nothing. I am specifically talking about largemouth fishing on lake fork. Boy that is fun, if you have never done it, do it!! I have been broken off more times than I can remember with 20lb test. These fish dont play games!
Jesse
Quote: "The increased light factor can be an influence. In clear waters, where the fish are sight feeders, they will feed more at night because they can. They can see prey better, so they feed at night under relative cover of darkness and digest during the daytime.
Much of the effect of the moon on fishing is species and time of year specific. Some fish rarely feed at night anywat…like yellow perch. Others are well known night feeders…like trout, bass and walleyes. The full moon provides more light and they feed more."
Yeppers, I agree with this completely.. So I say yes I believe the moon phases do effect the bite. I like fishing for large cats while the water is semi still/mild chop to a slow roll and theres a full moon (or close to it). I truely believe the surfice water conditions effect the bite also.. I’ve noted over the year that while theres a full moon and a slight roll over chop on the water that I catch larger cats.. I feel this is due to the fact there enough light for them to feed well, yet enough light reflection to slightly hide their staking of prey in shallower water.. But then again maybe I’m just that dim light you see on the far shore until dawn…