RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Can't speak for fish, but I have found that some young ladies get more frisky on a full moon...Maybe that's why I can't tell you about the fishing? Just one mans experience... Tight Lines, Tom
RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? (hatches affected?)
I have an old book on night fishing for trout by Jim Bashline. I originally bought that book as he wrote about fishing in Pennsylvania and that's were I moved from. He fished large wet flies, #4's and #6's at night (usually a tandem rig too) and stated that the best times were when there was no moon out. Now this was stream fishing. His fish were mainly brown trout. I would imagine a mouse deer hair bug would work real well for browns at night. I fish BC at night in June and July. Bill W -- From: Jim Speaker[SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Reply To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 8:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? (hatches affected?) I'm sure that my observations lean toward the brighter phases because I do like night fishing, particularly for browns. I must also mention that my observations are strictly freshwater. I have made quite a few entries in my fishing journal with numbers and sizes of fish caught, weather, etc, but would have to go back and determine moon phase for each entry since that isn't something I tracked - I need to add that to my application. I've hooked up with browns and rainbows during very late hours on Lenice - I love trolling a #4 black rabbit strip leech and jigging it. I've noticed large holes on some creeks fish well past dark as well. The critters can be a bit unnerving, it's true... somehow I don't like the looks of a herd of cattle with eyes glowing in the beam of my headlamp - especially when they're in the way of where I need to go. I think I definitely prefer being in a float tube at night. Seems that beavers, otters, etc tend to keep their distance. Another observation, based solely on last Spring at Lenice is that the callibaetis hatches seemed strongest around the first quarter moon as well. I understand callibaetis essentially come in waves - peaking and kinda petering out on approximately one month cycles. Can anyone confirm this? I read it on some website that had an article about the callibaetis life cycle. How about other insects? Anyone have observations on other mayflies - tricos, baetis, pmd, etc? Caddis? I imagine it would probably affect bugs that come off at dark but don't have the experience to know for sure... I'm probably overthinking all of this - I must need to go fishing! -tight lines- Jim -Original Message- From: steblina [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 7:24 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Hm, I've heard the opposite so have always fished the dark of the moon. Did you keep count of fish caught during different phases?? My experience has been that rainbows play after dark, but cutts have to be home. Haven't fish for browns at night, but have heard that they also like to play at night. I like the blankie idea...my favorite moment was 2:30 am, 200 yards from shore.a beaver swims up behind me and panics, slaps the waterblankie would have been useful. Vladimir -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;) Roger
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
my opinion on moon phases is solely geared for the saltwater. obviously the moon has a major impact on the tides and therefore the currents. i don't see the neap tides (half-moon) being any better than the spring tides (full and new moon), but what it does do is force one to change where one fishes. for the saltwater bottomfish, i prefer neap tides due to less current which allows me to fish some spots that are impossible when during the spring tides when there is little or no slack current. but one can catch bottomfish during strong tidal flows associated with the spring tides, one just has to either time things a little more precisely (got boarded by the coast guard once while racing to catch a small slack current, which caused us to arrive just in time to see the last minute of surface feeding before the currents blew everything out) or fish in different spots that aren't as heavily impacted by the current. for salmon, it really doesn't matter. during the spring tides, one gets to do a lot of rip fishing which can be just plain fantastic, but requires a lot of repositioning of the boat... while during the neap tides, one can just sit on some of the offshore banks and just slowly drift while catching fish. the strong currents associated with a full or new moon destroy much of the fishing on the offshore banks because the currents blow the krill right off the banks, and the krill are what kickstarts the entire show (salmon, herring, mackerel, etc all move in when the krill is there). of course, for freshwater river fishing for steelhead, i never pay attention to moon phases... i'm more concerned if the river is blown out or not G chris Now, I've heard that a lot of people believe (or don't believe) that moon phases affect fishing. I flyfished for several years as a teenager, and just got back into it (got addicted to it)around 3 years ago or so I simply lack the length of experience, the variation in data if you will, to trust my conclusions. I'd like to know what all you list members think on the subject. Perhaps between the lot of us we can draw some clearer conclusions. Thanks in advance and -tight lines- Jim Speaker
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Good points Bellows, Also it leads to thinking aobut how the tides effect fishing in various places that I've fished or dove. Over a hump, between two very deep trenches, we had to halt diving operations in anything other than slack tides and even then there was strong currents! Here, on the Indian River, we have places near the inlets that have strong currents during the max tides (too strong to fish effectively) and in other places it's exactly the max tides that produce the right amount of current to disorient the baitfish and shrimp. I would imagine that with the variety of conditions from tidal rivers to deeps, immediately offshore, the islands, passes, etc, coastal fishing in Washington, there's always a spot that's prime, if you know the tides and currents and the way it effect the fish. http://community.webtv.net/fishing-folks/ChucksEastCentral
Re: Moon Phase
Well said, Preston. Gary Meyers Kirkland Look at it this way; if you had the opportunity to go fishing, would you forgo the trip because it wasn't the right moon phase? Ergo: what does it matter? I wish I had a dollar for every fish I've caught when conditions of one sort or another weren't right.
Re: Moon Phase
I second Jim Speaker's comment about coordinating fishing trips with certain phases of spousal menstrual cycles. One may not catch more or less fish then, but it will definitely be more enjoyable than staying home. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said to myself: Sheesh, I should've gone fishing this weekend! Kent Lufkin Look at it this way; if you had the opportunity to go fishing, would you forgo the trip because it wasn't the right moon phase? Ergo: what does it matter? I wish I had a dollar for every fish I've caught when conditions of one sort or another weren't right.
Re: Moon Phase
And let's ask this: Do you quit eating during a particular phase of the moon (Tom Williams, don't answer that!)? I doubt that the fish quit eating just 'cause the moon phase isn't quite right. I agree with Preston; fish when you can, and don't worry about the moon (or cold fronts, or cloud cover) other than to always have it as an available excuse when you don't have a stellar day (well... a cold front just went though yesterday and that put the fish down, or it must be too close to the full moon, etc. etc) Sean Gary Meyers wrote: Well said, Preston. Gary Meyers Kirkland Look at it this way; if you had the opportunity to go fishing, would you forgo the trip because it wasn't the right moon phase? Ergo: what does it matter? I wish I had a dollar for every fish I've caught when conditions of one sort or another weren't right.
Re: Moon Phase
The barometric pressure and rising or falling barometer I think has more effect on fish than the phase of the moon. Dell - Original Message - From: Sean Grier [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 2:55 PM Subject: Re: Moon Phase And let's ask this: Do you quit eating during a particular phase of the moon (Tom Williams, don't answer that!)? I doubt that the fish quit eating just 'cause the moon phase isn't quite right. I agree with Preston; fish when you can, and don't worry about the moon (or cold fronts, or cloud cover) other than to always have it as an available excuse when you don't have a stellar day (well... a cold front just went though yesterday and that put the fish down, or it must be too close to the full moon, etc. etc) Sean Gary Meyers wrote: Well said, Preston. Gary Meyers Kirkland Look at it this way; if you had the opportunity to go fishing, would you forgo the trip because it wasn't the right moon phase? Ergo: what does it matter? I wish I had a dollar for every fish I've caught when conditions of one sort or another weren't right.
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Maybe we have got a good idea for the discussion group to go into designing and selling a specialty diaper for wearing under waders at night (or day) which could give us more fishing time by saving us the need to row or kick to the shore, search for an appropriate spot to relieve ourselves, and give us much more fishing time regardless of the light. H? Don't think I have ever seen these advertised. Maybe Depends? Took my son, who was about 12 at the time, fishing with me one time up at Leech Lake at White Pass. That lake is a little bear to get out of anywhere but at the boat launch. We were quite a ways down the lake when my son told me he really, really needed to go back to the launch to use the facilities. I watched him paddle off going like a house-a-fire.! p; He got about half way there and then turned around and came back. I asked him if he didn't need to go to the bathroom, and his reply was "not anymore." Thank goodness for bring extra clothes. So there is a ready market for something along these lines :) Roger
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Guess I'll throw a few cents... Although I have only documented a few years in my journal (9 to be exact), one key does stand out- full moon. However, this is only a major factor for saltwater fishing and even then, mainly late spring through early fall for Coho. My theory is simply: mid/late fall through winter and spring, fish are keying in on mainly zooplankton. I feel that minor feeding does occur during this moon phase at night however, more aggressive feeding takes place early morning as more light penetrates the surface providing a better opportunity for fish to see the zooplankton. During "baitfish" season, herring/candlefish are more noticeable against a bright moon... Blackmouth- forget it. Never caught one coming off a full moon. Another note.. I will agree with Dell on barometric pressure. A dropping barometer does do something to turn fish. What? I don't know. Lastly, I never plan a trip based on lunar phases. I go when I can... John
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
I've been struggling with the idea that moon phase affects fishing for quite some time. == Jim, Speaking strictly from my own fishing experience, I've found fishing success less likely to occur near and during a full moon. This has held true for me both in the salt and fresh water. (So this is just the opposite from your fishing experiences.) I have always assumed it's due to the extended night feeding for the fish by moonlight; hence less hungry during the daylight hours. Has this stopped me from fishing on or near a full moon? No. Just something I can use as a lame excuse when I get skunked!!! Fish on, my friend. Danny McMillin
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;) Roger
RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Hm, I've heard the opposite so have always fished the dark of the moon. Did you keep count of fish caught during different phases?? My experience has been that rainbows play after dark, but cutts have to be home. Haven't fish for browns at night, but have heard that they also like to play at night. I like the blankie idea...my favorite moment was 2:30 am, 200 yards from shore.a beaver swims up behind me and panics, slaps the waterblankie would have been useful. Vladimir -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:54 PMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;)Roger
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Title: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Had a similar thing happen with a beaver, but during daylight. I was fishing a small lowland lake alone and had seen one earlier but paid it no attention. I was playing a fish when this gawd-awful splash went off what seemed a couple feet behind me, scaring me halfway out of my tube and nearly causing me to fill my waders from the inside. A diaper would've been much more useful than a blankie ;-) Kent Lufkin -- From: steblina [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Date: Wed, Jan 23, 2002, 7:23 PM Hm, I've heard the opposite so have always fished the dark of the moon. Did you keep count of fish caught during different phases?? My experience has been that rainbows play after dark, but cutts have to be home. Haven't fish for browns at night, but have heard that they also like to play at night. I like the blankie idea...my favorite moment was 2:30 am, 200 yards from shore.a beaver swims up behind me and panics, slaps the waterblankie would have been useful. Vladimir -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;) Roger
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
Title: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Amen on the beaver splashes at night. You'd think Godzilla had jumped in the river by the noise they make. Gary Meyers Kirkland Had a similar thing happen with a beaver, but during daylight. I was fishing a small lowland lake alone and had seen one earlier but paid it no attention. I was playing a fish when this gawd-awful splash went off what seemed a couple feet behind me, scaring me halfway out of my tube and nearly causing me to fill my waders from the inside. A diaper would've been much more useful than a blankie ;-) Kent Lufkin -- From: steblina [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Date: Wed, Jan 23, 2002, 7:23 PM Hm, I've heard the opposite so have always fished the dark of the moon. Did you keep count of fish caught during different phases?? My experience has been that rainbows play after dark, but cutts have to be home. Haven't fish for browns at night, but have heard that they also like to play at night. I like the blankie idea...my favorite moment was 2:30 am, 200 yards from shore.a beaver swims up behind me and panics, slaps the waterblankie would have been useful. Vladimir -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;) Roger
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
With certain species of fish, in certain locales, what I've found is that they feed more readily during the full and no moon periods or the periods of maximum tidal flows and levels. Other species/locales seem to be more geared toward maximum feeding light. I believe it all depends on where that paticular species is in the food chain and what it's predators and prey are doing with respect to (1) light and (2) tides or tidal influence. Good Fishing Chuck S
Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both?
I guess I'll jump on the beaver bandwagon here. My first experience with beaversplash was at also at night in a float tube. It sounded like Sasquatch throwing bowling balls into the lake. Normally I don't give much thought to Sasquatch but on this night I was at Castle Lake, alone. From: Kent Lufkin [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 20:37:10 -0800 Had a similar thing happen with a beaver, but during daylight. I was fishing a small lowland lake alone and had seen one earlier but paid it no attention. I was playing a fish when this gawd-awful splash went off what seemed a couple feet behind me, scaring me halfway out of my tube and nearly causing me to fill my waders from the inside. A diaper would've been much more useful than a blankie ;-) Kent Lufkin -- From: steblina [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Date: Wed, Jan 23, 2002, 7:23 PM Hm, I've heard the opposite so have always fished the dark of the moon. Did you keep count of fish caught during different phases?? My experience has been that rainbows play after dark, but cutts have to be home. Haven't fish for browns at night, but have heard that they also like to play at night. I like the blankie idea...my favorite moment was 2:30 am, 200 yards from shore.a beaver swims up behind me and panics, slaps the waterblankie would have been useful. Vladimir -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:54 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Moon Phase : facts, myths, or both? Now for my two cents worth. Danny and I have had similar experiences, that is that fishing is worse both in salt and fresh, lake, and river near or on a full moon. With one exception. That exception being if you fish after dark. One of my favorite things is fishing lakes such as Lenice, Nunnaly, Chopaka, etc., after dark, even in the heat of summer. Fishing during periods of little moonlight is nowhere near as productive as fishing on a full or near full moon after dark. I have had some incredible fish and more of them fishing on a full moon. My theory is that with the full moon the fish can see objects above them better than in less light. The darker the fly fished after dark, and the bigger, the better. I believe the larger fish come out to play and eat at night! anyway, and feel safer. They are also less easily spooked by things above them. Just some thoughts but borne out by many years of fishing experience. Downside to fishing at night is all the night sounds and critters out there, particularly in a remote location. But I bring my blankie along so I don't get too scared. ;) Roger _ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
