I know that the one thing fishermen dream of is getting the biggest fish and if not the biggest then lots of them. An avid fisherman will go all out. But what if you were a provider of food for your home? How important then would it be to know when the best time to do this is?
Not many of us fish to provide substance for our families anymore, but do it for fun and enjoyment. Many a folklore has been passed down over the years with some good and some odd ideas to bring in a better catch of fish. So I investigated.
Personally I never set a time or day to go fishing, I simply did it when I was bored or had a day off and wanted to be lazy. Of course there is all kinds of fishing, but I found some interesting conclusions to what I investigated.
Different lures, techniques and baits did make some difference, and they can cost a pretty penny too. It was when I found information on how to do one of my favorite lazy day activities, by the moon phase that I got some definitive information and I am going to pass that on to you.
The first thing I did was keep a journal; yes I recorded every time I put a pole into the water, every type of lure and bait and what I caught. I even wrote how the weather was prior and on the day that I went fishing. At first it seemed so tedious and complicated that I didn't think I would keep up with it. Some anglers make sure that they are set and ready to drop their pole into the water at exactly to the minute the time the research said to.
So How Does Fishing By Moon Phase Work?
Even if you are not a fisherman I bet you can guess the number one rule to finding fish.
It is fish when the fish are feeding.
Very logical. Most people also know that fisherman seem to do their activity at the crack of dawn, which is why ladies don't go. (OK that's not the reason,) or they go at dusk. But from the research I can see that there are two periods in every day that go unnoticed and these are when the moon rises and when it sets.
The moon is known to have a variety of effects on all things; this includes all living things in any body of water, what they do and what they eat. It seems to me that the moon phases and these two periods are what triggers feeding.
If you can comprehend this, then by choosing those periods, it will increase your catch. Of course this will not help at all if there are no fish in the water.
Choosing The Best Fishing Times
If you want to increase your fishing catch then you should fish during four periods. There are many charts out there that will tell you the exact times you need. All you have to do is find those 90 minute windows. That is 45 minutes before and 45 minutes after the rising of the moon and sun or the setting of both.
If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence. You can do a test yourself on these times of fishing. Just go fishing once during each time and record what you caught. You too will see great improvement in your catch.
Other Considerations
If you get the chance to plan your fishing trip then of course there will be other things that you need to take into consideration; weather and the season to name two. If you get all things into a harmonious state then you are sure to get the best of catches.
Weather
Weather does make a difference when you are fishing. If nothing else, nice sunny weather makes it more comfortable for you. It is during severe weather that you will have the biggest change in the way fish feed.
When a storm is coming or just after it has passed is always a good time to go fishing. So if you are fishing and a storm happens, simply wait it out and you will be in for a treat.
Now if the change in the weather is for a cold spell to hit, then your fish will most likely go deeper and become less active so you do not want to be fishing then.
Windy times are not good times to be out fishing.
Seasons
Probably the best to seasons to be fishing is during two transitions; winter to spring and summer to fall, you will find the fish biting the best.
Farmers almanac states 2012 Best Fishing Days
January 1-9
January 23-February 7
February 21-March 8
March 22-April 6
April 21-May 5
May 20-June 4
June 19-July 3
July 19-August 1
August 17-31
September 15-29
October 15-29
November 13-28
December 13-28
The Sun, Moon, tides, and weather all influence fish activity. For example, fish tend to feed more at sunrise and sunset. During a full moon, tides are higher than average and fish tend to feed more.
Folklore and Fishing
For those of you who follow the folklore of fishing then these might make sense to you:
- Fish when the barometer is going up
- Go fishing during sun and moon rises
- Do your fishing just before or after high tides
- At low tides, just before and after
- Flies are hatching - Works well if you use that same fly hatchling
- Fish when the breeze is from the west
- Go fishing when the water is still or just rippling a little
These may be true or not, but they have been around a long time, so it is worth a try. The best thing that you can do is keep a log of when you fish and what the weather was like and how many fish you caught. You can find your own pattern for getting the best catch.
For more great articles on everything Kentucky and Country Living please go to our Kentucky Farmhouse website. If you are interested in fishing by the moon then you may be interested in moon phases and there importance.
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