Understanding Moon Phases
By: Steve Quinn
Take a look at the solunar calendar before planning your next fishing trip. (Photo courtesy of In-Fisherman.com)
Understanding moon phases can help you find the best times to fish
From ancient times, hunters and fishermen have noted that the moon’s position and brightness seemed to influence success. In the 1920s, John Alden Knight devised the first solunar tables and held a monopoly on moon times until his patent ran out. Today many solunar references are available, but none as popular or as fine-tuned as the In-Fisherman Solunar Calendar. It can calculate the precise moon position according to the zip code of the waterway you plan to fish.
Many top anglers place great faith in solunar theory, planning to be on prime spots during major and minor periods. For example, veteran Oklahoma pro Tommy Biffle has consulted tables in planning fishing tournament strategies. He now uses the FishMate app on his iPhone as a source of major and minor feeding times wherever the Bassmaster Elite Series takes him.
“If I have a group of bass pinpointed, I make sure to fish that spot during a major period,” Biffle says, adding that this strategy has boosted his earnings at many events.
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