How the moon phase affects fishing
Moon phases have a strong impact on fishing, and this is something that the most successful fishermen use to their advantage repeatedly. It has little to do with metaphysical properties that might be attributed to the phase of the moon. But the effect is easy to understand by way of common knowledge observation and science.
Most people have observed that in the summer time, moths, millers, and other insects tend to gather around streetlights, sometimes in very large numbers. This is more than just being drawn to the light, inexplicably, and it has nothing to do to breeding, directly. When it is dark, most flying insects do not see well, and usually won’t even fly. However, the insects can see light, and will be drawn to it because they can see it.
Knowing this, consider what happens when there is a full moon on a summer night. Insects that would normally not be flying about will be drawn out because they can see, from the light of the full moon. Further, the moonlight reflects off of water in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes, and even off of vegetation that is near those bodies of water. Insects can see the light, but fly to it as if it was a source rather than a reflection. This brings them in close proximity to the water, where the fish lay in wait.
The result is that the fish, which normally prey on the insects during the daytime, are able to feed on them at night. This is extremely good for the fish, which get a boost in food and full bellies. But it isn’t that great for the fisherman.
Fish that are particularly well fed tend to be a little more difficult to coax to take a fly, lure, or bait, when you are fishing. Consider for a moment just how apt you are to eat a helping of even your most favorite food if you just had a large meal and your appetite is sated. It is little different for the fish you are fishing for.
For seasoned fisherman, nights with a full moon are considered a bane. It isn’t a fast passing one, either. Since it takes seven days to go from three quarters moon to a full moon, and another seven days to go to last quarter, fourteen days must pass before the amount of food available for the fish during the night will decline to the point where you can again have great early morning and evening fishing like you can if there is no full moon.
This all means that the wise fisherman will plan their fishing around the moon phase. The moon phase calendar has a huge effect on the success of fishing. That doesn’t at all mean that you can’t fish on days following a night with a full moon, but at the same time, you should understand that you may not do that well fishing, and may not catch as many. The reason is that the full moon allows the fish to gorge.
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