Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I'm not convinced either, but it wouldn't hurt to do a little mini-experiment. I'd like to match the lunar times with my most productive tide times (fish when they both coincide) and see if I start doing any better than usual.

Curly wrote:

I fish when I can get a chance.  The Big Three Ws are what I base my fishing on............ Weather, Work, and Wife (and in that order ) dictate when I'm wetting a line.

lol, so true. I barely got to fish last year so I take any chance I can at getting on the water.

purpleworm wrote:

I think the best way to experiment impartially would be to just go out and fish like you normally would, record the times when you had the most success, and then go back and compare them to the tables. If the times when you caught em coincide with the major feeding times more often than not, then I would say there may be something to it.

you're right, that's what I'll do.

After seeing one of Rapala Andy's post and Curly's comments on it back in nov or december, I took note of the best times and paid attention during the late hunting season. There was one weekend the best times were around 130 and sure enough the deer got off their beds and started moving, same thing the next week (I think it was 10 am peak and they were getting up and moving around 1030).  While it may not be 100% its worth trying to be out during those times. Now does that mean I won't go just because the best time is 300 pm and I can get out at 8 am. Heck no...

Doug Hannon sent me one of his "Solunar Table" Wheels last year and I kept it on the visor of my vehicle. I tried to check it before I got on the water, but generally forgot it.  I almost always checked it after getting off the water, however, and I was astounded to find that it was almost 100% accurate. Most, but not all, of the fish caught out of my boat were taken during the "good" times listed on the wheel.

That being said, I believe in the idea of fishing when you have the time. Weather, wives & work mean nothing at my age. I go fishing when I feel like fishing and I seldom go without catching fish. I may not load the boat, but then again, I am only interested in getting away from telephones, wives and bosses.

During the 17 years I guided on the Potomac River, I determined that a number of factors affected the catches of myself and my clients. (other than ability, skill and equipment)  One was the day of the week.  Tuesday was always best, followed by Thursday, Wednesday, Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in that order.  The other was the time of day.  Although more fish were caught at dawn and dusk, the larger fish were generally taken between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  I cannot tell you why, but this was demonstrated over and over.  Every citation smallmouth (4+ pounds) caught out of my boat on the upper Potomac River was taken between these hours.  Most of the 7+ pound largemouth bass caught were taken between the same hours. The last factor was tidal movement. Most fish were taken on the low end of the outgoing tide, although fish were normally caught on all tides.

I will e-mail Doug and try to get an explanation for the effectiveness of these tables.

So, in summary (lots of great posts). If you are determined, organized, flexible etc....you can go fish during majors and minors. If you get out to fish when you get out to fish, you will touch one of these cycles while you are fishing.

For me, I could care less because I will go fishing when I have the time to go fishing.....so that I can chill, relax and have a good time with the crew I am fishing with! Frankly, I get as exited watching someone catch a fish on my boat as I do catching my own. I have experienced many others' "1sts" on my boat and I am very proud of that.