View Full Version : Moon phases and ice fishing for walleyes
Don in Denver
01-08-2002, 03:11 PM
Out here in Colorado we don't catch enough eyes through the ice for most of us to have formed any educated judgments about the effects of the moon phases on walleye ice fishing. Could those of you who live in real walleye states please enlighten us with your experiences? Thanks.
I believe that the "solunar tables" are quite accurate when it comes to fish and game activity. I thought it was a joke when I first heard of the tables but I checked the bite etc. against the tables and changed my mind.
eye guy
01-08-2002, 04:59 PM
I had kept it in the back of my head and kind of just figured it on being more of an excuse to go fishing... again..lol..
then we were out Ice fishing during last full moon and me and my partner discussed the full moon theory and figured that was why it was a bit slow and that if the "moon" theory holds true then we should find some activity around 12:00 (noon) so next thing I know its 11:30 and he spanks 6 or so walleye... shortly after twelve back to nothing until just before dark.... coincidence or ???? I will watch it more closely from now on though....
WAeyes
01-08-2002, 07:02 PM
If the moon phases work for you on soft water, they will work on hard water as well. My ice fishing is limited to trips back east so I can't give you my personal experiences.
eyedoktr
01-09-2002, 03:46 AM
When the first "fishin-time" watch came out from Casio, one of my buddies had to have it. We sat on the ice and gave him a hard time about "what does your watch say now?" "how long before they turn on?" etc.etc. Well.....Bob says "anytime now" Next thing you know, all 6 of us start to catch fish. It lasted for about 45 minutes then went dead again. I started paying more attention to the moon phases after that day. I now own my fourth watch that tells the 2 major and 2 minor fishing periods each day and it still is amazingly accurate. I don't limit my time to the phases but it's nice to now when they are. Yes, they work!!
eyedoktr
01-09-2002, 04:16 AM
I forgot a couple of things. The watches did not break down, I have given two away and keep one for a backup. The new version is the "Forester"
Is there a print out of the solonar tables on the net?
My Magellan 315 has the moon phases built in to it, as well as sunrise and sunset. That was one of the factors that led me to buy the 315 over the Garmin 12. I use the best times for fishing and the sunrise sunset feature for hunting, they're great tools.
Cangl
01-09-2002, 01:52 PM
Lunar cycles, tides no matter where your at! Smaller fish are almost clock work to majors, where by this activity influences predators. Alot of my biggest fish of the day or night have been caught on the minor, in 6 hour cycles with 8 or more hours of fishing you can almost always see the difference in your catch. A curve will form but it's hard on other fisherman not many can tolerate 8+ hours of fishing. The Casio "Forester" is the easiest to operate and can be programmed months and years ahead. Field & Stream charts the whole country with some math neccessary, comes in handy when you don't wan't to mess with your "program" get on of these watches and get used to it and you will find yourself ignoring daylight savings time every fall I do. Their charts are accurate as well!
Big K carried the Casio Forrester 34$ to 40$ got my last one for $27.95 lights up at night real well, enough to tee the wife off!
gowalleye.com had it. Also there is a solunar tables site but I lost the URL from my favorites when the box crashed.