Full Moon Walleyes

[Dave Watkins]

I keep hearing about fishing the full moon in the fall for walleyes and I thought that I'd give it a go tonight and tomorrow night. I plan on using my trolling motor and long line with Rapalas or Thundersticks. Any tips that you guys might give me would be appreciated. The lake has only a small population of eyes, mostly bass and bluegills with a few pike also. Should I be fishing deep, shallow, drop-offs, weed flats, gravel flats or what. I usually hunt in the fall so this season is new to me. Thanks for any help.

[The Old Mud]

I've had good success trolling a bomber long a casted behind the boat. Slowly pump the rod forward and hold on. I troll less than 12 feet, hitting under water points and humps. Fire line helps for the sensitivity. Dress warm! I plan on going out tonight.

[Terroreyes]

I agree that the full moon has little to do with the bite inland. I've never had a night of fishing during a full moon that was substancially different than any other. If anything, they were usually some of the slower nights.

You're on the right track for the fall techniquie. Longline Bombers, T-sticks, Shad Raps, Minnow Raps, etc. As far as where, that depends on the baitfish. If you know a spot, usually shallower, that the baitfish congregate after sunset, that's where you want to be. I look for sharp transitions from deep to shallow near shore and troll the shallows.

[1625rebel]

I think there is a big positive effect of full moons on trolling in Sept, Oct, and November. I've never been blanked trolling an October full moon, but this is definitely not the case on many non-full moon fall evenings. I would guess it's strongly dependent on the water you are fishing. Deep clear lakes may have a more positive effect than other lake types.

Just kind of sad I passed on this full moon weekend this year. First full moon cycle in October I've missed in 4 or 5 years. BTW, my favorite trolling cranks are deep husky jerks, Smith rougues, and Rapala floaters.

[User Name]

I cant say the full moon has helped me much either although I still try to get out when they occur. I'll usually start the day fishing a little deeper(20-25ft) and gradually move in shallow by dark. I've also had luck going from shallow to deep as dark moves in but generally I'm in 12ft or less when the sun goes down. Most of the lakes I fish are fairly clear so I use the electric motor alot and get the lure way behind the boat.

[yarcraft91]

Haven't done it in a while, but we used to fish the night bite in Sept and Oct with a Bomber Long A in white or pearl colors on a long line behind the boat over 5-12' of water. If you could keep the seagulls from picking up the lure, the walleyes really went for the Bombers. We had the best results when the Bomber bumped rocks on the bottom and the moon was up.

[PackerSmacker UL]

I keep hearing about fishing the full moon in the fall for walleyes and I thought that I'd give it a go tonight and tomorrow night. I plan on using my trolling motor and long line with Rapalas or Thundersticks. Any tips that you guys might give me would be appreciated. The lake has only a small population of eyes, mostly bass and bluegills with a few pike also. Should I be fishing deep, shallow, drop-offs, weed flats, gravel flats or what. I usually hunt in the fall so this season is new to me. Thanks for any help.

IMHO the New Moon phase is the best fishing during the day. Full moon at night. Tides? I like to use it on my washins. I think that it has to do with the light provided or not provided at night. Now to go patent my plankton finder...

[dan or]

Full moon fishing in the fall has a lot of benefits. Walleye have a eye that works great in low light situations. Their eye is designed to look up and silhouette the bait fish against the surface/ sky/ moon light. Full moon provides that light source - all night long.


Full moon light also permits your human eye to adjust and if you don't flash bright lights in the eye (use red lights on headgear) the human eye becomes quite good at night vision. Make sure your stern light is up and out of your line of vision either while sitting or standing. You can land fish, change lures, etc at night without additional light on full moon nights.

The number of people out there fishing greatly decreases at night. Each body of water has it own traits which impact when and how to fish. Water quality, current, wind, water temp, depth of prey, and so on ... figure that pattern out for the fall and the best fishing of the year awaits you.

As I have launched the boat near twilight I have talked with guys coming off the water having fished all day during the full moon period. They did not do well, we usually do at night, in the same 24 hours period.

Walleye have the feedbag on in the fall. Scout your water during the day and return at night. Be careful out there. There are always those that go WITHOUT lights or consume more than their share of beverages..... be alert... especially if you fish where there is commercial waterway.

dan (or)

Out west where the walleyes grow bigger and the really big fish get netted and sold by the pound.

[Dave Watkins]

I appreciate the responses. No walleyes but a couple of nice bass. May try it again tonight if I can get my work done.

[AllenW]

We tried to time our fall trip to Red Lake (Canada) to a full moon and always did well, on the other hand, we did well even if there wasn't a full moon, so I can't say for sure whether it helps or not.

A ton of people out the live and die by it, so there's probably something to it.

On the other hand, if you only fished by the full moon, your gonna miss a lot of time on the water.

Like said, its easier to fish by the light of a full moon especially on a cloudless night, but I'd still vary my presentation till I found one that worked for the lake your on.

We generally fish in shallower water at night and when trolling we start in 15 foot or so and work closer to shore as we go, guy on the outside of the boat usually runs a deeper diving lure, inside guy shallower and change lures as we get closer to shore.

Casting we still use the one deeper than the other approach till we find what works, we've hit them in just a foot or two of water so don't be afraid to get close to the shore.

Vary baits too, what works today, may not work tomm.
I lean towards natural looking baits in black and white or gold but will start throwing whatever else I have if needed.


Al

[ejdines]

I would try deep.thats what is working in lake erie right now

[aceoky]

I would try deep.thats what is working in lake erie right now

How deep do you mean?