Full moon or Dark moon, any differance in fishing ??

[stratman]

Do the pros keep track of something like that? If so which moon do you find to be better fishing for walleyes, dark or full??

[stevefellegy]

Hey John,

I, for one, have NOT paid any attention to moon phases or the like, simply because I have to fish no matter what phases it is in or the weather is in. That said....in over 35 years of chasing walleyes for a living, I've concluded that there is very little consistency, one way or the other , with walleyes in this regard. Therefore, I discount most of the theories. Like I said...I have not documented proof for myself except by fishing through, on a daily basis, all phases of everything and found the bite good through it all, bad through it all and up and down through it all.

Although most aspects of catching walleyes CAN and should be refined, and concrete theories CAN be formed and utilized in a positive fashion consistently, I wouldn't let moon phases or various weather conditions dictate when I fish.

Good question! Keep a tight line....

[Justin_pro97]

I am not a pro just to start it off. But when I night fish I notice a definite differnce with the bite when the moon phases. It varies I can't say that they bight better in full moon or no moon. It varies in which spot I fish, I have one spot where I fish, that is shallow, and murky, and when the moon shines bright it attracts the minnows to the surface and the walleyes go nuts! Others spots are clear, and they don't bite in full moon only in complete dark. Then there are some times where it woouldn't matter full or no moon they would bite like crazy and other times you can't catch them stubborn walleyes at all. As I said in the beginning I am not a pro and I am just kind of giving you the info that I have found from fishing, I fish way more than 99% of people do, so that kind of helps with my findings also!

[Walleye Express]

Stratman.
Have to go with Justin on this one. That is, concerning the night time fishery. Especially where clear water conditions prevail. Since many of the waters have been cleared by that little molusk the zebra mussel, walleyes can and I believe have been taking full advantage of their night vision. Fishing has just been to good during, or three days either side of the full moon versus the dark moon on the Saginaw Bay, to say it dont matter. I also concentrate on places lite up by unnatural light on the rivers I fish at night. It takes just the smallest of light for a walleye to elluminate a baitfish's sillouette from below. And the full moon does this in spades.

[stevefellegy]

Let me clarify, since your original post asks for the "pro" opinion, and the pro's fish in the daylight for the most part, that my answer is based on daylight conditions and time frame.

[Walleye Express]

I apologize Steve.
It was not my intention to cheapon or discredit your answer to Stratman. And indeed the question was directed to the pro's. I was under the assumption that anybody could answer on this particular board. I also am very glad you've taken the time to answer some of the question posed here on the Pro Page forum. Good luck on the circuits next season.

[Doc_wi]

I have found over the years that I have done better on cloudless nights of the dark moon in a couple of situations I fish then I have on cloudless nights of a full moon. When anchored in shallow water on the Wolf River at night looking for up run walleye a bright full moon keeps the fish a little spookier. I also had better luck during the dark moon or before the moon came up trolling at Sturgeon Bay when the fish were in real shallow. That's a couple of pretty specific situations where if the fish were using 10 feet of water instead of 4, I believe the moon phase may not make such a difference.
IMHO,

[ipro46]

Strat,
I have to agree with Steve, I fish no matter what the moon phase. I fish for walleye almost exclusively during the day. Moon phases do effect the night bite for eyes and sometimes it is dramatic. It does relate to walleye appetites during the day. How I am not exactly sure. Everyone knows that day fishing and night fishing are different. I know allot of night fishermen that fish exclusively at night on the St. Clair River, MI. They don't generally fish as well during the day. Yet when they are catching fish at night I still manage to catch them during the day equally as well, and allot of times even better. Allot of times I do notice the moon phase but I really don't pay much attention to it.
Andy #46