When I first discovered the moon's tremendous influence on musky feeding movements, back in the late 1970's, there was virtually no one talking about it. As I acquired data from fish caught throughout the years from that point afterwards, some very obvious patterns began to emerge. The most obvious was the strong correlation between the daily moon rise, no matter what time of the day or night it occurred, and sudden fish activity.
Within that same time, moon set began to emerge with near equal impact. This was particularly true during the new moon or dark-of-the-moon monthly cycle. The trick here was in trying to find out exactly when it occurred daily. This wasn't always easy. In fact, that is one of the key reasons why I eventually developed my own moon calendar.
My personal fish catches, sightings, and even hooked/lost fish became this ever growing data base that constantly kept reiterating the same thing. The moon definitely had an influence on musky activity on a daily basis. Learning as I went, I tried to identify just how much influence it had, both daily as well as monthly, and what precise aspects of the monthly moon cycle were most influential. Of course, all of this took time to work out. Only by keeping detailed records daily, weekly, monthly and yearly did the results start to prove my hunches.
What follows in this issue is both a review of my observations on moon phases and how they effect muskies along with what I've learned since writing about this in the early pages of Musky Hunter Magazine. While a lot of what I wrote about years ago is still as solid today as it ever was, a few more things have been learned. In addition, I wanted to take time inside this article to clarify musky movements outside the moon peaks, since disbelievers have argued against some of these findings. I think you will like what you read.
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
As a full time muskie guide in the 1970's, 1980's and early 1990's I was in a unique yet perfect situation to observe how muskies reacted to various weather and cosmic stimuli. Being on the water every single day no matter what the weather or moon phase, really gave me an unbiased look at the whole picture. Admittedly, there were many days when conditions appeared far less than ideal, yet we (my clients and I) had surprising results. Yet other times when conditions looked great, and the results were very disappointing. I tried to find answers as to why this occurred both on the good and bad side of things, and it all began to point towards either weather or moon. Sometimes it was both.
Backtracking fishing logs from past years also proved invaluable. Understand also that I had lots of data to go by since I have always been a meticulous note taker as it relates to fishing. I've got detailed fishing logs dating back to 1968 that I still refer to on occasion. I made a conscientious effort from the beginning of my muskie fishing career to painstakingly write down 15 different informational factors about each and every muskie caught in my boat since 1968. Among them were: date, time of catch, length of fish, lake, exact grid location of spot where the fish was taken, water temperature, wind direction, sky conditions, bottom content, depth, lure, lure color, moon rise, moon set, sun rise, and sun set.
This information became extremely valuable later on, as you can imagine. One of the most obviously predictable patterns was the increase in the size of fish caught around the full and new moon periods. Just like clock work, as soon as a fishing date fell within three days either side of these two moon phases, bigger fish began to show up without fail. This is an important factor to consider in all of our discussions about the moon and its influence on muskies. I have never said you can't catch muskies, or even a big fish for that matter, when the moon isn't in the full or the new stage. It's done all the time. What I am saying is that a much larger percentage of big fish become active during the moon peaks each month.
LESSER FISH ON PRIME SPOTS
What I have seen most often is this — the same spot that produced a big fish during ideal conditions is often occupied by a lesser, smaller, subordinate fish during in-between moon phases and weaker weather conditions. One might call this "when the cat's away, the mice will play" or something similar. In other words, when lesser fish are feeding on a prime big fish spot, big fish are simply not active. This is the norm under most conditions you and I fish under on any given day. But, as the full or new moon comes into play, the larger fish in any given system suddenly become active, forcing the lesser fish off prime spots, and in some cases even scaring them completely off their feed.
This also easily explains the sudden appearance and disappearance of a big fish on a given spot. When you fish the same areas every single day, as a guide often does with various clients, you get to see this first hand. You tell each and every client you are fishing with that you've sighted a big fish on a particular spot, yet more often than not, they catch a smaller lesser fish off it. In fact, this is what happens the majority of the time. Yet, when conditions improve, via the approaching full moon of the month, the dominant big one suddenly appears again. She is active for a day or so, and then she's gone again until the next moon peak.
Another thing I've seen quite often is the increased aggression of a big fish as the moon phase improves. If a big trophy class musky is active during a lesser moon phase, more often than not it is a follower and not a striker. The best chance to take these fish during these lesser moon phases appears to be during the last light of day or even the first hour of darkness. But, as the moon peaks to full or new, this same fish gets noticeably more aggressive, and for longer periods of time on any given day.
As I mentioned earlier, daily moon rise and moon set are vitally important factors on any given fishing day no matter what the moon phase. These same lesser fish I talked about, even though they are not trophies, respond to the same stimuli. They will be more active on moon rise or set, no matter what phase of the moon it is. However, bigger musky feeding window are generally smaller anyway. That brief period right before moon rise and just after moon set during the full moon period is exceptional every month. It is only made better by good weather. It is also lessened by weaker weather. Cold fronts will weaken and sometimes even destroy the much anticipated peak moon phases in the summer time particularly.
RISE & SET DIFFERENCES
Moon rise and set are predictably productive no matter when they occur within any given 24 hour period. In other words, if the moon rises or sets at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, that period between 1:30 and 2 p.m. is definitely the time to be on your favorite spot. If the moon sets at 3 a.m. it will produce a similar flurry of musky activity at that time.
Moon set is perhaps the more underrated. Some of my best big fish catches ever have come on the moon set. When moon set occurs during daylight, which usually happens in the early morning hours, many more anglers are in a position to take advantage of it. This is when you get a very strong "morning bite". This is also why fish suddenly go crazy well after the sun is up on some days and were surprisingly not active at first light or right after sunrise.
The daily period when the moon is up visible and vertically high in the sky, often referred to as moon-up, and its reverse, moon down are also important to understand. Generally, I have found fish to be less active during this time. Conversely, I have experienced better results when the moon is in the down position. For example, if the moon sets at mid morning and rises just after dark, daytime fishing should be good. Night fishing should be poor.
This moon up during mid day, with its corresponding weaker bite, can work in your favor if you know how to take advantage of it. The key here is to focus your best efforts on that time of day or night when the moon is about to set, and the first hour or so right after that. This might be early evening, or it could also be well after dark. The key here is to look at a chart that gives you that approximate set time, and prepare yourself to be in your favorite spot when this occurs. I do this all the time. While I continue to fish hard during lesser moon times throughout any given day, I do mentally prepare myself for the upcoming moon set. It also keeps me going on fishless days. In fact, I've developed the habit of reminding myself that — even though the fishing is tough now— everything will suddenly change for that brief time this evening when moon set occurs. It keeps me mentally in the game.
NEW VS. FULL MOON
I have explained these two moon phases in great detail over past issues, but it bears repeating, and I have some newer wrinkles to consider. Some very strong differences exist in fishing opportunities between the dark or new moon and the full moon. Most notably, there are far larger feeding windows during the dark or new moon period. I am not really certain why this is, but I do know it to be fact.
Conversely, feeding windows are often extremely intense, but short in duration during the full moon. These feeding windows generally coincide with the rise and set of the full moon. Peaking right before the moon rises, and also peaking right after the full moon sets. Fish activity seems to drop off dramatically an hour or less after the full moon has risen, and they stay dormant until moon set approaches.
When a full moon is up in the sky, it is very obvious overhead as long as it isn't being obscured by cloud cover. This is particularly true after dark. This bright full moon reflects both light and strong gravitational pull. For some reason, muskies don't like it. I know this is odd, but it seems to be the case. While it is easier to fish after dark with a bright full moon up high in the sky, rarely is it productive.
Here's something else I've noticed that you might want to consider. The highest potential time for a big fish to hit each day still exist during the daily moon rise and set. ALWAYS time your fishing around the best big fish spots during this predictable daily time period. You have nothing to loose by doing so, and everything to gain.
Summarily, remember you probably have far longer feeding windows during the dark/new moon versus its counterpart. Generally, you'll have better overall day time fishing during the new/dark moon peak. However, the full moon peak offers intense morning and evening peaks which are often prime for topwater action. And, muskies are likely to feed daily no matter what phase of the moon you are fishing in, but lesser fish are more apt to be on the prime spots. As the moon peaks monthly, larger fish become more active. Good weather makes a moon peak just that much better, while a cold front weakens the overall effect.
LUNAR TRAVEL PLANS
It's been over 20 years now since I wrote the first article on muskies and the moon, but little has changed. I still rely on moon peaks to plan my summer musky trips. Without question, old mother nature occasionally throws a wrench into the best laid plans, and negates the overall potential of any trip with a monster cold front. But year in and year out, I can expect to come away from a moon peak musky trip a winner. It's still no guarantee, but it definitely flips the odds much more in your favor. You still have to be on the right spot at the right time. You also have to be fishing the right lure, and performing the mechanics of casting and retrieving this lure with a high degree of skill. But it is now a well established fact that the moon does indeed have a serious impact on muskies!