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Many anglers believe the moon has an influence on the feeding habits of sport fish. While fishing in the coastal areas seems to be more affected by the moon’s influence on tides and its gravitational pull on the water, making it less dense and therefore more oxygenated, many think the moonlight affects fish feeding in fresh water as well. Some say they like the new moon overhead for day fishing and like to fish at dusk and when the sun goes down under the full moon.
But there are other reasons that the phase of the moon might affect your fishing. Most flying insects don’t see well at night, which is why, during summer you will see them gather around streetlights. They are drawn to it because they can see it.
So, according to Rex Trulove, an outdoorsman from Oregon, when there is a full moon on a summer night. Insects that would normally not be flying about will be drawn out because they can see, from the light of the full moon. Further, the moonlight reflects off of water in streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes, and even off of vegetation that is near those bodies of water. Insects can see the light, but fly to it as if it was a source rather than a reflection. This brings them in close proximity to the water, where the fish lay in wait.
The result is that the fish, which normally prey on the insects during the daytime, are able to feed on them at night, and well-fed fish are less likely to take your fly.
And that’s not all. Since it takes 14 days to go from three quarters moon to a full moon, to last quarter moon, two weeks must pass before the amount of food available for the fish during the night will decline to the point where it doesn’t have much affect on the fish.
Many good anglers plan their fishing around the moon phase, so we’ve provided you with a moon calendar to help plan your next fishing trip.
Every little bit helps.
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