Solunar Tables

[OzarksRiverman]

I get Field & Stream mag, and every issue they have a Solunar Table, which is supposed to tell you peak times that fish are going to feed throughout the month. It has something to do with the location of the sun and moon in relation to the earth. I've tried them out this summer and haven't noticed any increase in my fish catching ability during the "peak feeding times". I was just wondering if anybody'd had any luck using these tables or something like it, or if it's just filler for the magazine.

Addendum: I don't fish lakes, just creeks and rivers.

[flytyer57]

I get Field & Stream mag, and every issue they have a Solunar Table, which is supposed to tell you peak times that fish are going to feed throughout the month. It has something to do with the location of the sun and moon in relation to the earth. I've tried them out this summer and haven't noticed any increase in my fish catching ability during the "peak feeding times". I was just wondering if anybody'd had any luck using these tables or something like it, or if it's just filler for the magazine.

Addendum: I don't fish lakes, just creeks and rivers.

I've never noticed any correlation between catch rates on best days or worst days according to those tables. I think the weather and water conditions have more of a role in the fish biting or not.

Cold front moves through and the fishing gets tough. Rising or falling water will also create new challenges to the norm of fishing. Water clarity will also have more effect on the challenge.

If you believe in those Solunar tables, all the more to ya. I don't.

[Al Agnew]

Nope, I don't pay any attention to them. In my experience, with creek and river fishing, it's all about water conditions. Barometer, moon phase, even weather conditions, don't make a CONSISTENT difference. Once in a while I'll notice the fishing being a little poorer during the day around the full moon, but even that's not consistent. Cold fronts will mess up the fishing sometimes during the the transition times of spring and fall, but even they have little effect in the summer.

For whatever reason, lake and reservoir bass seem to be more sensitive to all those other variables. With stream bass, rising or falling water, water color, and water temperature are about the only things that matter.

[Gavin]

I pay attention to the solunar times, but havent noticed any consistent correlation.

[OzarksRiverman]

I agree. I figured it's more about water conditions than cosmic conditions. My dad and grandpa always said just after the sun comes up and just before the sun goes down. That's always worked for me on the creeks I fish.

[Mitch f]

I'm not sure about the tables either but I always seem to catch the biggest fish between noon and 2pm

[Norm M]

I fish about 250 days a year, pay the tables no mind at all. Local conditions are what matter the most.

[laker67]

It was originated from folklore, and accepted as truth when the first issue was published in 1939. Named after the sun and the moon, but based on moon phases only. In my opinion, it was a marketing scheme way back then and still is today.

[Gavin]

Solunar theory was advocated by a fellow named John Alden Knight, who was a sports writer back in the 1940's & 50's......he is also the originator of the Mickey Finn fly. I have a couple of his books in my collection......His "Black Bass" is a good one..Lots of color plates of old timey bass flies...

Anyway, I put about as much faith in the solunar tables as I do his Mickey Finn fly. Still have a couple someplace, but I cant remember catching a fish on that fly. Cheers.

[stlfisher]

I agree with everyone else. I may glance at them from time to time, but never really pay much attention to them and certainly wouldn't plan a trip around them.