Lake Run Browns - full moon or new moon?

[jellybread]

If one was to start making plans to target lake run browns in the next couple of months (both river and surf), what seems to be the best time to fish for them - full or new moon? Or somewhere in between?

It goes without saying that I will be fishing at night and/or dawn and dusk.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Tackle?

http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/

[Bull Market]

From my own personal experience, my best fishing starts 5 days after the FULL moon, then extends for the next 10 days (to the NEW moon). I've caught about 2/3 of my big browns during that time period. The other third are scattered randomly throughout the remainder of the lunar month . . . which means there's enough action throughout the entire lunar month to keep me interested. I fish all month long . . . irrespective of the moon phase. I start fishing immediately after darkness sets in.
Good luck.

[jellybread]

From my own personal experience, my best fishing starts 5 days after the FULL moon, then extends for the next 10 days (to the NEW moon). I've caught about 2/3 of my big browns during that time period.

A statistician after my own heart. May all your bets come out on the correct side of the coin!

Thanks.

[Queequeg]

Here is my big brown formula that I came up with one night after I hit my head on the toilet; it came to me in a vision.

New moon-34 hours/water temp x2+river water level in CFS/# of inches of clarity= flux capacity probability

then, take Flux Capacity Probability (FCP)x# of split shot used on the line-weight of the fly X Avagadros number= fishing quality.

Works every time.

[ausable_steelhead]

What side of the State are you fishing?

[jellybread]

What side of the State are you fishing?

Right side.

[jellybread]

New moon-34 hours/water temp x2+river water level in CFS/# of inches of clarity= flux capacity probability

then, take Flux Capacity Probability (FCP)x# of split shot used on the line-weight of the fly X Avagadros number= fishing quality.

I think that you put a decimal point in the wrong place (according to my spreadsheet).

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95296627

Good listen.

[Bull Market]

Ha, Ha, Ha That's a good one. But IMO there's more truth to the lunar impact than you realize. I've been tracking this for the last 2 1/2 years, trying to be as unbiased in my approach, as possible. I DIDN'T know what to expect, so I just made darn sure I was fair and unbiased in my approach.
In 2 1/2 years (309 days in the river with waders on and fly rod in hand) --I have found that my catch rate for fish 12 inches and larger is almost twice as high during the second half of the lunar month (full moon to new moon), than it is the other way around. When I filter out the smaller fish, and just look at those over 20-inches (59 during that time period). The ratio is even MORE skewed toward the second half of the lunar cycle. And as I told Jellybread earlier . . . from 5 days after the full moon, for the next 10 days . . . that seems to be a real hot time period.

One caveat, however, is that this does NOT relate to dry fly fishing and fishing major hatches. I only recorded observations for streamer fishing spring and fall, mousing after dark summer and fall, and nymph fishing during the winter and early spring.

Who knows, maybe after 1,000 days of fishing, all this will prove silly and untrue. But for now, that's what the numbers show.

As I also already told Jellybread, just because my "catch rate" is lower during those other time periods, I still fish all month long. There's enough action available to keep me on the river.

This record keeping stuff just adds another dimension to a sport that has thoroughly captivated me (if you can't tell) for over 40 years. If after another year or two of record keeping, the pattern falls apart, I WILL admit it.

Good fishing to all.

[jellybread]

Ha, Ha, Ha That's a good one. But IMO there's more truth to the lunar impact than you realize.

Which is why I asked (thanks again for publishing your research).

Anyone who has fished for sailfish knows that the moon plays a huge role. I can't imagine that it would be any different for any other voracious feeders, no matter what the area. I really do think that, if enough people recorded this data, there would be a distinct lunar phase in which to be on the river.

If not, then it sure is fun (part of fishing).

[UltimateOutdoorsman]

Here is my big brown formula that I came up with one night after I hit my head on the toilet; it came to me in a vision.

New moon-34 hours/water temp x2+river water level in CFS/# of inches of clarity= flux capacity probability

then, take Flux Capacity Probability (FCP)x# of split shot used on the line-weight of the fly X Avagadros number= fishing quality.

Works every time.

LOL!! :lol:

Seriously though... I wonder why the moon makes a difference? The same way the barometric pressure does? Very interesting indeed.

[jellybread]

Seriously though... I wonder why the moon makes a difference?

The moon directly affects their feeding habits. Here's a stab:

Brown trout are primarily nocturnal feeders - they have evolved with extremely good eyesight. When there is a full moon, their prey really has no chance. So the fishing isn't that good - the fish are done feeding in short order. When the moon provides less light for nocturnal feeding, the brown trout have to spend more time feeding.

Just a hunch...

[Queequeg]

"Stupid decimal point. I always put them in the wrong spot. I hate it when I do that."

High five for the first person to name the movie that line is from.

[jellybread]

"Stupid decimal point. I always put them in the wrong spot. I hate it when I do that."

High five for the first person to name the movie that line is from.

Office Space. I was gonna word my comment in the form of a reference from this movie but I figured that nobody would get it.

+5 for you.

[UltimateOutdoorsman]

Office Space.

Yeahhhhhh. I'm gonna have to ask you to move your desk downstairs.

http://www.oval.ca/bill/images/bill2.jpg


P.S. Isnt the "flux capacitor" from Back to the Future?

[Queequeg]

Yeah, that's a double wammy. Doc fell off the toilet and hit his head, thus the Flux Capacitor.

For a guy that likes to fish I sure do stay inside and watch way too much TV. Then again it is a lot easier to watch TV, fishing can be a lot work at times.

[UltimateOutdoorsman]

For a guy that likes to fish I sure do stay inside and watch way too much TV. Then again it is a lot easier to watch TV, fishing can be a lot work at times.

Funny I was thinking the same thing. Debating going to cast glow spoons tonight or watching Family Guy. Hmmm.

Also, nothin better than watching the Lions open the season 0-4.

[Queequeg]

Lions are terrible; background noise at best. Just watched Simpsons. If I lived near a river worth a dam (pun intended) I'd fish more. I live in SE Michigan. The only river with steel by me is the Huron, which is total garbage...literally. You've got about a 90% chance of hooking the illusive white plastic bag or a shopping cart. Today I caught 2 micro bass and some shad. No steel, though I honestly haven't caught a steelhead there in 2 years (still go down there though). Heading up north next weekend for some real fishing.

[UltimateOutdoorsman]

Yeah I see you live in the land of those "stink bears" aka Wolverines ;)

You should have good fishing up this way. Plenty of fish to be had in most systems, thats for sure.