Hello all,

I am looking for a little better explaination of all the talk about major and minor phases.  I understand sun and moon rise and set, but I keep hearing people say they caught fish on a major or minor.  I have tried to research this a little more, and I keep coming up empty handed.  Any additional information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

major times often coinciding with the overhead position of the moon and minor times coinciding with the underfoot position of the moon.

In other words when the moon is directly over head that is a major time, when the moon is underfoot or all they way on the other side of the earth underneath you that is the minor time.

I saw a good explanation of when the periods come in to play for bass in a recent issue of In-Fisherman but don't remember the month. Seems the peak catching times are either just before or after the peak times. And I think the major periods occur when the moon is directly over (1) and under(2) you, while the minors are when the moon is at 90* to your position. If that were not so, there would be only one major and one minor period as the moon is only above you once a day.

John Alden Knight wrote a book many years ago called "Moon up, Moon down", on that very subject. Janns Netcraft used to carry it and it may be available through other sources also.

Thank you guys for all the help. Maybe I read too much info and try to do to much instead of focusing on the fish. I will continue t use the moon phases to my advantage, but I am not going to freak out if I cant figure the whole thing out. I will look for the book and maybe that can help me.

Another indication, one I read in the book "Fish Have no Hands", the author refers to going out with some friends and being surprised when they were in no hrry to get started. One of them asked him to look around and tell him what he saw. I do remember one of the things being cattle relaxing in the shade. A short while later, the cattle began to get up and move around and the friend said that it was time to go fishing. Could be that more than just the fish feel the moons pull.

I did a search for "Moon Up Moon Down" on Bookfinder...cheapest I could find was $29.95 (used from Canada)

Doug Hannon used to publish times on his website...but now he's selling a "Moon Clock" for $9.95...

http://bassprofessor.com/BassBlog/moon-clock/

Moon phase can be important...but other factors are involved too as Joe Bucher has this on his Musky Hunter website...

http://www.muskyhunter.com/moon-secrets/

Nothing on his website though...

http://www.fishingwithjoebucher.com

More decent articles....

http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phase_fishing.phtml

http://archives.in-fisherman.com/content/walleyes-and-werewolves/2

http://archives.in-fisherman.com/content/top-times-giant-largemouths

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2012/01/19/moon-magic-largemouths/

Current calendar on the Farmers Almanac

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/fishing/

Field and Stream...current

http://www.fieldandstream.com/solunar_tables_weather_hunt

In Fisherman has documented their Master Angler Award catches for years...and matched them to the tables. There is a corelation.

Statistically... the Moon Phases (especially the 6 day period centered on the full moon) do seem to positively affect big fish ...and their feeding....and thus, catches of larger fish.

In Fisherman (John Alden Knight) May calendar...

http://www.in-fisherman.com/solunar-calendar/?pid=148#image

Outdoor Life prediction page (you will need to "Change Location" and enter in your Zip)... http://www.outdoorlife.com/weather/fishing

May calendar on I'm Hooked...

http://www.imhooked.com/moon/1205.html

Here's search results for Mike Gardner's "Fish Have No Hands"...(you'll have to copy & past the WHOLE string into your Browser)

http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&ref=bf_s2_a1_t1_1&qi=eOkmu7r1dwh,sg9t,4q1tBSTgsQ_1169265366_1:6:324&bq=author%3Dmike%2520gardner%26title%3Dmike%2520gardner%27s%2520fish%2520have%2520no%2520hands%2520catching%2520tons%2520of%2520fish%2520in%2520bays%2520and%2520estuaries