Lunar calendars: Are they really accurate?

Darrell Rogers Loc: East Texas

Are they really accurate?

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

I have used them for years, and although they are not always “spot-on”, they do help when scheduling fishing days, if you have that option.

ripogenu Loc: norfolk, MA

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

Ive been using them for years. But I also match it up with the tides. Accuracy? that's up to you. if your fishing top water and the fish are chasing snails your not fishing were the fish are. years of fishing and paying attention to the what were and when of the fishing season is how you become more accurate. example: bluegills are not going to hit a dry fly in march. and trout are less likely to go for power bait in November. if you're just learning keep a little note book to flag your good days. in comes in real handy.

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

For the most part, yes. Example, a fishing app I use, which bases its predictions primarily on solunar cycles, said today in my area, the fishing would be "epic" (9.8 rating)--over a 2 hour period at a local pond I caught about a dozen bass. All dinks, biggest a pound and change, but they were biting, all on topwater (sorry no pix--phone camera out of commission). If the rating on a given day is "fair" (5.0) or below, I typically get skunked--this past Sat. spent 8 hrs on Lake Brittle (about an hour from home) and I could see schools of bass. Couldn't draw any interest--a total 0-fer day. And yes, on the predicted good days, you still have to throw where you know the fish are. No point in putting a grilled medium rare t-bone and a pint of Guinness on the table when I'm in the next town over.

fast_randy Loc: Blackfoot, Idaho

I was trying to use the In-fisherman tables on line for a while. You enter if you are fishing/hunting, then what fish you are after and then your zip code. But when I compared it to the printed two month version in my In-fisherman magazine, they were completely different. Now I don't trust either one.

padrebino Loc: BROWNSVILLE, TX / SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

I check the charts, tides etc, then I go fishing. If I'm catching then they're accurate, if not then I always wonder...but not too long.
Fishing is fun, relaxing and exiting, no need to complicate things, especially at my age.

Check the charts or whatever you check, then go out and enjoy yourself! That mysterious tug will get the adrenalin flowing.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

I find that they are extremely accurate at tellin us the day of the week just like the calendar on the wall.
Other than that they are at least as accurate as the weather man.
So my advice is "Go whenever you can and get on the water as early as you can."
That way you get to enjoy your time on the water longer.

DCGravity Loc: Fairfax, VA (by way of Cleveland OH)

saw1 wrote:

I find that they are extremely accurate at tellin us the day of the week just like the calendar on the wall.
Other than that they are at least as accurate as the weather man.
So my advice is "Go whenever you can and get on the water as early as you can."
That way you get to enjoy your time on the water longer.

Agreed! I know it's a truism on the Stage: A bad day fishing is better than the best day at the office.

El Rod Loc: Port A

Darrell Rogers wrote:

Are they really accurate?

I have the Fishing Points App. It gives me the tides at the Port Aransas jetties and I have to do a mental calculation for the area I’ll be fishing. The fishing predictions are not accurate. I’ve never gone by them anyway. The one thing I know for certain is you ain’t gonna catch any fish by watching TV😎👍

Carl Norton Loc: Sacramento, CA

Amen to that!

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

El Rod wrote:

I have the Fishing Points App. It gives me the tides at the Port Aransas jetties and I have to do a mental calculation for the area I’ll be fishing. The fishing predictions are not accurate. I’ve never gone by them anyway. The one thing I know for certain is you ain’t gonna catch any fish by watching TV😎👍

Question: How would you know if they are accurate if , as you say, you “have never gone by them”???

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Randyhartford wrote:

Question: How would you know if they are accurate if , as you say, you “have never gone by them”???

Hey Randy. I know you weren't talkin to me, but I don't really pay them much mind.
I go whenever I get the chance to go IF the tide is right. That's for Stripers, it's all bout the tides though.
If freshwater Bass fishin I just go early in the morning on whatever day I have available.
Sometimes it's just interesting to see what the "fishin" forecast is for the day, but I don't put much stock in that.

El Rod Loc: Port A

Randyhartford wrote:

Question: How would you know if they are accurate if , as you say, you “have never gone by them”???

Yes Randy that was one of the reasons I got the App. I’ve found the app says the best fishing days are on a full and new moons and I’ve found through my experience that fishing on a full moon has never been very good even to the point to avoid that time. It may be more accurate for night fishing but I don’t know. My only night fishing has been on long rang trips for 48-56 hours. I do tend to fish more toward a new moon. I generally just go by the tidal movement. And then most of the time I fish when I can, except on a full moon.😎👍

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

saw1 wrote:

Hey Randy. I know you weren't talkin to me, but I don't really pay them much mind.
I go whenever I get the chance to go IF the tide is right. That's for Stripers, it's all bout the tides though.
If freshwater Bass fishin I just go early in the morning on whatever day I have available.
Sometimes it's just interesting to see what the "fishin" forecast is for the day, but I don't put much stock in that.

I get it. I just don’t understand how someone can say the forecasts are NOT accurate, if they have NEVER used them. That’s all I was saying. 🥴

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

El Rod wrote:

Yes Randy that was one of the reasons I got the Ap... (show quote)

I’ve also found that the time of day/night makes a big difference, especially during the full moon. Some days the bite would turn on and off , coinciding exactly with the forecasted “major” feeding times. Other days - not at all.🤔. If I’m planning a trip out of town and have an option of dates, I always check the “tables” to see what days are forecast to be the best. It’s not always right, but more so than not…. Like someone else said, “you still gotta find the fish” and I have never used electronics before. However, I just bought a Garmin Striker Cast,
(similar to the I-bobber)
so once I’m able to get out and use it, will see if it helps me find ‘em! 👍