We ask Lewis Read - Moon phases have been a hot topic for some time now. Whether you believe in the moon's effects or not, many anglers do and with the banks being busier than ever, an increasing number of people seem to be planning their trips around them. But what is it about moon phases and how do they play a role
in your angling, if at all?

This feels a bit like Groundhog Day! I’ve written about my take on moon phases a few times over the years and it hasn’t changed much. So the good news is, if you have read my previous drivel on the topic you need not peruse any further… To coin a phrase that my generation may know of old, ‘why don’t you go and do something less boring instead’. Maybe even go fishing? Anyway, less whittering on and more words on the topic in question.

Like a good proportion of anglers, I’m personally certain that there is a link between the two, but I do question the concept how can there be any intrinsic link between the slight fluctuations in gravitational pull and a freshwater fishes behaviour? With no scientific evidence whatsoever of any fish’s ability to ascertain moon phase in a sealed environment I think that we can be fairly safe in the assumption that a higher organism like a carp isn’t directly affected by the gravitational aspect of moon phase.

Now, before you all get your knickers in a twist, I’m not saying there isn’t an affect! After all, there are loads of other factors that are linked

to moon phase. Light levels, everything weather pattern related (including air pressure fluctuations and all other environmental changes like wind direction) are environmental factors that do have a direct affect.

There is one aspect though, that to my mind is the logical link between moon phase and carp behaviour – and that is the activity/movement/migration/hatching of the carp’s primary natural food source - namely invertebrates.

There’s LOADS of scientific evidence that shows categorically that moon phase is the primary trigger for this activity; and as feeding is a necessity for carp then it’s logical that this is a major influencing factor in the apparent link between carp activity and the moon. This must be a far more likely scenario, rather than a land locked fish reacting to gravitational influences when they live in an environment where they are unaware of tidal influences.

This feels a bit like Groundhog Day! I’ve written about my take on moon phases a few times over the years and it hasn’t changed much. So the good news is, if you have read my previous drivel on the topic you need not peruse any further… To coin a phrase that my generation may know of old, ‘why don’t you go and do something less boring instead’. Maybe even go fishing? Anyway, less whittering on and more words on the topic in question.

Like a good proportion of anglers, I’m personally certain that there is a link between the two, but I do question the concept how can there be any intrinsic link between the slight fluctuations in gravitational pull and a freshwater fishes behaviour? With no scientific evidence whatsoever of any fish’s ability to ascertain moon phase in a sealed environment I think that we can be fairly safe in the assumption that a higher organism like a carp isn’t directly affected by the gravitational aspect of moon phase.

Now, before you all get your knickers in a twist, I’m not saying there isn’t an affect! After all, there are loads of other factors that are linked to moon phase. Light levels, everything weather pattern related (including air pressure fluctuations and all other environmental changes like wind direction) are environmental factors that do have a direct affect.

There is one aspect though, that to my mind is the logical link between moon phase and carp behaviour – and that is the activity/movement/migration/hatching of the carp’s primary natural food source - namely invertebrates.

There’s LOADS of scientific evidence that shows categorically that moon phase is the primary trigger for this activity; and as feeding is a necessity for carp then it’s logical that this is a major influencing factor in the apparent link between carp activity and the moon. This must be a far more likely scenario, rather than a land locked fish reacting to gravitational influences when they live in an environment where they are unaware of tidal influences.

"i still go fishing when i can, but i also relish being out in good conditions and on the moon phase"

"i still go fishing when i can, but i also relish being out in good conditions and on the moon phase"

Having said that, I don’t even think that sea fish are aware of moon phase either, at least not through some amazing extra sensory perception. Why would they need to develop this ability when they actually live in an environment that is directly affected by tidal flows dislodging or simply making food sources accessible. In which case they can then react to the tides and develop behavioral adaptations based on repetitive stimuli. Perhaps the way to consider this aspect is to compare it to a dog that knows when his owner gets back from work at a similar time each day and Fido is ‘ready’ to greet his master (and get fed), even though they don’t have a watch!

Having said all that, I still go fishing when I can, but I also relish being out in good conditions and on the moonphase, simply because there’s things happening under the surface that may trigger a domino effect, and if you’re out angling at that time you may just find yourself fishing for carp that drop their guard because of natural influences you will never be able to control…

Having said that, I don’t even think that sea fish are aware of moon phase either, at least not through some amazing extra sensory perception. Why would they need to develop this ability when they actually live in an environment that is directly affected by tidal flows dislodging or simply making food sources accessible. In which case they can then react to the tides and develop behavioral adaptations based on repetitive stimuli. Perhaps the way to consider this aspect is to compare it to a dog that knows when his owner gets back from work at a similar time each day and Fido is ‘ready’ to greet his master (and get fed), even though they don’t have a watch!

Having said all that, I still go fishing when I can, but I also relish being out in good conditions and on the moonphase, simply because there’s things happening under the surface that may trigger a domino effect, and if you’re out angling at that time you may just find yourself fishing for carp that drop their guard because of natural influences you will never be able to control…

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