We ask Myles Gibson - 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?

We ask Myles Gibson - 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?

I’ve never really been able to pick which days I go fishing, I’ve always had my set day’s and for a long time now that’s been Sunday to Wednesday. If a “good” moon phase falls on those days, then brilliant but if not then there’s nothing I can do about it. As a result of that it isn’t something I’ve been obsessed with or payed major attention to and I certainly don’t plan my angling around the moon.

It would be silly for me to say that the moon doesn’t have some kind of influence when it comes to fishing. You only need to look at its affects on the tides, the weather and other things within nature, but I base my fishing on what’s happening in front of me on that day. I’ve heard very capable anglers, who’ve caught plenty of good carp, say that they can’t reel in until after a certain time because that’s when the peak of the moon phase is. I couldn’t do that myself and if I see fish somewhere else other than where I’m fishing then I’ll move regardless of the time but that’s what works for me.

If I look back, then there’s no doubt I’ve had some big fish on certain moon phases. Petty’s common for example was bang on a new moon as were a couple of the Tatton fish. You only need to go for a walk around the lake on a new moon though and you’ll notice that more

often than not, all wildlife seems more active. I believe this is because everything feels safer under the cover of darkness and I’m sure the carp are no different.

Something else I’ve always been conscious of on certain lakes is that you’ll have a group of keen anglers fishing on the moon phases, with these periods being generally busier, so if you look at it as a simple numbers game then more fish will get caught. If on the same lake less people are fishing off the moon phase, then naturally it will do less bites.

There are so many variables in carp fishing that no one thing dictates the success someone has. If I had the luxury of being able to pick my days then I might give the moon phases more thought, but I can’t, so why potentially get myself wound up about not being able to be there for a full moon or the last quarter, it’s not worth it. I’d much rather concentrate my efforts on being on fish and fishing as effectively as possible and if I’m being honest, I think this is what will catch you more carp.

I’ve never really been able to pick which days I go fishing, I’ve always had my set day’s and for a long time now that’s been Sunday to Wednesday. If a “good” moon phase falls on those days, then brilliant but if not then there’s nothing I can do about it. As a result of that it isn’t something I’ve been obsessed with or payed major attention to and I certainly don’t plan my angling around the moon.

It would be silly for me to say that the moon doesn’t have some kind of influence when it comes to fishing. You only need to look at its affects on the tides, the weather and other things within nature, but I base my fishing on what’s happening in front of me on that day. I’ve heard very capable anglers, who’ve caught plenty of good carp, say that they can’t reel in until after a certain time because that’s when the peak of the moon phase is. I couldn’t do that myself and if I see fish somewhere else other than where I’m fishing then I’ll move regardless of the time but that’s what works for me.

If I look back, then there’s no doubt I’ve had some big fish on certain moon phases. Petty’s common for example was bang on a new moon as were a couple of the Tatton fish. You only need to go for a walk around the lake on a new moon though and you’ll notice that more often than not, all wildlife seems more active. I believe this is because everything feels safer under the cover of darkness and I’m sure the carp are no different.

Something else I’ve always been conscious of on certain lakes is that you’ll have a group of keen anglers fishing on the moon phases, with these periods being generally busier, so if you look at it as a simple numbers game then more fish will get caught. If on the same lake less people are fishing off the moon phase, then naturally it will do less bites.

"You only need to go for a walk around the lake on a new moon though and you’ll notice that more often than not,
all wildlife seems more active.
"

"You only need to go for a walk around the lake on a new moon though and you’ll notice that more often than not, all wildlife seems more active."

There are so many variables in carp fishing that no one thing dictates the success someone has. If I had the luxury of being able to pick my days then I might give the moon phases more thought, but I can’t, so why potentially get myself wound up about not being able to be there for a full moon or the last quarter, it’s not worth it. I’d much rather concentrate my efforts on being on fish and fishing as effectively as possible and if I’m being honest, I think this is what will catch you more carp.

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