LadyFish
Admiral
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2003
- Messages
- 6,894
According to The Old Farmer's Almanac.<br /><br />PROBABLY THE BEST fishing times are when the ocean tides are restless before their turn and in the first hour of ebbing. All fish in all waters, salt and fresh, feed most heavily at those times.<br /><br />The best temperatures for different fish species vary widely, of course, and are important mainly if you are going to have your own fishpond. The best temperatures for brook trout are 45° to 65°F. Brown trout and rainbow trout are more tolerant of higher temperatures. Smallmouth black bass do best in cool water. Horned pout take what they find.<br /><br />Most of us go fishing when we can get time off, not because it is the best time. But there are best times, according to fishing lore:<br /><br />One hour before and one hour after high tides, and one hour before and one hour after low tides.<br /><br />During "the morning rise" (after sunup for a spell) and "the evening rise" (just before sundown and the hour or so after).<br /><br />When the barometer is steady or on the rise. (But, of course, even in a three-day driving northeaster, the fish aren't going to give up feeding. Their hunger clock keeps right on working, and the smart fisherman will find something they want.)<br /><br />When there is a hatch of flies -- caddis flies or mayflies, commonly. (The fisherman will have to match the hatching flies with his fly or go fishless.)<br /><br />When the breeze is from a westerly quarter rather than from the north or east.<br /><br />When the water is still or rippled, rather than during a wind.<br /><br />Starting on the day the Moon is new and continuing through the day it is full.<br /><br />Moon Between New and Full, 2004:<br /><br /> * January 1-7<br /> * January 21-February 6<br /> * February 20-March 6<br /> * March 20-April 5<br /> * April 19-May 4<br /> * May 19-June 3<br /> * June 17-July 2<br /> * July 17-31<br /> * August 15-29<br /> * September 14-28<br /> * October 13-27<br /> * November 12-26<br /> * December 11-26
