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Posts: 759
| Just wondering when the rest of you guys are planning a trip, whats more important for that trophy- water temps or moon phase. For me, I like planning a trip based on water temps. If it's during a full moon, I just consider it a bonus. I know some will say both, but what do say is more important. Kdawg |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Initially when I started going to LOTW I planned around moon phase. We had no idea in January what water temps would be in July. Now we just stick with the same week every year, giving us somewhat consistent patterns from one year to the next.
Having a moon phase on your side is nice, but it will not make or break your trip. Local weather conditions will influence fish much more than anything else, and that is impossible to predict pre-trip.
My advice to anyone planning trips is to first find a body of water that offers what you are after whether it be #'s or size. Second, plan for a time that is historically "good" for that water, such as July for LOTW. Third, stick with the plan for a few years and give yourself a chance to learn the idiosyncrasies of the lake. This will make you much more successful and eliminate the need for "chasing" other variables such as moon phase to make your trip successful. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | I haven not followed the moon phases yet, so keep that in mind, but I would put a lot more attention towards water temp/time of year.
Last year I had a very long dry spell lasting about two months from about the end of June to the later part of August. The lake this happened on is well known for this due to high water temps (and maybe low oxygen and other things associated with the high temps).
Once late August hit, and the water temps started to decrease, the fish turned on. For a couple week period, I caught or raised fish every time I went, and I doubt I just happened to be hitting the moon phase right. On some lakes, water temp might not be as critical as that lake is, but I would much rather plan my trips during the historical peaks of the season, rather than a slow part of the season with a great moon phase.
This is not only what I have found with muskies, but walleyes, crappies, smallmouth, etc. Early ice can be hot for anything, from opener and a couple weeks on can be hot for walleyes, I do great on smallies during late August, ect. ect.
curleytail |
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| Time of year and moon phase if possible. Weather and other local conditions dictate in the end how you will do. |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | There is a different moon phase every 2 weeks so you can have a moon phase that coincides with most water temps. As well you can plan moon phases long time ahead where as water temps change from year to year. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tropymuskie has a great point. I worry about getting up there. The Muskies will be there, all one can hope for is fishable weather. |
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Posts: 8781
| I plan my trips too far in advance to consider anything other than moon phase. Water temperature is what it is when I get there. Not saying it's not important -- I'll try to avoid fishing Illinois and Southern WI in late July, as I expect surface temps to be somewhere around 80 by that time, and I try to avoid planning late season trips really far North where the water may be frozen, but that's about it.
You're at the mercy of the weather, and since you can't predict it far enough in advance to plan trips around it, all you can do is hope. I do try to make sure I'm on the water for moonrise/moonset and for the major and minor periods.
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