Finnegas
Finnegas
Log in Create account Find the lake

Moon phases and bite calendar

What the moon may mean for the fishing, and a bite calendar for the coming four weeks.

Bite calendar

Sun for the middle of Sweden

The moon's phase for the coming four weeks, with sunrise and sunset. The moon is one clue among several; weather, light and season matter more.

  1. Today Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:45–17:44
  2. Sat 17/10 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:48–17:41
  3. Sun 18/10 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:51–17:37
  4. Mon 19/10 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:53–17:34
  5. Tue 20/10 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:56–17:31
  6. Wed 21/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:59–17:28
  7. Thu 22/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 08:02–17:25
  8. Fri 23/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 08:04–17:22
  9. Sat 24/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 08:07–17:19
  10. Sun 25/10 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:10–16:16
  11. Mon 26/10 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:13–16:13
  12. Tue 27/10 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:16–16:10
  13. Wed 28/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:18–16:07
  14. Thu 29/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:21–16:04
  15. Fri 30/10 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:24–16:01
  16. Sat 31/10 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:27–15:58
  17. Sun 1/11 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:30–15:55
  18. Mon 2/11 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:32–15:52
  19. Tue 3/11 Moon class 1 Poor fishing 07:35–15:49
  20. Wed 4/11 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:38–15:47
  21. Thu 5/11 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:41–15:44
  22. Fri 6/11 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:44–15:41
  23. Sat 7/11 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:47–15:38
  24. Sun 8/11 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:50–15:36
  25. Mon 9/11 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:52–15:33
  26. Tue 10/11 Moon class 3 Good fishing 07:55–15:30
  27. Wed 11/11 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 07:58–15:28
  28. Thu 12/11 Moon class 2 Fair fishing 08:01–15:25

The moon drives the tides of the oceans and changes the light at night. That is why anglers have long believed it affects the bite as well. Some of this is well founded, some more tradition than science.

What is most certain

  • Light at night. A clear night with a full moon is far brighter than one with a new moon. Predators that hunt in the dark, such as zander, may behave differently, and baitfish may hold in other places.
  • Tides on the coast. Where the tide is large, as on the Atlantic, it matters a great deal. In the Baltic and in lakes it is so small it is hardly noticed.

The solunar theory

In the 1920s an American fishing writer described the idea that fish and game are most active when the moon is highest, lowest, rising or setting, and around new and full moon. Bite calendars are often built on that idea. Studies give mixed answers: some see a connection, others do not. Treat the calendar as one clue among several, not as the answer.

Night fishing by moonlight

On bright nights around the full moon, predators may hunt further into shallow water because they can see their prey. Zander and perch can then be found on shallow flats and edges that are otherwise empty after dark. On dark nights around the new moon many species keep quieter, and fish that hunt by their lateral line and smell, such as eel and burbot, have the advantage.

Using the calendar

  • Plan ahead. The calendar covers four weeks, so you can pick days for a longer trip before there is even a forecast.
  • Weigh it with the weather. As the day comes closer, wind, pressure and light matter more than the moon. A fine evening with a gentle breeze beats a "good" moon day in a storm.
  • Compare with your log. The moon phase is saved with every catch. Over time you will see whether your best days follow the moon.

The calendar colours the days by the moon's phase: green around new and full moon, yellow around the crescents and red around the quarters. Sunrise and sunset are under each day, since dawn and dusk are often the best hours whatever the moon.