Best Days for Fishing in 2009

The Best Fishing Days for 2009, when the Moon is between new and full:

*January 1-10
*January 26-February 9
*February 24-March 10
*March 26-April 9
*April 24-May 9
*May 24-June 7
*June 22-July 7
*July 21-August 5
*August 20-September 4
*September 18-October 4
*October 18-November 2
*November 16-December 2
*December 16-31

The best times to fish are when the fish are naturally most active. The Sun, Moon, tides, and weather all influence fish activity. For example, fish tend to feed more at sunrise and sunset. During a full Moon, tides are higher than average and fish tend to feed more. However, most of us go fishing when we can get the time off, not because it is the best time. But there are best times, according to fishing lore:

Best Times for Fishing

*One hour before and one hour after high tides, and one hour before and one hour after low tides. Inland, the times for high tides correspond with the times when the Moon is due south. Low tides are halfway between high tides.

*During the "morning rise" (after sunup for a spell) and the "evening rise" (just before sundown and the hour or so after).

*When the barometer is steady or on the rise. (But even during stormy periods, the fish aren't going to give up feeding. The smart fisherman will find just the right bait.)

*When there is a hatch of flies -- caddis flies or mayflies, commonly. (The fisherman will have to match his fly with the hatching flies or go fishless.)

*When the breeze is from a westerly quarter rather than from the north or east.

*When the water is still or rippled, rather than during a wind.