It's that time of year again. KVD recently published an article on how the moon drives bass movement during the spawn: Link to Bassmaster Article

I know this won't be a popular opinion with everyone...

I’m a huge KVD fan, but with all due respect, moon phases impacting bass movement is a complete myth. Can anyone point to a peer reviewed scientific study that shows the moon has an effect on freshwater fish movement? The answer is no. It doesn’t exist.

Speaking hypothetically, if it did exist how would the moon influence bass? Freshwater lakes are far too small for tidal movements. Your boat has a greater gravitational pull on a bass than the moon. Is it light levels? Do we think bass sit just below the surface like gators waiting to see if it’s a full moon? What do they do if it’s cloudy? Folks do realize that a full moon doesn’t have any more of a gravitational pull than a new moon right? It’s just a shadow. The whole moon is still there.

This is a prime example of an illusory correlation. If anything, my best guess as to what might be happening is this: If you can see a full moon, then you have clear skies. If you have clear skies at night, there is a good chance you had clear skies during the day. Clear skies mean sunshine which means warming water which could drive fish shallow during the spawn.

I’ve looked at over 40,000 catch data points trying to find a correlation between moon phases and catch rates. I even published a book on the subject. I love KVD, but this correlation does not exist and is nothing more than another moon myth.

No offense, I'll trust KVD on this one.

Yeah that moon deal is a joke but when you see cows laying you might as well stay home cause the fish ain't biting when the cows are laying. It's called animal spirits.

Yeah, that's one I just can't go for, Josh. Why does the best fishing at Camelot Bell always revolve around moon phases? I've not done the research you have but can tell you without a doubt that my many years of OTW experience indicate better fishing around the new and full moons. Now, best feeding times during those periods published with solunar tables are impacted by too many variables to be valid.

I just look at it like KVD has literally tens of thousands of hours on the water in more diverse bodies of water, seasonal conditions and weather to base his logic on. A guy running out for a few days to do a study is not taking in near the "data" that hours upon hours and years and years on the water see.

I don't get too caught up in any of it because my reality is I go fishing when I can go and I have no control over moon, weather, barometric pressure etc. I don't want too much negativity filling my mind as I launch.

I also put zero clout on the cows laying down deal. Look out at a herd, you rarely see all of them doing the same thing at the same time.

I was out fun fishing one time and on the way to the lake we saw some cows laying down. My partner pulled over and started yelling at them to get their arses off the ground! You know who you are... I'm with Mark. I trust the master.

I believe your data, but something sets fish to spawn in waves. It's always been assumed it was the moon. Maybe it's water temp? Maybe some fish are ready to go at 60, some at 64 and some at 68?

I will say this though, I have had many days where the bite was phenomenal and was within 10 minutes of a "prime time" on the lunar charts. It seems to effect saltwater fish more than freshwater, but it surely can't be coincidence that the fish turned on and off like a light and it was nearly spot on to the lunar tables. www.usprimetimes.com is the site I've used for saltwater for several years, it's spot on, like every time, unless there's some serious weather going on.

The last time I saw it confirmed in freshwater was for the THSBA State Championship on Ray Roberts last year. We found fish in practice, but they would not bite until 9:30 a.m. We fished it hard in the morning on day 1, nothing. Watched 4 other boats fish the same water while we were close by, nothing. Went back, my guys caught 3 for about 12 lbs in a matter of minutes then it quit. I checked my phone that night and sure enough, it was spot on. Day 2, we started again with nothing there. Watched several more boats fish through there with nothing, my guys were panic mode, I told them no worries, they wouldn't bite for another hour. Boats cleared out, we got on the spot about 10 minutes early based on the charts, then the next hour they had 17 lbs, then it was completely over.

Prefishing for a tourney on Lewisville several years ago, in February, fished all day with nothing, then caught a couple of nice ones at 4:30. I talked with a couple of other guys, same story, zero fish until between 4 and 5. Checked the tables, spot on.

Is your catch data just on big fish? Maybe it's skewed to the spawn if it is?

Whether the moon affects the spawn, I don't know, but I do know it effects fish. Here's something to investigate if you have enough data. It's never the full moon or new moon that has shown to have the biggest effect for me, it's the "moon overhead", and even more so the "moon underfoot".

I do not have the scientific data to prove my beliefs but I definatly disagree. I think many people take it to an extreme and give moon phases....too much credit for bass behavior but does this science play a role in bass behavior? Absolutely! Explain the many, many years of my fishing experience that there have been empty spawning areas only to have the bass magically appear within a couple days both sides of the full moon. Year after year after year. I don’t know why, I just know it happens. No absolutes but there is some science too all this. Plus the “my boat has a greater gravitational pull on bass than the moon” thing kinda looses my respect for your 40,000 pieces of data. JK, a little!

I can't say with certainty, but if it affects werewolves it seems like it could do the same for bass.

It has an effect on spawn when conditions are already ideal. I've seen more big fish on avg hit the bank leading into a full moon.

I watch the activity of my wife's house cats. It is an absolute predictor of bass behavior. Cats going nuts tearing the house up fish eating, all of them asleep all day fish not eating.

I believe the moon effects fishing like they can see my braid.

I love how you dispel conventional wisdom and replace it with “my best guess what might be happening is...”.

There are also people who believe the earth is flat. I suppose we can all peacefully coexist.

I haven't done studies, but I do read and Fish quite a bit. There are many factors driving large mouth bass bite. Some counter act the other. Water clarity, forage base, cover, fishing pressure, barometric pressure, water temps, water rising or falling, current, season, fish population, angler skill, angler faith in presentation, Quantum physics, and moon phase. Angler TOW and willingness to change counter act these factors to some extent. Just a thought.