Should You Fish During The Solar Eclipse?

Throughout the country today millions of Americans will head outside, crane their necks skywards, and stare through cardboard glasses at the “Great American Eclipse,” the first total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. in nearly a century. However, humans won’t be the only ones stirred into a frenzy today. Biologists anticipate many animals will also act unusual today as the moon temporarily moves in front of the sun, but what does that mean for fishing?

It’s widely believed that the moon’s movements and gravitational pull have an effect on fish’s feeding habits. A quick Google search will bring up hundreds of forums and articles with lunar calendars predicting the best days and times of the year to fish solely based on the movement and position of the moon. So what do they expect will happen when the moon moves in front of the sun, as will happen during the total eclipse today? Well, it all depends on whom you ask.

Many anglers are heading to the water today in hopes that the solar eclipse means an increase in fish activity.

Bassmaster.com, the official website of the Bassmaster Tour, lists today, August 21 as the best day to fish in all of August and September on its lunar fishing calendar. Other anglers around the country are expecting similarly epic feeding frenzies as a result of the eclipse, combined with a new moon. However, not everyone is convinced by the logic. Bassmaster legend Kevin VanDam told the Sportsman Channel “I doubt it would have much effect being so brief,” he said.

Bassmaster predicts today, August 21 to be one of the best fishing days of the year. Photo viaBassmaster. 

Did you fish during the eclipse? Let us know how it turned out in the comment section below.