This site is a GUIDE to maximise your chances of angling success. Moreover to highlight what is the key
(OVERLOOKED) factor in deciding whether a fish is active or not, in other words
its clock. It also highlights important days to target fish, if one is lucky
enough to be able to choose! In the high pressure fishing circuit of today, one
needs an edge. My studies (and others world-wide) covering the past fifteen years
prove beyond any doubt there exists key days within the lunar cycle when big
fish can be most active, what is more key periods and times exist within them.
This does not mean that you work out a peak time and ALWAYS go catch to it, fishing is fishing and one needs to account for all factors.
Therefore, specimen fish are not active at all possible peak times, but
it will be a peak time when they are, NOT during a dead spell! My documented specimen fish list now exceeds 6000 (mainly barbel and mainly doubles)
but also in thier are over 1000 20lb+ Pike and several hundred big carp, all
fall during such peaks, over 83% of these on key days. I also have just about
every British record listed since and Including Ballentines record salmon and
when looking at records it gets more like 97% on key days! Some have asked "surely
if fish are hungry they can be induced to feed"? Any true angler is aware that
"if fish are not having it" there is not much that one can do about it, bar
wait! Often after several hours of inactivity given ideal looking conditions,
two or more anlgers will catch simultaneously", even from completely different
venues. Also listed are numerous catch "double ups" things like a mate of
mine has caught a 12.12lb barbel from the lower Severn and has phoned his mate
who was fishing the Ouse to tell him. To be informed that he has just banked
a 15.8lb barbel at the same time. Even the list of pike over 20lb from England
and Ireland, some are caught at the same time given the moon difference. Different
conditions, anglers, methods, etc, but the same time! This occurs far
to frequently for it to be "coincidence". In today's world of easy communications
it is easy to keep in touch with mate/s fishing different locations. Thus seeing
how often catch times coincide and what is therefore, the real trigger in
fish. To any angler who keeps a detailed diary of fish captures at best the feeding periods will appear random, favouring toward dusk. Fish will also be taken in all manner of weather conditions, barring extremes (even then in some cases). If one then adds the moons cycle to the equation, a pattern will immediately be seen, it then follows that the position and phase of the moon is the real and overriding factor governing fish activity. Other factors will enhance or reduce activity when coupled with this, one thing is certain these factors do not induce feeding. The most important aspect of this site is to aid you to determine daily peak times of big fish activity, within feeding periods. The PEAK TIMES page features overall moon related prospects, several days in advance, Also a full year peak days chart can be ordered there. In addition some possible peak times to be out there! Try to see in duplicate moon times as those depicted in the photo albums and on other pages, again it will not be long before you see what is the primary trigger in fish.......... IF YOU START TO DOCUMENT ALL YOUR CATCHES TO MOON PHASES YOU WILL BE ON YOUR WAY TO DEVELOPING YOUR OWN INVALUABLE DATABASE OF TIMES OF PEAK ACTIVITY IN FISH. THE SAYING "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND" COULD NOT BE MORE TRUE THAN IN THIS CASE. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO PACK UP JUST THAT LITTLE BIT EARLY OF A KEY POINT OR PERIOD? OR ON THE OTHER HAND ARRIVE JUST TO LATE? EVERY SPECIMEN FISH YOU LIST IS ONE MORE KEY TIME FOR THE FUTURE. THE BENEFITS OF FISHING THROUGH KEY PERIODS AND PEAK TIMES ARE IMMENSE. 96/7 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS THIS: MY SEASONAL AVERAGE UP UNTIL THEN STOOD AT 110 BARBEL LANDED. THAT SEASON MY SESSIONS WERE TIMED TO COVER WHOLE PERIODS. FISHING MANILY DURING DAYLIGHT, ALSO FISHING LESS TOTAL HOURS. THE YEAR TOTAL OF BARBEL SHOT TO 208! 140 OF THOSE WERE OVER 7LB AND INCLUDED 5 LUGG DOUBLES, HAVING TAKEN ONLY ONE LUGG DOUBLE THE 3 YEARS PRIOR (AND THEY WERE THERE). BY THE ANTEPENULTIMATE DAY, MARCH 12TH, THE TOTAL OF BARBEL CAUGHT STOOD AT 180. THIS GAVE ONLY THREE MORE DAYS TO REACH 200. A TALL ORDER BEING THAT, THIS DAY AND THE NEXT WERE GRIM MOON DAYS! FISHING THE GAS PIPE ON THE WYE IT SERVED UP 28 CHUB (PROPER CHUB) AND SIX BARBEL OF ABOUT4LB EACH. THE RIVER WAS LOW AND CLEAR AND IT WAS SUNNY, JUST HOW I LIKE IT. THIS LEFT THE 13TH AND THE 14TH WHICH WAS AN EXCELLENT MOON DAY TO BAG 14 MORE BARBEL. RETURNING TO THE PIPE THE FOLLOWING DAY SOMEONE WAS IN THE PEG. THIS LED TO A BLANK ON THE OUT OF CONDITION RIVER LUGG. STAYED UP ALL NIGHT AND ARRIVED AT THE PIPE AT DAYBREAK FACED WITH TRYING TO BAG 14 BARBEL. THE MOST I HAD TAKEN IN A SESSION UP UNTIL THEN WAS 13 FROM THE KENNET! HOWEVER, THE RIVER WAS STILL LOW AND CLEAR AND IT WAS SUNNY(PURFIK)! IT WAS TWO DAYS BEFORE FIRST QUARTER, MY FAVOURITE PHASE. BY THE TIME 7 WERE LANDED 4 WERE LOST SNAPPING THE MONO ON BOULDERS. THAT WAS ENOUGH A DECISION WAS TAKEN TO PUT THE BRAID FROM A CENTERPIN TO THE FIXED SPOOL REEL (THE SWIM IS ABOUT A 50YD WHACK ACROSS THE RIVER) AND NO MORE WERE LOST. TAKING A FURTHER 15 AND 4 CHUB, YEAR BARBEL TOTAL 208. PACKED IN KNACKERED AT DUSK WITH THE FISH STILL GOING. THE BARBEL BANKED WERE ALL SMALL 10 WERE 3-4LB AND 12 5-6LB NOT THAT I WAS BOTHERED.. SOME HAVE SAID THAT KNOWING IN ADVANCE KILLS THE ANTICIPATION. PERSONALLY I FIND IT ADDS TO IT. THE SAME WAY THAT CATCHING ON A HOMEMADE BAIT FEELS BETTER THAN CATCHING ON A MANUFACTURED ONE. |
IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT SUNSET WAS AT 20.00 ON THE ABOVE EVENING. 4 ANGLERS WERE
FISHING AND NOBODY HAD A TOUCH AT DUSK, AS PREDICTED, PRIOR TO THE EVENT ON FM
WEBSITE. THE FIRST BITE CAME AT 20.50. NOR WERE FISH CRASHING ABOUT EVERWHERE AS
THEY WERE AROUND THE NEW MOON ON BANK HOLIDAY, EVEN THOUGH WEATHER CONDITIONS
WERE THE SAME". THIS I HAD ALSO FORECAST. A SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU PAY LOWER SEVERN A VISIT
THE GOOD NIGHTS, AT NEW MOON DURING JULY AND AUGUST IN GOOD CONDITIONS, AND WITNESS
THE FISH ACTIVITY. THEN GO THE NEXT MOONSTRIKE GRIM NIGHTS AFTER NEW
MOON, AND WITNESS THE DIFFERENCE IN FISH ACTIVITY! |
Last year (2002)anglers mail, June 1st , had a write up on why the fishing
was so poor, blaming this on a cold snap the week before. The match was destined
to be a flop all along whatever the conditions! The match was fished on the 15th,16th
and 17th of May. This is what the moonstrike chart forecast (a year
ago) for those days, and a few surrounding them. May 10th - 14th excellent.
May 15th - 17th GRIM! May 18th - 20th excellent. Next years has been booked 19th - 25th of May, the best of those days are: 21st - 24th excellent, 25th average, with only a moon set period through the middle of the day. The 19th and 20th are grim. That said the 21st-25th is a vast improvement on this years days! Ideally the match would be better placed the peak days surrounding the following new moon, so the match covered the most intense periods, the moon transit, that few days later could make all the difference. This years match (2003)on better moon days had bags of fish caught over 70 kG's! |
THE HOME PAGE |
Barbel expert Chris Lyons reckons he has solved the two greatest mysteries
in angling: what triggers fish to feed and what causes the uncanny feeling when an angler suddenly feels he is about to get a bite. In a bombshell theory based on five years research Chris claims that the single biggest factor in deciding big fish hunters blank or bag up is the position of the moon. And, he says, by calculating the lunar orbit he can pinpoint PRECISELY when britains biggest fish will be hooked, and also forecast the periods when specimen anglers will bank on the bank.......even though conditions might appear perfect! Barbel society member Chris from Kington, Herefordshire, maintains that the bigger the fish whatever the species, the more susceptible it is to the invisible force of the moon. He also states that all fish in rivers, lakes and ponds are affected- even those targetted by matchmen. |
GEAR ROD: AVON MK4, GLASS,10FT,S/U REEL: GRICE/YOUNG C/PIN LINE: 20LB BRAID HOOKLEGNTH: 12LB CARPSILK HOOK: STRONG CARP, SIZE 2 HOOKBAIT: 6TH TIN L/MEAT FREEBIES: 3 HANDFULLS HEMP THIS FISH WAS ANGLING TIMES FISH OF THE WEEK RUNNER UP. |
14th July 1997, F.Q+2, MOON SET 01.10Hrs. 13Lb 3oz WYE |
This moon day was the equivalent of the 3 peak days I wrote in Angling Times
in 1999 (around the first quarters). I got snapped on the strike, the line had
gone between boulders at the end of the H.P feeding period(22.00ish). This is
a crunch point around FQ through the summer. At approx 23.30 in the dead spell a 5.7 chub took my bait. Thoughts of packing in were
lurking in my mind. However, the decision was taken to stick it out until
moonset feeling pretty sure something would happen, it felt "right". The moon
started to disappear over the hills at 01.02, at 01.15 the funny breeze I write
of started up, as did my bobbin. The fish was runner up in A.T. fish of the
week. It was taken on meat flavoured with Pearce and Duff chocolate flavouring. A FEW PEAK DAY PEAK TIME RECORDS ARE LISTED BELOW The magnificent record Barbel of 19lb 6oz was also taken on FQ+2 around moon H.P(19.30HRS) by Tony Gibson. On Jan 4th 2001 a peak day on the charts as were the the records below. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THIS AND OTHER RECORDS FALL AT MOON TRANSIT TIMES. Lets look at another first quarter (my favourite phase) fish. The fantastic 19.2 barbel landed on a peak day by Tony Miles. This was britains second biggest barbel. The day was 21st feb 2002,FQ+1. Conditions according to Tony were dire with the water temperature 43o, having dropped 3oc overnight following a heavy frost (dropping temps alone do not put fish off (SEE MIST-DEW-COLD PAGE). Previous documentation tells me that the fish came on or close to 14.14hrs, the end of rise peak. There was another possibility at about 12.45hrs, which he arrived to late for. He then backed the barbel up with a 6lb+ chub (in the dead spell). BRITAINS FIRST 60LB CARP(61.2),CAME OUT ON 11TH 0CTOBER 2001, LQ+2, IT CAME AT 20.30 HRS. L.O WAS AT 20.30, ANOTHER MOONSTRIKE PEAK DAY! AND MOON KEY TIME! HOWARD MADDOX FORMER RECORD WAS ON 29TH NOV 1997, NM-1, IT CAME AT 12.OO, H.P WAS AT 11.25. AGAIN A MOONSTRIKE PEAK DAY. NOT AWARE OF THE TIME OF THIS CAPTURE I HAD THE DETAILS WITH 12.00? FOR THE TIME, IN MY BOOK. UPON MEETING HOWARD AT THE B.S AGM I ASKED WHAT TIME HE HAD HIS FISH, "NO MORE THAN 5 MINS EITHER SIDE OF MIDDAY" HE REPLIED..... THE FIRST OF STUART MORGANS RECORDS OF 17LB 90Z WAS AGAIN A PEAK MOON DAY, DEC 11TH 2000, FULL MOON, IT FELL AROUND 19.00 HRS, THE END OF MOON RISE PEAK IN DECEMBER. THE SECOND OF 17.14 WAS AGAIN A PEAK DAY LQ+2, DEC 20TH 2000, IT SLIPPED UP AROUND 19.40. L.O WAS AT 20.20. GUY ROBBS RECORD OF 17.6 ON MARCH 6TH 2000 WAS AGAIN A PEAK DAY, NEW MOON. THIS ONE CAME AROUND 19.45 HRS, THE END OF SET PEAK FOR NM IN EARLY MARCH (moon set 18.11 peak around 90 mins after). DECEMBER 12TH 1997, FM-2 SAW RAY WALTON BANK A 15.7, AGAIN A MOONSTRIKE PEAK DAY. RAY WALTON ALSO BANKED A FORMER RECORD BARBEL OF 17LB 4OZ FROM THE OUSE ON3/3/1999 FM+1 YOUVE GUESSED ANOTHER PEAK DAY. FORMER RECORD HOLDER PETE WOODHOUSE CAUGHT HIS MEDWAY RECORD ON JUNE 16TH 1994, YES ANOTHER PEAK DAY, FIRST QUARTER. 18TH SEPT 1998 SAW FORMER RECORD CARP "MARY" BANKED AT 03.30 MOONRISE 04.07. AGAIN A PEAK DAY, NEW MOON -2. AUG 28TH. GRIM(2002). AUG 29TH. GOOD LQ-2, LEE JACKSONS RECORD CARP JUST BEFORE MOON HIGH POINT (THE SAME AS A FEW OTHER RECORDS, AS I SAY, DO NOT PACK IN JUST BEFORE MOON HIGH POINT!). CONGRATULATIONS LEE, A BELIEVER IN MOONSTRIKE. LEE ALSO STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THE FEW ALREADY FISHING FOR A FEW DAYS AT CONNINGSBROOK, "NOTHING HAD MOVED THE COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR", YET HE, " STARTED EXPERIENCING LINE BITES FROM MIDNIGHT" ! "Benson" came out on the night of 20/11/02 at 57lb+. A moonstrike key day that was featured in Anglers Mail. FM-1 AGAIN THIS FISH CAME CLOSE TO MOON HIGH POINT. "Benson" out again on June 2nd 2003 this time at 60lb 80z, another excellent moonstrike day. The fish took and I quote,"in the early hours". L.O ( moon transit time)02.35 hrs! NEXT THE LATE DICK WALKERS "CLARISSA" ON SEPT 13TH 1952, LQ-2, ANOTHER PEAK MOON DAY! |
THE EMBASSY PAIRS 2002/3 |
3rd September 2000, FQ-2, SET 22.15hrs, 10lb 4oz |
This is an account from Fishing Magic mailing list: 'To Chris', "Nice fish last night,
well done". 'To All', "Somebody has got to start believing in this guys moon
theories!" He said to me "it will be dead from 7pm until about 8.45pm then the Barbel will probably feed, but it wont be brilliant because the moon phase isnt
intense enough. The session will go on until 10.15pm and a bit after when the
moon sets. That will be a good time!" It was dead between 7pm and 8.30pm(then
a few Barbel started leaping clear of the water, but not in the numbers last Monday
- Bank Holiday). At 8.50pm my rod tip hooped over and I had a Barbel on.
Like a plonker I managed to lose it. About an hour later I had another bite which
I didnt connect. At 10.15ish, just as Chris predicted, he landed a 10.4. We
didnt get anything else between then and eleven. So we had a 3 bites in the period
Chris predicted, which isnt brilliant for the lower Severn, but much to Chriss
expectations. Spooky or What? COOPERMAN (Dave Cooper) |
Short article on feeder fishing, this shows how fishing a bow of slack will bank
more fish HERE |
STILL UNSURE THAT SPECIMEN FISH ARE MAINLY ACTIVE ON KEY DAYS? WHY NOT BROWSE THROUGH
THIS LIST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED AMERICAN STATE RECORDS. HERE |
ANGLING TIMES 1999 |
"THE SPECIMEN HUNTERS EDGE" |
SOME OF YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HERE |
YOUR GALLERY CONTAINS SOME AWESOME FISH SENT IN BY FELLOW MOONSTRIKERS, KEEP 'EM
COMING HERE |
"TWO TONE" WAS BANKED ON SATURDAY, FEB 21ST 2004, NEW MOON+1. ANOTHER RECORD ON A
MOONSTRIKE PEAK DAY, THIS ONE FEATURED IN THE ANGLERS MAIL! CAPTOR WAS JON PACK, THE FISH WEIGHED IN AT AN AWESOME 64LB 50Z. THE FISH CAME IN CONDITIONS
WHEN THE CARP TEXTBOOK SAYS YOU SHOULD BLANK. FREEZING COLD NORTH EASTERLIES
AND PLUMETTING WATER TEMPS. YET MOONSTRIKE SAYS YOU HAVE A GOOD
CHANCE. THE FISH TOOK AT 09.00, THIS IS THE END OF RISE PEAK |
MORE MOONSTRIKE DIRECT RECORD HITS! |
FISHING TO MOON PHASE IN 9 STEPS HERE |
THIS IS ONE OF MANY WITNESSED DOUBLES I HAVE CAUGHT SOMETIMES TO THE MINUTE OF TIMES
GIVEN. THE PHOTO ALBUMS HAVE |
Three short videos showing the Lyons Pin Sidecast HERE Also some mp3's of fish caught at times I gave on Fishermans blues opening day 2007 |
HIT COUNTER |
GEAR ROD: 11FT MK4, GLASS REEL: GRICE/YOUNG C/PIN LINE:20LB BRAID HOOKLENGTH: 15LB CARPSILK HOOK: STRONG CARP,2 HOOKBAIT: HALF TIN OF L/MEAT FREEBIES: NONE |
"TWO TONE" AGAIN NEW MOON RULES THE FISH OVER BAD CONDITIONS! ( I AINT SURPRISED
lol!) CAUGHT AT 2AM ON APRIL 6TH 08 NEW MOON BY JOHN BIRD AT 67LB. THIS TIME WITH SNOW LYING ABOUT! CONGRATS JOHN. TRANSIT (L.O) WAS AT 1AM |
FROM TUESDAY 20TH MAY 2008 BRITAINS BIGGEST WEEKLY ANGLING MAGAZINE, ANGLING TIMES
WILL BE PUBLISHING THE WEEKS WEATHER TOGETHER WITH THE MOONSTRIKE FISHING FORECAST
ALONG WITH SOME PEAK TIMES FOR EACH DAY. THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY KEY TIMES
BUT WATCH FOR CHANGES IN WIND NEAR THEM AND DONT PACK IN JUST PRIOR IF ONE IS
COMING UP! THE IDEA IS TO WATCH FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN NEAR/ON THESE TIMES AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR
SIMILAR THINGS AT OTHER TIMES. LIKE FARMYARD DOGS SUDDENLY BARKING, OWLS HOOTING(ESP
AT MOONSET) GENERALY WILDLIFE LIVENING UP. YOU MAY LIKE TO LISTEN TO A RECORDING FROM KEITH ARTHURS EXCELLENT FISHERMANS BLUES RADIO SHOW FROM THE WEEKEND 6-8AM TALKSPORT 1053/1089 MW. CARP CHAMPIONSHIP FRI/SAT 9/10TH 08 HAD A GRIM RATING WITH POOR CATCHES! HERE SUNDAY MAY 11TH 08 EXCELLENT RATING AND THE FISH STARTED ON TRANSIT TIME AT 06.30! HERE both are just over a minute long and small mp3 files |
BELOW IS AN EXTRACT FROM THE PROSPECTS PAGE AT THE END OF (2002/3). |
"AS YOU CAN SEE THE LAST FEW DAYS FALL AROUND FIRST QUARTER THIS IS MY BEST PHASE
AND ONE THAT A LOT OF SPECIMENS FALL ON, WOULD,NT BE AT ALL SURPRISED IF SOME
RECORD FISH IS OUT ON ONE OF THESE DAYS. THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE LAST DAY
IS WE CAN SEE IN MOON H.P AT 21.15." MAR 10TH. EXCELLENT MAR 11TH. EXCELLENT, FIRST QUARTER MAR 12TH. EXCELLENT MAR 13TH. GOOD MAR 14TH.IFFY |
IT APPEARS THAT MY PREDICTION ABOVE FOR A RECORD WAS FULFILLED WITH THE CAPTURE OF
THE NEW RECORD CHUB OF 8LB 130Z FROM DOBBS WIER, BY TIM ARCHER, ON
MAR 12TH. OTHER THINGS THAT TIE IN WITH THINGS WRITTEN ON THIS WEBSITE. "ALWAYS
WATCH THE POINT 2HRS BEFORE MOON TRANSIT AROUND THE QUARTERS". MOON H.P WAS
19.24, CHUB AT 17.30. "ADVANCE POINTS OF BIG FISH CAPTURES BY APPROX 50 MINUTES
FOR THE NEXT DAY". THE PREVIOUS DAY I HAD A 4LB+ CHUB FROM THE WYE AT16.39! |
MORE RECORD CHUB ON KEY DAYS...... |
THE 8LB 14OZ POTENTIAL NEW RECORD CHUB CAUGHT BY ROB TOUGH ON 2/1/04. YET ANOTHER
ON A MOONSTRIKE EXCELLENT DAY. EVEN BETTER IT CAME AT 20.30HRS. MOON TRANSIT (H.P)
20.30. ANOTHER RECORD AT TRANSIT TIME. AS I SAY "ALWAYS TRY TO SEE IN MOON
RISE, MOONSET AND THE TRANSIT TIMES. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOOSE AND EVERYTHING
TO GAIN". CONGRATULATIONS ROB ON A GREAT CATCH |
THE AWESOME 9LB 50Z RECORD CHUB ON MAY 23RD 2007 THE DAY OF FIRST QUARTER AT 11AM
APOLOGIES CANNOT FIND CAPTORS NAME! MOON RISE WAS 11.45AM |
BELOW IS A WRITE UP FROM OUTCOME OF MY PREDITIONS ON FISHING MAGIC WEBSITE, ONE OF
MANY WITNESSED DOUBLES I HAVE PUT ON THE BANK AT KEY PREDICTED TIMES, THE PHOTO-ALBUMS
HAVE MORE..... |
I HAVE JUST ALSO UPLOADED SOMEMORE MP3'S FROM OPENING NIGHT ON FISHERMANS BLUES 2007
KEY TIMES I GAVE ON THE SHOW PRODUCED 21LB THAMES CARP AND MORE TO THE MINUTE!
THE LINKS ARE IN THE VIDEOS PAGE HERE |
" TWO TONE" AGAIN ON A MOONSTRIKE PEAK DAY AUGUST 16TH 2008 THE MORNING OF FULL MOON THIS TIME AT BIGGEST EVER WEIGHT 67LB 14OZ |