Best Days to Fish
Your nautical almanac for peak fishing times
Enter a US zip code, city name, or lake, or tap to use your location
We analyze moon phases, solunar feeding times, weather patterns, and barometric pressure to find the optimal fishing days in your area.
Learn how it works →Find the Best Days to Fish in 2026
Our free fishing calendar analyzes solunar tables, moon phases, barometric pressure, wind, water temperature, and weather patterns to rate each day from A+ to F. Scoring is informed by peer-reviewed fisheries research and uses real-time USGS water-quality data most forecasts skip. Enter your zip code above to get a personalized 7-day fishing forecast for any location in the United States.
This Week's Forecast
See the best fishing days this week with solunar feeding periods and moon phase ratings.
July Fishing Almanac
View the full July 2026 fishing calendar with daily grades and moon data.
How Our Forecast Works
All 12 factor weights published. See the advanced modifiers and peer-reviewed research behind our fishing scores.
Monthly Fishing Almanac
Species Guides
In-depth guides for 16 popular gamefish covering optimal conditions, seasonal patterns, proven techniques, and species-specific forecasts.
Fishing Tips & Strategy
Science-backed articles on barometric pressure, solunar theory, water temperature, seasonal strategies, and proven techniques.
Fishing by Region
Regional fishing guides covering 10 US regions with top species, key waterbodies, seasonal calendars, and local tips.
Is Today a Good Day to Fish?
Our solunar calendar combines real-time data from NOAA, USGS, and Open-Meteo to predict fish activity. Learn more about the science.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best days to fish in 2026?+
The best days to fish in 2026 are determined by a combination of moon phases, solunar periods, weather conditions, and barometric pressure. New and full moon phases (occurring roughly every two weeks) create the strongest feeding activity. Our fishing calendar rates every day from A+ to F based on 12 weighted factors including solunar activity, pressure trends, wind, water temperature, and more. Enter your zip code on our homepage to see the best rated days for your specific location.
Is today a good day to fish?+
Whether today is a good day to fish depends on your location and the current conditions. Our fishing forecast analyzes real-time data from NOAA, USGS, and Open-Meteo including moon phase, solunar feeding periods, barometric pressure trends, wind speed and direction, water temperature, and precipitation to give you a daily grade from A+ to F. Enter your zip code on our homepage to get today's fishing rating and see the best times to fish near you.
What is a fishing almanac?+
A fishing almanac is a calendar-based tool that predicts the best days to fish based on astronomical and environmental factors. Traditional fishing almanacs relied primarily on moon phases and solunar tables, but modern digital almanacs like ours combine those with real-time weather data, barometric pressure, water temperature, tides, streamflow, dissolved oxygen, and more. Our fishing almanac covers 24 months of daily fishing forecasts, grading each day from A+ to F so you can plan trips around the highest-rated days.
How does the solunar calendar work for fishing?+
The solunar calendar predicts fish feeding activity based on the position of the moon and sun relative to your location. When the moon is directly overhead (lunar transit) or directly underfoot (opposing transit), fish enter major feeding periods lasting 2-3 hours. During moonrise and moonset, minor feeding periods occur lasting 1-2 hours. Solunar theory was developed by John Alden Knight in 1926 after analyzing over 200 record catches. Our solunar calendar enhances these predictions with weather data, pressure tracking, and location-specific conditions for more accurate results.
What is the best moon phase for fishing?+
New and full moon phases are traditionally considered the best for fishing because gravitational pull is strongest during these alignments, creating more tidal movement in coastal areas. However, the most recent peer-reviewed test (Quigley et al. 2023, 361 trout trips) found no significant relationship between lunar phase and catch rates, so the effect is likely smaller than tradition suggests. Water temperature, barometric pressure, and weather matter considerably more than moon phase alone, and moon phase is only a 2% factor in our score, not a primary driver.