How It Works
Understanding our fishing forecast
Multi-Factor Scoring System
Our fishing forecast combines up to twelve environmental factors into a single score (0-100) that predicts fish activity levels. Each factor is weighted based on its impact on fishing success, with different weights applied for coastal vs freshwater locations.
The Factors
Solunar Activity
Moon-driven feeding periods
Fish activity peaks during major (moonrise/moonset) and minor (moon overhead/underfoot) solunar periods. These 2-3 hour windows trigger instinctive feeding behavior.
Moon Phase
New & Full moon = peak activity
New and full moons create stronger gravitational pulls, leading to more active fish. The 3-4 days around these phases are typically the best.
Barometric Pressure
Falling pressure triggers feeding
Fish sense pressure changes through their swim bladders. Slowly falling pressure (pre-front) often triggers feeding frenzies as fish anticipate weather changes.
Wind
Light breeze ideal (5-15 mph)
Light winds create surface disturbance that provides cover, pushes baitfish, and oxygenates water. Calm water can make fish wary; heavy winds make fishing difficult.
Air Temperature
Moderate temps (55-75°F) ideal
Extreme temperatures reduce fish activity. Moderate air temperatures usually indicate comfortable water conditions and active fish.
Water Temperature
Optimal range: 60-72°F
Each species has preferred temperature ranges. Generally, 60-72°F represents peak metabolism and feeding activity for most freshwater gamefish.
Sky Conditions
Overcast often better than bright sun
Cloud cover reduces light penetration, making fish feel more secure in shallow water. Low-light periods (dawn/dusk) are often most productive.
Precipitation
Light rain can help, storms hurt
Light rain reduces surface visibility, washes insects into water, and lowers angler visibility. Heavy storms scatter fish and make conditions unsafe.
Tides
Moving water = active fish
Coastal fishing success heavily depends on tidal movement. Moving water (2 hours before/after high or low tide) concentrates bait and triggers feeding.
River Flow
Normal flow is ideal
USGS streamflow data helps predict river conditions. Normal flow (25-75th percentile) provides ideal fishing. High flow brings more food but can be dangerous. Low flow concentrates fish but reduces activity.
UV Index
High UV pushes fish deeper
Fish are sensitive to bright light. High UV index causes fish to seek shade, deeper water, or heavy cover. Moderate UV (3-5) often produces the best surface activity.
Humidity
Affects insect activity
Moderate humidity (40-70%) is optimal for insect hatches and surface feeding. Very high humidity may indicate fog or mist conditions that can affect visibility.
Grading Scale
Coastal vs Freshwater
Our system automatically detects coastal locations and adjusts factor weights accordingly:
Coastal Locations
- • Tides factor enabled (14%)
- • Solunar activity (16%)
- • Pressure sensitivity (14%)
- • UV Index & Humidity tracked
- • Water temp from NOAA buoys
Freshwater Locations
- • No tides factor
- • Solunar activity (20%)
- • UV Index (5%) & Humidity (5%)
- • Water temp from USGS streams
- • Moon signs included in analysis
Data Sources
We aggregate data from trusted government and scientific sources:
- •NOAA CO-OPS — Tide predictions, water levels, and coastal water temperatures
- •USGS — Real-time stream water temperatures from monitoring stations
- •Open-Meteo — Weather forecasts, barometric pressure, wind, and precipitation
- •Astronomical Algorithms — Precise moon phase, position, and solunar period calculations
Frequently Asked Questions
The new moon and full moon phases are generally the best for fishing. During these phases, gravitational pull is strongest, creating more tidal movement in coastal areas and triggering increased fish activity. The 3-4 days surrounding new and full moons typically produce the best fishing conditions. Fish tend to feed more aggressively during these periods due to increased water movement and instinctual feeding responses.
Yes, barometric pressure significantly affects fishing success. Fish can sense pressure changes through their swim bladders. Slowly falling pressure (typically before a weather front) often triggers feeding frenzies as fish instinctively feed before the storm. Stable pressure in the optimal range (29.80-30.20 inHg) keeps fish comfortable and active. Rapidly rising pressure after a front can slow fishing temporarily as fish adjust.
Solunar tables predict the best fishing times based on the position of the sun and moon. They identify major periods (when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot, lasting 2-3 hours) and minor periods (during moonrise and moonset, lasting 1-2 hours). These periods correlate with increased fish feeding activity. Solunar theory was developed by John Alden Knight in 1926 and has been validated by decades of fishing records.
The best times to fish are typically early morning (dawn to a few hours after sunrise) and late afternoon (a few hours before sunset until dusk). These low-light periods offer ideal conditions as fish feel more secure feeding in shallower water. However, solunar feeding periods can occur at any time and often override time-of-day patterns. Major solunar periods during dawn or dusk are particularly productive.
Major feeding periods last 2-3 hours and occur when the moon is directly overhead (lunar transit) or directly underfoot (opposing lunar transit). These are the strongest feeding times of the day. Minor feeding periods last 1-2 hours and occur during moonrise and moonset. While not as intense as major periods, they still represent above-average feeding activity. Planning your fishing around these windows significantly increases catch rates.
Yes, fish often feed aggressively before a storm. The falling barometric pressure that precedes weather fronts triggers instinctive feeding behavior. Fish sense the approaching low pressure and feed heavily in anticipation of the poor conditions to come. This pre-frontal feeding period can produce excellent fishing, often within 12-24 hours before the storm arrives. Once the storm passes, fishing typically slows until pressure stabilizes.
Tides dramatically affect coastal fishing success. Moving water (during incoming and outgoing tides) concentrates baitfish, brings in nutrients, and triggers predator feeding activity. The best fishing typically occurs during the 2 hours before and after high tide or low tide, when water movement is strongest. Slack tide (when the tide changes direction) usually produces slower fishing as water movement pauses temporarily.