Solunar Tables

Possibly you have already heard about the Solunar Tables and maybe even have tried using them once or twice. The original  Richard Alden Knight Solunar Tables can be a very valuable weapon in any angler's arsenal. Yes, I have used them often and I have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt in my mind that they work for predicting when fish are most likely to be biting. Well, that's true most of the time anyway.

First, without going into a long-winded lesson about the orbital influences of the sun and moon, you should know that these tables were developed by Richard Alden Knight in the 1920’s. He was researching a personal theory while trying to explain his own experience that fish and other animals feed at certain predictable times every day. Knight knew there was some correlation that he was experiencing but he felt that the real importance in his theory would be the ability to predict the best times of day to hunt and fish. In order to be able to predict these feeding times for sportsmen in the future he needed to know exactly what natural forces were causing these feeding periods.  

The end result of years of research and the compilation and comparison of virtual mountains of data finally resulted in what we today call the Solunar Tables. These tables are made by recording the location of the sun and the moon at any given time of the day and their distances from our planet. Scientists already knew that ocean tides are caused by the orbital forces of the sun and moon but until Knight’s research no one realized what a strong effect these two forces also have on all living things on this planet, including humans.

Since the development of these tables, researchers have been finding incredible examples of their accuracy. Studies in manufacturing plants have shown conclusively that during the predicted active solunar periods productivity is normally much higher. Similar studies have shown that you are much more likely to hit a deer at night during a major solunar feeding period. Even plants have been shown to react to the solunar forces. One interesting study on oysters found that live oysters that were relocated thousands of miles inland still open their shells based on the solunar forces and not tidal periods. 

Folks, are you beginning to imagine the possibilities here? This means that my angry wife would be twice as likely to throw a dish at me when I come home late from a day of fishing if I arrive home during a major solunar period! I guess that’s just another good reason to use the solunar tables so that I can be fishing during those periods ......... right?    

In order to get the most accurate time calculations, your exact location must also be factored into the equation. I have seen some charts in magazines for the “best fishing times” that I couldn’t put much trust in because it is impossible to make a Solunar prediction without also calculating in the exact location that you will be fishing.

OK, that’s enough background about Solunar Tables. Suffice to say they have proven to be quite effective when they are used properly. What is going to be much more important for the angler is learning how to use them. For example, if you fish every Saturday from 6 am to 11 am and that happens to be the only time you ever fish, then these tables will probably not be much help to you in catching more fish other then the fact that they will be giving you a heads up that you will be fishing during a major feeding period on a particular day. Of course, even in that situation they might also be telling you that it would be a good time for you to be on your “A-Game” using your best presentation.

Another example of using the Tables effectively could be in scheduling a vacation to Canada when you have a choice from either week out of two weeks that are available. By studying the Solunar Tables you can research which of those two weeks has the most major feeding periods during the hours that you normally fish the most. Let’s say you are fishing for smallmouth. You already know that smallmouth will be normally be biting better between 6am and 10am at this lake. If you check your Solunar Tables for that location you will be able to find which week will have the most Solunar feeding periods during the most productive time of day.

Do the Solunar Tables work every time you use them? Not a chance! There other many other things that will determine your fishing success including wind, rain, clouds, warm fronts, cold fronts, fishing pressure, water quality, fish populations, time of year, time of day etc, etc. Well, you get the idea. Solunar Tables are just one factor in devising a successful fishing strategy, but it can be a very important factor in planning your fishing trips.

You can locate many free listings of online Solunar Tables just by putting the words “solunar tables” in a Google search box. I have noticed that some are accurate and some are questionable. If you want to be sure that you have the accurate times I strongly suggest that you order an annual edition of the "Real McCoy" offered by the descendants of Richard Alden Knight. The actual tables only cost $6.50 each and that includes postage.

If you are a fisherman, I think that you will find these tables are well worth owning. Plus the satisfaction that you are using the "genuine" tables will certainly be worth the price.

http://www.solunartables.com/