Moon Phase Fishing Calendar for Beaver Lake & White River

Moon Phase Fishing Calendar for Beaver Lake & White River

Track today’s moon phase, upcoming lunar cycles, sunrise and sunset, and see how changing conditions may influence fishing on Beaver Lake and the White River.

“This Calendar was inspired by my good neighbor and friend, Larry Wolfe, who loves fishing the Moon Phases.” 

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Current Moon Phase

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Species-by-Species Breakdown

Walleye

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Feeding Activity

  • New Moon: Often the strongest feeding period. Walleye are comfortable roaming shallow flats, points, and rock transitions under darker skies.
  • Full Moon: Increased overnight feeding can make the early morning bite shorter, but fish often become active again during low-light periods.
  • Quarter Moons: Feeding windows are usually shorter and more predictable around sunrise and sunset.

Best Time of Day

  • New Moon: Sunrise, sunset, and throughout the night.
  • Full Moon: First light and the last two hours before dark.
  • Quarter Phases: Focus on dawn and dusk.

Presentation Adjustments

  • Fish slower during quarter moons.
  • Cover more water during new moons.
  • Downsize presentations after bright moonlit nights.
  • Use natural colors in clear water and brighter colors in stained water.

Trout

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

How Moonlight Affects Overnight Feeding

Bright full moon nights often allow trout to feed heavily after dark, especially where aquatic insects and baitfish are active.

Morning Bite Expectations

After a full moon, expect a slower early morning bite before activity improves later in the morning.

During darker new moon periods, trout often feed aggressively right at daylight.

Best Periods During Each Phase

  • New Moon: Daybreak through mid-morning.
  • First Quarter: Early morning and evening.
  • Full Moon: Mid-morning after the overnight feeding slows.
  • Last Quarter: Consistent throughout the day if water generation is favorable.

Smallmouth Bass

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Aggressiveness

Smallmouth are generally most aggressive during darker moon phases and changing weather.

Shallow vs. Deep Movement

  • New Moon: More fish move shallow.
  • Full Moon: Fish may remain deeper after feeding overnight.

Top Presentations

  • Tubes
  • Ned Rigs
  • Topwater during low light
  • Jerkbaits in cooler months
  • Swimbaits around rocky points

Spotted Bass

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Schooling Activity

Schools often stay active longer during darker nights.

Best Feeding Windows

  • Sunrise
  • Late evening
  • Cloudy afternoons regardless of moon phase

Electronics Tips

Forward-facing sonar can help locate suspended schools during slower moon phases when fish aren’t actively chasing bait.

Largemouth Bass

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Low-Light Behavior

Largemouth become more comfortable roaming shallow cover during new moon periods.

Cover Preferences

  • Boat docks
  • Laydowns
  • Grass edges
  • Flooded brush

Moon-Related Activity

The days surrounding the new moon often produce the most consistent shallow feeding activity, especially during spring and fall.

Crappie

Excellent: 🌑 New Moon
Good: 🌕 Full Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Vertical Movement

Crappie frequently move higher in the water column during low-light periods.

Brush Pile Positioning

Fish often suspend above brush during feeding windows before dropping back into cover.

Best Bite Windows

  • Sunrise
  • Sunset
  • Around dock lights after dark

Catfish

Excellent: 🌕 Full Moon
Good: 🌑 New Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Night Feeding

Catfish commonly feed aggressively after sunset regardless of moon phase, but full moon nights often extend feeding periods.

New vs. Full Moon

  • New Moon: Fish rely heavily on scent and vibration.
  • Full Moon: Increased visibility can encourage longer roaming periods.

Scent Bait Effectiveness

Fresh cut bait, nightcrawlers, and prepared stink baits become especially effective during active nighttime feeding windows.

Bluegill / Sunfish

Excellent: 🌕 Full Moon (during spawning season)
Good: 🌑 New Moon
Fair: 🌓 First Quarter
Fair: 🌗 Last Quarter

Spawning Influence

Bluegill are famous for spawning around the full moon when water temperatures are suitable, often creating large bedding colonies.

Bedding Activity

Look for saucer-shaped beds in protected coves and shallow gravel areas.

Best Family Fishing Days

The full moon period during late spring and summer is often one of the easiest times for families and kids to catch large numbers of bluegill.

Pro Tip

Moon phase is only one piece of the puzzle. On Beaver Lake and the White River, factors such as water generation, water temperature, weather fronts, barometric pressure, clarity, and seasonal fish movements usually have a greater impact on success than the moon alone. Use moon phases to fine-tune your trip timing rather than as the only deciding factor. This balanced guidance builds credibility and aligns with what experienced anglers typically observe.

Moon Phase Quick Reference

Moon Phase Walleye Trout Bass Crappie Catfish
🌑 New Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌓 First Quarter ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌕 Full Moon ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌗 Last Quarter ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

“Guide’s Take”

“Moon phase is one factor, but on Beaver Lake and the White River, water generation, weather fronts, water temperature, and forage often have a bigger impact. We use the moon to fine-tune our strategy—not as the only predictor.”

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