Other anglers see other things relative to the moon. One of the most practical discourses on fishing at this time of year was suggested by Mille Lacs Lake Area Guide Ivan Burandt some years ago. "I begin fishing for walleyes at night during the August full moon, so long as it doesn't occur during the first part of the month," he says. "I get on the water a couple hours before dark, fish through the sunset bite, then fish until about midnight, for those couple days before and maybe a day or so after the full moon.

"On the night of the full moon, the sun sets just as the moon rises. Then the moon rises about 40 minutes to an hour later each evening following. The moon needs to be up to stimulate good fishing after dark. Two days after the full moon, you have to wait almost two hours after sunset before moonrise. That period has always been a dead time.

"At that point, I begin fishing midnight through sunrise. This lets me get in some night-fishing when the moon's up and also allows me to fish through the most consistent bite period at this time of year, the sunrise period. If I weren't guiding and had only three or four hours to fish on a given night," he continued, "I'd time my fishing to begin with moonrise, get a few hours in, then get enough rest to work the next day. Anytime I could fish through a sunrise period without wasting a lot of dead time waiting on the moon, I'd do it. The sunrise bite is by far the hottest bite this time of year -- mid-August through October.

"The only times I fish during dark-of-moon periods are during a few midnight to sunrise runs. In this case, the bite usually begins just as light barely touches the eastern sky. Oftentimes, a really good bite goes for about two hours."

Across the ages, the sun and moon have been markers for many of our outdoor activities. Sometimes we probably see what we hope to see. Other times, perhaps we can't see what we don't have the willingness to imagine. Observations like Burandt's point to a practical and calculable fishing logic related to some solunar events. My experience is based on countless hours in the field using other solunar events as markers, for what I believe is a potential increase in the overall chance for catching larger fish.