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Solunar Tool · Updated 2026-08-07

Best Fishing Times

Free solunar fishing calendar for every lake on LakeQuality — 36 states and 2 Canadian provinces and counting. Calculates sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and major/minor solunar periods from your lake's actual latitude and longitude.

Want more than the moon? The LakeQuality Fishing Forecast adds each lake's measured water clarity, trophic state, and depth — plus species spawn timing and technique — to this solunar calendar.
Open the Forecast →

Today (reference point: Upper Midwest · Central Time)

Centered on northern MN/WI lake country. Sunrise 5:52 AM, sunset 8:27 PM. Moon is Waning Crescent (32% illuminated). Day rating: ☆☆☆☆☆.

Pick a lake below for an exact forecast at that lake's coordinates — Eastern-state lakes show times in their own zone on their lake pages.

Regional 14-Day Calendar

DateRatingMoonSunriseSunsetMajor PeriodsMinor Periods
Fri, Aug 7☆☆☆☆☆
Waning Crescent
32% lit
5:52 AM8:27 PM
6:34 PM – 8:34 PM
7:04 AM – 9:04 AM
11:15 PM – 12:15 AM
4:04 PM – 5:04 PM
Sat, Aug 8☆☆☆☆☆
Waning Crescent
23% lit
5:53 AM8:25 PM
7:34 PM – 9:34 PM
8:06 AM – 10:06 AM
12:01 AM – 1:01 AM
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
Sun, Aug 9☆☆☆☆☆
Waning Crescent
14% lit
5:55 AM8:24 PM
8:38 PM – 10:38 PM
9:10 AM – 11:10 AM
1:02 AM – 2:02 AM
6:12 PM – 7:12 PM
Mon, Aug 10½☆☆☆☆
Waning Crescent
8% lit
5:56 AM8:22 PM
9:42 PM – 11:42 PM
10:14 AM – 12:14 PM
2:17 AM – 3:17 AM
Tue, Aug 11★½☆☆☆
Waning Crescent
3% lit
5:57 AM8:20 PM
10:44 PM – 12:44 AM
11:14 AM – 1:14 PM
6:56 PM – 7:56 PM
3:41 AM – 4:41 AM
Wed, Aug 12★★☆☆☆
New Moon
0% lit
5:58 AM8:19 PM
11:42 PM – 1:42 AM
12:10 PM – 2:10 PM
7:29 PM – 8:29 PM
5:06 AM – 6:06 AM
Thu, Aug 13★★½☆☆
New Moon
0% lit
6:00 AM8:17 PM
12:36 AM – 2:36 AM
1:01 PM – 3:01 PM
7:55 PM – 8:55 PM
6:29 AM – 7:29 AM
Fri, Aug 14★½☆☆☆
Waxing Crescent
2% lit
6:01 AM8:16 PM
1:25 AM – 3:25 AM
1:49 PM – 3:49 PM
8:16 PM – 9:16 PM
7:49 AM – 8:49 AM
Sat, Aug 15★☆☆☆☆
Waxing Crescent
6% lit
6:02 AM8:14 PM
2:12 AM – 4:12 AM
2:35 PM – 4:35 PM
8:34 PM – 9:34 PM
9:05 AM – 10:05 AM
Sun, Aug 16☆☆☆☆☆
Waxing Crescent
12% lit
6:03 AM8:12 PM
2:57 AM – 4:57 AM
3:20 PM – 5:20 PM
8:52 PM – 9:52 PM
10:18 AM – 11:18 AM
Mon, Aug 17★☆☆☆☆
Waxing Crescent
20% lit
6:05 AM8:11 PM
3:42 AM – 5:42 AM
4:05 PM – 6:05 PM
9:09 PM – 10:09 PM
11:31 AM – 12:31 PM
Tue, Aug 18★★☆☆☆
Waxing Crescent
29% lit
6:06 AM8:09 PM
4:28 AM – 6:28 AM
4:51 PM – 6:51 PM
9:29 PM – 10:29 PM
12:42 PM – 1:42 PM
Wed, Aug 19★★½☆☆
Waxing Crescent
39% lit
6:07 AM8:07 PM
5:15 AM – 7:15 AM
5:39 PM – 7:39 PM
9:52 PM – 10:52 PM
1:51 PM – 2:51 PM
Thu, Aug 20★½☆☆☆
First Quarter
50% lit
6:08 AM8:05 PM
6:03 AM – 8:03 AM
10:20 PM – 11:20 PM
2:57 PM – 3:57 PM

Server-rendered 14-day calendar starting 2026-08-07. Live in your browser shortly.

Featured Lakes — Solunar by Lake

Each lake has its own solunar calendar calculated at its actual latitude and longitude. Here are 24 top lakes across our 38-state dataset:

Pool
Washington County, MN · 36 fish species
Pool of Lake St Croix
Washington County, MN · 36 fish species
Chippewa Flowage Lake
Sawyer County, WI · 8 fish species
Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
Sawyer County, WI · 8 fish species
Long Lake
Gogebic County, MI · 40 fish species
Round Lake
Shiawassee County, MI · 37 fish species

Don't see your lake? Search by name → Every lake on LakeQuality has its own solunar page.

How Solunar Times Work

Solunar theory was popularized by John Alden Knight in his 1926 book of the same name. Knight observed that fish and game were most active at predictable times tied to the sun and moon — specifically, when the moon was overhead, underfoot, rising, or setting.

Today's solunar calendars compute four key lunar events per day:

  • Lunar transit — moon at the meridian (highest in the sky)
  • Lunar opposition — moon directly underfoot, on the far side of Earth
  • Moonrise — moon crosses above the horizon
  • Moonset — moon drops below the horizon

Major periods last about 2 hours, centered on transit and opposition. Minor periods last about 1 hour, centered on rise and set. Day ratings reach 4–5 stars when major periods overlap with dawn or dusk and the moon is near new or full.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is solunar theory?

Solunar theory, popularized by John Alden Knight in 1926, holds that fish (and game) are most active during specific periods governed by the position of the sun and moon. Major periods occur when the moon is overhead or directly underfoot. Minor periods occur at moonrise and moonset. Activity intensifies near new and full moons when lunar gravity is strongest.

When is the best time to fish?

The strongest fishing windows generally combine three factors: (1) a major or minor solunar period, (2) the dawn or dusk twilight, and (3) a few days surrounding the new moon or full moon. When all three line up, expect peak feeding activity. The 30–90 minutes after sunrise and before sunset are reliably productive even outside major periods.

Does the moon phase really affect fishing?

Studies are mixed, but most experienced anglers report a perceptible difference. Lunar gravity influences tides, and lake fish — particularly walleye, bass, and muskies — appear to feed more aggressively in the days surrounding new and full moons. The effect is strongest at night and in low-light conditions.

What is the difference between major and minor solunar periods?

Major periods last about 2 hours and are centered on lunar transit (moon at the meridian) and lunar opposition (moon directly underfoot, on the far side of Earth). Minor periods last about 1 hour and are centered on moonrise and moonset. Major periods generally produce stronger fishing activity than minor periods.

How accurate are the times in this calendar?

Sunrise and sunset times are computed using NOAA-equivalent astronomical formulas with accuracy of about ±2 minutes. Moonrise, moonset and lunar transit are computed using Meeus low-precision formulas with accuracy of about ±5 minutes at lat 30–60°N. Times on this preview are shown in Central Time (America/Chicago); each lake's own best-times page uses that lake's local time zone. All times adjust automatically for daylight saving.

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