Feeding times
Okanagan Lake fishing times
Major and minor feeding windows for the dock, sixty days ahead. Calculated from the moon's actual position rather than pulled from a feed.
Feeding times · Oct 5
Today at the dock
Major
07:25 AM – 10:25 AM
07:52 PM – 10:52 PM
Minor
11:52 PM – 01:52 AM
03:44 PM – 05:44 PM
Light
Sunrise 07:08 AM
Sunset 06:32 PM
Waning crescent, 25% lit. Majors are three hours around the moon overhead and underfoot, minors two hours around moonrise and moonset. How this is worked out, and the next sixty days
What the windows mean
A major is the three hours centred on the moon passing directly overhead, and again when it is directly underfoot on the far side of the earth. A minor is the two hours around moonrise and moonset. Solunar theory holds that fish feed harder in those periods, and that the effect is strongest around a new or full moon when the sun and moon are pulling together.
Every fishing app you have used is showing you some version of this. What most of them will not tell you is how much weight to put on it.
What we actually think of it
It is a tradition, not a law. The published evidence is mixed, and anyone selling you a guaranteed bite window is selling you something. Geoff has fished this lake for forty years, and in his order of operations solunar sits well behind wind, water temperature and where the kokanee have moved.
Where it earns its keep is choosing between two otherwise equal mornings. If you can fish Tuesday or Thursday and everything else looks the same, take the one with a major in daylight. That is a sensible use of it. Deciding whether to come at all based on a moon phase is not.
How these times are worked out
We compute the moon's position for 49.8164, -119.6229 — the dock on Gellatly Road, not a nearby town — and find the exact moments it culminates overhead and underfoot, plus moonrise and moonset. Those culminations are located by hour angle rather than by peak altitude, because when the moon's declination is shifting the two are not the same instant. Getting that wrong put our underfoot window nine minutes out before we corrected it.
The output was checked against a published solunar app for this exact location and every value agreed within three minutes.
The day rating, and why ours differs from your app
The percentage is our own, and we will show the working rather than hand you a black box: up to 60 points for how close the moon is to new or full, and up to 40 for how much of that major and minor time actually lands between sunrise and sunset, when you would realistically be out. A day with both majors in the dark scores badly even under a full moon, because you cannot fish it.
Other apps weight it differently and will give you a different number for the same day. Neither is authoritative.
Sixty days
Fishing times calendar
Every day for the next two months at the dock. The strip shows midnight to midnight: pale band is daylight, gold is a major window, olive is a minor.
| Day | Rating | Through the day | Major windows | Minor windows | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today Oct 5 | 40% | 07:25 AM – 10:25 AM07:52 PM – 10:52 PM | 11:52 PM – 01:52 AM03:44 PM – 05:44 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Tue Oct 6 | 49% | 08:18 AM – 11:18 AM08:44 PM – 11:44 PM | 01:20 AM – 03:20 AM04:04 PM – 06:04 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Wed Oct 7 | 57% | 09:08 AM – 12:08 PM09:31 PM – 12:31 AM | 02:44 AM – 04:44 AM04:20 PM – 06:20 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Thu Oct 8 | 65% | 09:54 AM – 12:54 PM10:17 PM – 01:17 AM | 04:04 AM – 06:04 AM04:32 PM – 06:32 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Fri Oct 9 | 73% | 10:39 AM – 01:39 PM11:00 PM – 02:00 AM | 05:20 AM – 07:20 AM04:48 PM – 06:48 PM | New moon | |
| Sat Oct 10 | 80% | 11:24 AM – 02:24 PM11:00 PM – 02:00 AM | 06:36 AM – 08:36 AM05:00 PM – 07:00 PM | New moon | |
| Sun Oct 11 | 73% | 11:46 PM – 02:46 AM12:09 PM – 03:09 PM | 07:52 AM – 09:52 AM05:20 PM – 07:20 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Mon Oct 12 | 64% | 12:32 AM – 03:32 AM12:55 PM – 03:55 PM | 09:08 AM – 11:08 AM05:40 PM – 07:40 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Tue Oct 13 | 56% | 01:19 AM – 04:19 AM01:44 PM – 04:44 PM | 10:20 AM – 12:20 PM06:04 PM – 08:04 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Wed Oct 14 | 48% | 02:09 AM – 05:09 AM02:34 PM – 05:34 PM | 11:28 AM – 01:28 PM06:40 PM – 08:40 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Thu Oct 15 | 39% | 02:59 AM – 05:59 AM03:25 PM – 06:25 PM | 12:28 PM – 02:28 PM07:28 PM – 09:28 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Fri Oct 16 | 28% | 03:50 AM – 06:50 AM04:15 PM – 07:15 PM | 01:12 PM – 03:12 PM08:24 PM – 10:24 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Sat Oct 17 | 19% | 04:40 AM – 07:40 AM05:05 PM – 08:05 PM | 01:48 PM – 03:48 PM09:32 PM – 11:32 PM | First quarter | |
| Sun Oct 18 | 13% | 05:29 AM – 08:29 AM05:52 PM – 08:52 PM | 02:16 PM – 04:16 PM10:40 PM – 12:40 AM | First quarter | |
| Mon Oct 19 | 26% | 06:16 AM – 09:16 AM06:38 PM – 09:38 PM | 02:36 PM – 04:36 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Tue Oct 20 | 34% | 07:01 AM – 10:01 AM07:22 PM – 10:22 PM | 11:56 PM – 01:56 AM02:56 PM – 04:56 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Wed Oct 21 | 44% | 07:44 AM – 10:44 AM08:06 PM – 11:06 PM | 01:08 AM – 03:08 AM03:08 PM – 05:08 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Thu Oct 22 | 51% | 08:27 AM – 11:27 AM08:49 PM – 11:49 PM | 02:20 AM – 04:20 AM03:24 PM – 05:24 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Fri Oct 23 | 59% | 09:11 AM – 12:11 PM09:33 PM – 12:33 AM | 03:36 AM – 05:36 AM03:36 PM – 05:36 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Sat Oct 24 | 68% | 09:56 AM – 12:56 PM10:20 PM – 01:20 AM | 04:52 AM – 06:52 AM03:52 PM – 05:52 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Sun Oct 25 | 77% | 10:44 AM – 01:44 PM11:00 PM – 02:00 AM | 06:12 AM – 08:12 AM04:12 PM – 06:12 PM | Full moon | |
| Mon Oct 26 | 79% | 11:10 PM – 02:10 AM11:36 AM – 02:36 PM | 07:32 AM – 09:32 AM04:32 PM – 06:32 PM | Full moon | |
| Tue Oct 27 | 69% | 12:04 AM – 03:04 AM12:33 PM – 03:33 PM | 09:00 AM – 11:00 AM05:04 PM – 07:04 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Wed Oct 28 | 57% | 01:03 AM – 04:03 AM01:34 PM – 04:34 PM | 10:20 AM – 12:20 PM05:48 PM – 07:48 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Thu Oct 29 | 48% | 02:06 AM – 05:06 AM02:39 PM – 05:39 PM | 11:36 AM – 01:36 PM06:48 PM – 08:48 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Fri Oct 30 | 35% | 03:11 AM – 06:11 AM03:43 PM – 06:43 PM | 12:32 PM – 02:32 PM08:04 PM – 10:04 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Sat Oct 31 | 21% | 04:14 AM – 07:14 AM04:44 PM – 07:44 PM | 01:16 PM – 03:16 PM09:28 PM – 11:28 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Sun Nov 1 | 10% | 04:14 AM – 07:14 AM04:42 PM – 07:42 PM | 12:44 PM – 02:44 PM09:56 PM – 11:56 PM | Last quarter | |
| Mon Nov 2 | 23% | 05:09 AM – 08:09 AM05:35 PM – 08:35 PM | 01:08 PM – 03:08 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Tue Nov 3 | 33% | 06:00 AM – 09:00 AM06:24 PM – 09:24 PM | 11:20 PM – 01:20 AM01:24 PM – 03:24 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Wed Nov 4 | 45% | 06:48 AM – 09:48 AM07:11 PM – 10:11 PM | 12:44 AM – 02:44 AM01:40 PM – 03:40 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Thu Nov 5 | 54% | 07:33 AM – 10:33 AM07:56 PM – 10:56 PM | 02:04 AM – 04:04 AM01:52 PM – 03:52 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Fri Nov 6 | 62% | 08:18 AM – 11:18 AM08:41 PM – 11:41 PM | 03:20 AM – 05:20 AM02:08 PM – 04:08 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Sat Nov 7 | 70% | 09:03 AM – 12:03 PM09:26 PM – 12:26 AM | 04:36 AM – 06:36 AM02:24 PM – 04:24 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Sun Nov 8 | 79% | 09:50 AM – 12:50 PM10:13 PM – 01:13 AM | 05:52 AM – 07:52 AM02:44 PM – 04:44 PM | New moon | |
| Mon Nov 9 | 79% | 10:38 AM – 01:38 PM11:00 PM – 02:00 AM | 07:04 AM – 09:04 AM03:08 PM – 05:08 PM | New moon | |
| Tue Nov 10 | 70% | 11:02 PM – 02:02 AM11:27 AM – 02:27 PM | 08:16 AM – 10:16 AM03:40 PM – 05:40 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Wed Nov 11 | 61% | 11:53 PM – 02:53 AM12:18 PM – 03:18 PM | 09:16 AM – 11:16 AM04:20 PM – 06:20 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Thu Nov 12 | 53% | 12:44 AM – 03:44 AM01:09 PM – 04:09 PM | 10:08 AM – 12:08 PM05:16 PM – 07:16 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Fri Nov 13 | 43% | 01:34 AM – 04:34 AM01:59 PM – 04:59 PM | 10:48 AM – 12:48 PM06:20 PM – 08:20 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Sat Nov 14 | 32% | 02:23 AM – 05:23 AM02:47 PM – 05:47 PM | 11:20 AM – 01:20 PM07:28 PM – 09:28 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Sun Nov 15 | 21% | 03:11 AM – 06:11 AM03:34 PM – 06:34 PM | 11:40 AM – 01:40 PM08:40 PM – 10:40 PM | Waxing crescent | |
| Mon Nov 16 | 11% | 03:56 AM – 06:56 AM04:18 PM – 07:18 PM | 12:00 PM – 02:00 PM09:52 PM – 11:52 PM | First quarter | |
| Tue Nov 17 | 13% | 04:40 AM – 07:40 AM05:01 PM – 08:01 PM | 12:16 PM – 02:16 PM | First quarter | |
| Wed Nov 18 | 23% | 05:23 AM – 08:23 AM05:44 PM – 08:44 PM | 11:04 PM – 01:04 AM12:28 PM – 02:28 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Thu Nov 19 | 33% | 06:06 AM – 09:06 AM06:28 PM – 09:28 PM | 12:20 AM – 02:20 AM12:44 PM – 02:44 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Fri Nov 20 | 45% | 06:50 AM – 09:50 AM07:13 PM – 10:13 PM | 01:32 AM – 03:32 AM12:56 PM – 02:56 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Sat Nov 21 | 55% | 07:36 AM – 10:36 AM08:01 PM – 11:01 PM | 02:52 AM – 04:52 AM01:16 PM – 03:16 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Sun Nov 22 | 64% | 08:27 AM – 11:27 AM08:53 PM – 11:53 PM | 04:12 AM – 06:12 AM01:36 PM – 03:36 PM | Waxing gibbous | |
| Mon Nov 23 | 73% | 09:21 AM – 12:21 PM09:50 PM – 12:50 AM | 05:36 AM – 07:36 AM02:04 PM – 04:04 PM | Full moon | |
| Tue Nov 24 | 82% | 10:21 AM – 01:21 PM10:52 PM – 01:52 AM | 07:00 AM – 09:00 AM02:40 PM – 04:40 PM | Full moon | |
| Wed Nov 25 | 71% | 10:52 PM – 01:52 AM11:24 AM – 02:24 PM | 08:16 AM – 10:16 AM03:32 PM – 05:32 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Thu Nov 26 | 60% | 11:56 PM – 02:56 AM12:28 PM – 03:28 PM | 09:20 AM – 11:20 AM04:44 PM – 06:44 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Fri Nov 27 | 49% | 01:00 AM – 04:00 AM01:31 PM – 04:31 PM | 10:08 AM – 12:08 PM06:04 PM – 08:04 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Sat Nov 28 | 36% | 02:01 AM – 05:01 AM02:31 PM – 05:31 PM | 10:44 AM – 12:44 PM07:32 PM – 09:32 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Sun Nov 29 | 23% | 02:59 AM – 05:59 AM03:25 PM – 06:25 PM | 11:08 AM – 01:08 PM09:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Waning gibbous | |
| Mon Nov 30 | 11% | 03:51 AM – 06:51 AM04:16 PM – 07:16 PM | 11:28 AM – 01:28 PM10:24 PM – 12:24 AM | Last quarter | |
| Tue Dec 1 | 13% | 04:40 AM – 07:40 AM05:04 PM – 08:04 PM | 11:44 AM – 01:44 PM | Last quarter | |
| Wed Dec 2 | 23% | 05:27 AM – 08:27 AM05:50 PM – 08:50 PM | 11:44 PM – 01:44 AM12:00 PM – 02:00 PM | Waning crescent | |
| Thu Dec 3 | 34% | 06:12 AM – 09:12 AM06:35 PM – 09:35 PM | 01:00 AM – 03:00 AM12:12 PM – 02:12 PM | Waning crescent |
Want the wind for those days too? That is on the wind page. Choosing a month rather than a day? Start with when to come.
Common questions
What are major and minor fishing times?
Majors are the three hours around the moon passing directly overhead and directly underfoot. Minors are the two hours around moonrise and moonset. The idea is that fish feed harder in those windows.
It is an angling tradition that has been in print for the best part of a century, and most fishing apps you have used are showing you some version of it.
Does solunar actually work?
Honestly, the evidence is mixed and we are not going to pretend otherwise. Geoff has fished this lake for forty years and treats it as one input well behind wind, water temperature and where the bait has moved.
Use it to choose between two otherwise equal mornings. Do not use it to decide whether to come at all.
How do you calculate these times?
We compute the moon's position for the dock at 49.8164, -119.6229 and find the exact moments it culminates overhead and underfoot, plus moonrise and moonset. Culminations are found by hour angle rather than peak altitude, because when the moon's declination is moving those are not the same instant.
We checked the output against a published solunar app for this exact location and every value agreed within three minutes.
What does the day rating mean?
It is our own score and we will show the working: up to 60 points for how close the moon is to new or full, which is when solunar effects are supposed to peak, and up to 40 for how much of that major and minor time actually falls in daylight when you would realistically be fishing.
It is not an industry standard and it is not the same number another app will give you.
Found a window that works?
Call or text Geoff with the date. Half day $500, full day $800.