The problem was solved, after a fashion, through the process of elimination. First a list was made of the factors which influence or control the day-to-day behavior of both fresh and salt-water fish. Everything was taken into account that could possibly have any bearing on the matter. The reaction was in no sense local since it had already been established that the phenomenon manifested itself at the same time in several widely scattered bodies of water.

The list included 33 possibilities. Gradually, one by one, they were examined and rejected. Three of them, however, merited further examination. They were Sun, Moon and Tides.

Surely the Sun could have little effect. It's cycle was the same day after day, whereas the activity periods of fish were apt to be evident at most any time of the day or night. The Moon had already been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Tides? Surely there could be no tidal movement in a trout stream.

The fact remained, however, that the tides had always guided salt-water fishermen to good fishing. Could it be that the prompting stimulus lay in the influence of the Sun and the Moon, which cause the ocean tides, instead of the actual tidal states or flow?

This line of reasoning led to an intensive study of tides, in which the New York office of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey was extremely helpful. For several years the Atlantic Tide Tables served as the basis for the calculation of the theoretical "inland tides", and the schedule that was set up for further experimentation was called the Inland Tide Tables.

For two years this schedule was investigated but it, too, showed too much variance from the true schedule at certain times of the month. Only after actual tide times had been disregarded and the daily positions of the Moon and Sun alone considered was it possible to forecast a schedule that was reasonably accurate.

When the original research was being done only the approximate times of Moon up-Moon down were considered. Gradually, it became evident that there were also intermediate periods of activity that occured midway between the two major periods. Thus, the more evident periods were called Major Periods and the Intermediate Periods, shorter in length, were called Minor Periods.

Mr. Knight first published his "Solunar Tables" in 1936. Then and today, one must calculated the precise times from each table taking into account the geographic location (east or west) of the base point (Time Zone), and adjusted for Daylight Savings Time whenever appropriate. The tables are rounded to the nearest ten minutes to assist in manual calculations.

Lake County, Illinois Solunar/Lunar information is calculated using a base point of Libertyville. Times will change one minute for every 12 miles east or west of this base point.

An Old Theory Revisited Solving the Riddle

Proving the Theory Peaks and What to Watch For