Best Fishing Times in Ames, Iowa
Today's solunar bite forecast for Ames — major and minor feeding periods, weather conditions, and a 7-day outlook. Times shown in local time.
Today — Thu, Aug 13
Best window: 12:48 AM to 2:48 AM
- • New Moon — peak solunar period
- • Weather data unavailable — score based on solunar factors only
Feeding periods
| Period | Time | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Major | 12:48 AM – 2:48 AM | Moon underfoot |
| Minor☀ boost | 6:35 AM – 8:05 AM | Moonrise |
| Major | 1:13 PM – 3:13 PM | Moon overhead |
| Minor☀ boost | 8:06 PM – 9:36 PM | Moonset |
Conditions
- Sunrise
- 6:20 AM
- Sunset
- 8:17 PM
- Moonrise
- 7:20 AM
- Moonset
- 8:51 PM
- Moon phase
- New Moon (1%)
Live weather is temporarily unavailable — score reflects solunar factors only.
7-Day Bite Outlook for Ames
Thu, Aug 13
1:48 AM
Fri, Aug 14
2:37 AM
Sat, Aug 15
3:23 AM
Sun, Aug 16
4:08 AM
Mon, Aug 17
4:52 AM
Tue, Aug 18
5:37 AM
Wed, Aug 19
6:24 AM
Score = solunar strength adjusted for barometric trend, wind, cloud and precipitation. Time shown is the center of each day's best window.
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Fishing in Ames: FAQ
When is the best time to fish in Ames today?
Today's strongest bite window in Ames is 12:48 AM to 2:48 AM (new moon). The overall bite score is 73/100 — good. Major feeding periods follow the moon's overhead and underfoot passes; minors follow moonrise and moonset.
What are major and minor feeding periods?
Solunar theory holds that fish feed most actively when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 90 minutes). Windows that overlap sunrise or sunset are historically the strongest.
Does weather change the bite in Ames?
Yes. A falling barometer ahead of a front typically triggers heavy feeding, while a sharp rise after a front slows it. Light wind that ripples the surface and cloud cover both extend feeding activity. Our daily score combines these factors with the solunar calendar.
Fishing times near Ames
Lakes near Ames
Before you go
Check Iowa fishing regulations — license requirements, size and bag limits — before your trip. Planning further out? See the Iowa best-fishing-days calendar.