Columbia, Mo. — The University of Missouri is inviting anglers to fish Monday, Aug. 21 to study fish activity during the solar eclipse.
University of Missouri employee Eric Gooding is conducting a study through the university’s South Farm Research Center to determine if the solar eclipse’s path of totality affects fish feeding behavior. The path of the total solar eclipse will run from Oregon to South Carolina along a stretch of land about 70 miles wide.
Gooding is recruiting anglers to fish ponds and lakes at different distances from the path of totality to prove an increase in feeding activity within the direct path of the eclipse. “We hope to see results in feeding behavior due to the eclipse’s effect on the environment,” Gooding said.
Due to the numerous techniques used to catch fish and the differences in bodies of water, the study requires all anglers to use live bait set 24 inches below a bobber to suspend the bait and indicate a bite. The bait should be fished towards the center of the body of water.
Gooding asks anglers to begin recording statistics one hour before the eclipse and conclude one hour after the event. A form for recording data is available here. Forms should be emailed to Gooding at goodinge@missouri.edu by Aug. 31.