The University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources’ South Farm Research Center is recruiting anglers for the upcoming solar eclipse, which will sweep across the United States on Monday, Aug. 21.
The South Farm Research Center is hoping to prove an increase in feeding activity within the direct path of the eclipse. To do that, the Center is recruiting anglers to fish ponds and lakes at different distances from the path of totality.
South Farm is hoping to see results in feeding behavior due to the eclipse’s effect on the environment.
“If you love to fish, this will be an excellent excuse to get out and do a little casting,” said Eric Gooding, an integrated farm system specialist with Mizzou. “We’re interested to see how the change in light affects fishing across the path of the eclipse.”
Gooding has created a chart where interested anglers can record their findings. The chart includes sections such as the location of the body of water where the fisherman casts, fish type, bait used and time caught.
To keep the data consistent, there are three requirements:
- Bait is to be suspended from a bobber using a 24-inch leader.
- The bait is to be fished toward the center of the body of water.
- Data recording is to start a minimum of one hour before the eclipse totality and conclude at least one hour after.
After data is recorded, the forms can be returned to Gooding through email, at goodinge@missouri.edu.
The total solar eclipse will enter the northwest corner of Missouri around 1:06 p.m. and exit the southeast corner around 1:21 p.m. There will be complete darkness at 1:12 p.m. in mid-Missouri, and it will last approximately two minutes and 36 seconds.
Gooding will be fishing in the Columbia, Mo., area.
South Farm will open its doors the day of the eclipse as well. The Center will be conducting a variety of research, with a focus on studying plants and animals. The public is welcome to watch the eclipse at the Center, which will open around 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21.
The South Farm Research Center is located at 3600 East New Haven Road in Columbia. For more information about the South Farm Research Center, visit southfarm.cafnr.org or call 573-882-4450. For more information about the fishing activity, contact Gooding at goodinge@missouri.edu.