Wisconsin Bass Spawn Timing

[KYBassin']

I'm coming up to northern WI in a few weeks and I'm hoping to get a pulse of the bass spawn leading up to my trip.  I know it's a bit early now but if anyone can provide updates over the next few weeks it would be much appreciated.

[Scott F]

I'll be there for 2 weeks straight beginning May 9. From past experience and knowing what the water conditions are now, to me it looks like the smallies will be on their beds around the first of June and the largemouths maybe a week after? Of course that assumes normal temps between now and then. I should also mention that the lake I fish is big and deep and can be as much as a week behind other lakes that are smaller and shallower. I'll post about conditions and water temps while I'm up there.

When exactly are you going and where are you staying?

[shimmy]

yeh that sounds late. I would be guessing between the 2nd and 3rd week is when this will all start going down. Outside temperature is setting up to make it look this way.

[Scott F]

I've been going up there the same time every year for the last 10 years. I've never seen the bass spawn that early. On average, water temps the second week in May are just hitting 50. That last two years the ice did not go off the lakes until May 8. Historically, Memorial Day, or the last week in May is when the smallmouth are moving on the beds in Northern WI. 

[slonezp]

Where in Northern WI? I'm heading up to Sturgeon Bay in 2 weeks for a long weekend

[Scott F]

Where in Northern WI? I'm heading up to Sturgeon Bay in 2 weeks for a long weekend

The Minocqua area.

[shimmy]

Well, you have been there more than me so i don't doubt they are spawning still then. But, i will say, i fish yearly in Fergus Falls, MN which seems laterally identical. As i have found, the spawn is more times than not underway by memorial day weekend. Being in Fond du Lac and gauging the weather here, at the rate this temperature is going, i would guess that the spawn will begin by the 2nd to 3rd week. I have been to fergus falls MN several times due to time constraints at the 1st of June and often find i missed the initial wave of big girls to their beds.  While spawning was still taking place, we always caught less big fish. But again, Minocqua could be a different animal.

[KYBassin']

I'll be there for 2 weeks straight beginning May 9. From past experience and knowing what the water conditions are now, to me it looks like the smallies will be on their beds around the first of June and the largemouths maybe a week after? Of course that assumes normal temps between now and then. I should also mention that the lake I fish is big and deep and can be as much as a week behind other lakes that are smaller and shallower. I'll post about conditions and water temps while I'm up there.

When exactly are you going and where are you staying?

Sorry for the delay.  I'll be a little north of Eau Claire starting May 20th thru Memorial Day.  Not my first time on this lake, which is a smaller lake, but I usually come up several weeks later than this year.  Most years I feel like I am dealing with mostly post spawn conditions, just trying to gauge what it might look like a few weeks earlier.  Obviously, I understand this will vary depending on the weather/temps but any insight would be appreciated.

[Scott F]

Sorry for the delay.  I'll be a little north of Eau Claire starting May 20th thru Memorial Day.  Not my first time on this lake, which is a smaller lake, but I usually come up several weeks later than this year.  Most years I feel like I am dealing with mostly post spawn conditions, just trying to gauge what it might look like a few weeks earlier.  Obviously, I understand this will vary depending on the weather/temps but any insight would be appreciated.

 

I don't know how much my reports are going to help you. The weather in Eau Claire is typically warmer than it is where I'll be in the North Central part of the state. Lake Superior has an influence on Northern WI and the lakes are probably a week or more behind the Eau Claire area. 

[tipptruck1]

I am about 90 miles straight east of Eau Claire. Unless it is 70 degrees starting in March. Which happened a few years ago. They are usually bedding around late may early June. Also WI dose have a barbless hook season. Were north of a certain boundary you have to use them. Might want to get in touch with the WI dnr about that one.

[Scott F]

I am about 90 miles straight east of Eau Claire. Unless it is 70 degrees starting in March. Which happened a few years ago. They are usually bedding around late may early June. Also WI dose have a barbless hook season. Were north of a certain boundary you have to use them. Might want to get in touch with the WI dnr about that one.

 

I just read through the entire Wisconsin Fishing regulations book and saw nothing about a barbless hook requirement. There is a catch and release season for the Northern zone. Please, show me where to find the regulation about barbless hooks.

 

Northern Zone

Smallmouth bass season: May 2 to June 19—Catch and release only. June 20 to March 6—Smallmouth bass must be at least 14". Daily bag limits: During the harvest season for largemouth and smallmouth bass, you are allowed a daily bag limit of five bass in total. 

[tipptruck1]

I just read the regulations book also. They must have changed that. So I will admit my mistake on that one. In my defence it use to be a rule. I live 20 miles from the boundary zone. So one year me and a buddy headed a few miles north, and I had to see were it started.

[CDMeyer]

From my experience in northern Wisconsin the largemouth usahlly start around Memioral day and into early June

[Topwater98]

I live near Chequamegon Bay in northern Wi. Just wondering how long it is likely to be until the spawn? Also any info on where the bass currently are? I am going out for the first time of the year tomorrow. We aren't fishing on lake superior. Thanks for any help

[Scott F]

If anybody knows where the bass are now, on most lakes, they've been fishing out of season

[slonezp]

If anybody knows where the bass are now, on most lakes, they've been fishing out of season

Unless they're on a river chain

[tipptruck1]

What are these seasons you speak off? As munch as I hate were live. The WI river is always open, but it is useless fishing it. For abou lt six months a year.

[Scott F]

What are these seasons you speak off? As munch as I hate were live. The WI river is always open, but it is useless fishing it. For abou lt six months a year.

 

I wasn't talking about rivers, I said "most lakes".

[tipptruck1]

I know i was just being a smart A#$.

[Scott F]

I know i was just being a smart A#$.

 

Being a major smart a__  myself, I should have realized that.

[slonezp]

What are these seasons you speak off? As munch as I hate were live. The WI river is always open, but it is useless fishing it. For abou lt six months a year.

If you head east, the cheesehead side of Lake Michigan has closed bass, walleye, and lake trout seasons. Musky may be part of it as well. I think walleye is closed for harvest from ice out until the first week of May. Smallmouth are closed for harvest from the first week of may until the end of June. Not sure what the restrictions on the trout are  

[KYBassin']

So what I've been reading about water temps, all over WI, it seems like LM's are probably either in early spawn or getting ready to get after it.  Wonder what affect the cold snap early next will have?  I'd prefer to have pre or early spawn conditions in 2 weeks but not sure that will happen.

[KYBassin']

Any updates on what you're seeing with the bass spawn?  I'll be up there next week.  Thanks.

[Scott F]

Temps on the main lake that I'm on are 56. Cold weather up here is going to be lowering that number in the next few days. High temps will only be mid 40s tomorrow. Right now the spawn is at least a few weeks away. The Eau Claire area is not going to be as cold so I can't say what's happening there.

[KYBassin']

Temps on the main lake that I'm on are 56. Cold weather up here is going to be lowering that number in the next few days. High temps will only be mid 40s tomorrow. Right now the spawn is at least a few weeks away. The Eau Claire area is not going to be as cold so I can't say what's happening there.

I appreciate the info Scott.  I understand you are further north than I will be but it still gives me a ballpark idea of what maybe to expect.  Thank you.