spawn

[Pondboss16]

Is the spawn like a one week thing or does it happen over a month or so. Cause i don't want to miss it 

[Catt]

Depends on where you live & how big the body of water is.

On Toledo Bend pre-spawn has already started & we will fish pre-spawn/spawn until late April/early May.

[Sam]

Pond, the spawn depends on water temperature. Usually in the mid-60s.

The male bass, around 63*, will move up from their deep winter digs and head to the spawning flats. There, they will select a place to make a bed and wait for the water temperature to rise to about 65* when the females show up.

Should the water temperature drop to under 63* (give or take) the male will leave the nest and return to it when the water temperature reaches back to 63* or higher.

Since you have not listed your geographical location we cannot give you specifics about when your lakes and rivers will attain that magical mid-60's temperature. So please add it to your avatar.

Now, here is the rub. Many of our Forum members believe the bass have specific "routes" they take to and from the spawning grounds. Others, like me, believe the bass do not have specific routes but go from structure to structure on their way to the spawning areas. If you believe the bass have specific routes than it is up to you to find them.

If you believe the bass travel as they wish, crossing open water and using underwater structure to move to the spawning area, then you will have to find the deep water near the spawning areas and fish that pattern. 

What is interesting is the second and third spawn of the year. Yes, bass can spawn more than once in the spring. I have seen baby bass swimming in the Rappahannock River after the spawn was supposed to be over by a month or two. Blew my mind when I saw them and did not believe what I was seeing until my partner told me that he has seen it before, too.

So watch your water temperatures and when they get into the low 60's get ready to try to find their beds.

Now, to get spawning bass to bite is another topic for another day.

[Catt]

If you wait on temperatures you will miss most of the spawn!

[Scott F]

Pre-spawn is the best fishing. Once the bass lock onto their beds, they stop feeding. You will do much better if you fish from the time the water hits 50 degrees until they move onto the beds.

[CJ]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

Pre-spawn is the best fishing. Once the bass lock onto their beds, they stop feeding. You will do much better if you fish from the time the water hits 50 degrees until they move onto the beds.

Yup, I just sit home during the spawn around here. The spawn to fishing is not the rut to deer hunting for me. Pre-spawn and post-spawn is when they eat!

[WRB]

The most obvious indication the spawn is about to start is seeing cruising bass swimming parallel to shore areas where bass spawn. 

Water temperature are critical, but not the surface temps most bass boats rely on. Stable weather that allows the water temps to become equal from 1 to 6 feet or so following the cold water period as the temps approach 62 dergrees at the depth the bass are spawning.

The question about how long do bass spawn; eggs hatch in about 14 days at 62 degrees, 7 days at 67 degrees, warmer water they hatch faster. The warmer the water the more egg eating predators the bass must gaurd against.

Mother nature protects it's species and female bass often lay eggs in more than 1 nest and may lay eggs over in several nests over a 3 week period. All bass don't spawn at the same time and usually spawn over a 2 to 3 month period.

Tom

[MidwestBassin]

Depends on the size of body of water. Ends of the lakes that receive the most sunlight will warm up quicker, jump starting the dirty business. Its usually the north/west end of the lake, but it all depends on how the lake lays out direction wise. A lot of decent sized lakes, the bass spawn in waves where the water is the right temp, as I stated above, so pay attention to you temp as you cruise the lake. Not all bass hit the bed at the same time, there will be prespawners, spawners, and post spawners at any given time once the spawn starts.

Goodluck, Dominic

[Catt]

Consider the depth of the water, shallow water warms faster than deep. Some bodies of water shallow is deeper than 5', while on some bodies of water deep is less than 10'.

Off colored water warms faster than clear, the more heat retaining partials in the water the faster it warms.

Water temperatures do not have to reach the 60s to have spawn. I fish Toro Creek where temperatures never get above the mid 50s in the dead of summer.

Quite looking for averages & learn your body of water.

[Sam]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Consider the depth of the water, shallow water warms faster than deep. Some bodies of water shallow is deeper than 5', while on some bodies of water deep is less than 10'.

Off colored water warms faster than clear, the more heat retaining partials in the water the faster it warms.

Water temperatures do not have to reach the 60s to have spawn. I fish Toro Creek where temperatures never get above the mid 50s in the dead of summer.

Quite looking for averages & learn your body of water.

Catt, are you crazy? Even though we have no idea where Pondboss lives; what waters he fishes; and does he have a boat; we are expected to tell him and all other guys the secret to fishing the spawn and catching those big ladies on their way to the spawning fields.

Bass will adapt to their surroundings so the bass living in Toro Creek like colder water while other bass on Toledo Bend like the higher temps. To each bass his own.

Up this way in Virginia we start to get excited when Dogwoods bloom. That means the bass are on their beds. So I actually don't use water temps as an overall guide. I do use them while on the water, but I use the Dogwoods as my guide to hit the water.

And to top if off, we are due for another big snow storm on the 23rd or 24th. Hope it misses us. But if it does hit us the waters will remain on the cold side in the 40's, with shallow water in the sun getting into the low 50's.

[Catt]

39 minutes ago, Sam said:

Catt, are you crazy? Even though we have no idea where Pondboss lives; what waters he fishes; and does he have a boat; we are expected to tell him and all other guys the secret to fishing the spawn and catching those big ladies on their way to the spawning fields.

Bass will adapt to their surroundings so the bass living in Toro Creek like colder water while other bass on Toledo Bend like the higher temps. To each bass his own.

Up this way in Virginia we start to get excited when Dogwoods bloom. That means the bass are on their beds. So I actually don't use water temps as an overall guide. I do use them while on the water, but I use the Dogwoods as my guide to hit the water.

Sam, if you don't use temperatures why ya throwing them out there as a guide?

I'm telling them learn your body of water cause the "magic" 62-67" degrees may not apply!

If y'all like waiting on temperature to get right I promise you pre-spawn/spawn will already have started.

[CJ]

27 minutes ago, Catt said:

Sam, if you don't use temperatures why ya throwing them out there as a guide?

I'm telling them learn your body of water cause the "magic" 62-67" degrees may not apply!

If y'all like waiting on temperature to get right I promise you pre-spawn/spawn will already have started.

How about moon phase + photo period = green fish gettin' busy? Photo period is a dark horse to consider.

[WRB]

What Catt maybe trying to point out is not all bass behave according to the majority of the population and every body of water is different. Ideal isn't always availble to bass and they adjust,  find a way to spawn under adverse conditions...if they didn't there wouldn't be any bass in some bodies of water.

The photo period seems logical until you experience contradicts that. The water temps in some bass water stays fairly constant year around in the 60 to 70 degree range in Florids and power plants lakes. The bass don't spawn year around in those waters, they adjust because  it takes about a full years cycle from laying eggs to laying eggs again...if everything like weather, water levels etc, etc, stays the same. There is a high altitude lake at 7,000 feet 30 miles from a lower alititude lake at 2,500 feet in the exact same photo period. The high altitude lake stays frozen over or very cold water the same time bass are spawning in the lower altitude lake. It's common in SoCal with lakes located in mountain ranges having spawning periods several months apart within 25 to 50 miles from each other.

My experience the 62-67 water temps work for LMB spawn for the majority of locations, Smallmouth about 4 degrees cooler. Also agree one temp range doesn't work everywhere.

Tom

[Catt]

My issue with temperature is most talk about 62-67 degrees while I'm looking at em on the bed & the temperature aint even 60 degrees.

Some will say "bass adjust to adverse conditions"

Well it just might be what we consider adverse is their normal on that body of water.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

What Catt maybe trying to point out is not all bass behave according to the majority of the population and every body of water is different. Ideal isn't always availble to bass and they adjust,  find a way to spawn under adverse conditions...if they didn't there wouldn't be any bass in some bodies of water.

The photo period seems logical until you experience contradicts that. The water temps in some bass water stays fairly constant year around in the 60 to 70 degree range in Florids and power plants lakes. The bass don't spawn year around in those waters, they adjust because  it takes about a full years cycle from laying eggs to laying eggs again...if everything like weather, water levels etc, etc, stays the same. There is a high altitude lake at 7,000 feet 30 miles from a lower alititude lake at 2,500 feet in the exact same photo period. The high altitude lake stays frozen over or very cold water the same time bass are spawning in the lower altitude lake. It's common in SoCal with lakes located in mountain ranges having spawning periods several months apart within 25 to 50 miles from each other.

My experience the 62-67 water temps work for LMB spawn for the majority of locations, Smallmouth about 4 degrees cooler. Also agree one temp range doesn't work everywhere.

Tom

 

4 minutes ago, Catt said:

My issue with temperature is most talk about 62-67 degrees while I'm looking at em on the bed & the temperature aint even 60 degrees.

Some will say "bass adjust to adverse conditions"

Well it just might be what we consider adverse is their normal on that body of water.

First off, I always enjoy how the simplest of posts can sometimes spawn such informative & thought provoking responses.  (disclaimer - Mine may not be one however)

 In any event, I'm of this school of thought as well.  I'll also add that in many of the super clear waters up here, both green & especially brown bass nests, are routinely located in a little deeper water and almost never visible from the bank.  Since my unit can only measure the water's surface temperature, I really have no way of knowing what the actually water temp is down in 10 or 15ft, but it's usually different than the surface temp.   Some of the common "markers" like the dogwood bloom have prove to happen a bit past what I've found to be a good time for the Fatties.    Additionally, I don't fish beds -  I have No Problem with those who do.  As soon as I see a flood of Bucks shallow, I'll concentrate my efforts instead to hunt the big girls in backed off staging areas hoping to intercept them coming & going.    Before & after the big mamas invade & eventually vacate the shallows and head toward deeper water, I've often found some stopped in these areas to rest and feed.  Of course, and not news to anyone, the Mass post spawn Bluegill carnage is Always worth going shallow for.

Seems the past few springs, the fish have come shallow earlier & earlier which is OK by me.  Especially since this state recently opened up bass C&R all year.

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

Around here, it's mostly the month of April. If you haven't fished the spawn by that month here, you won't be fishing it. If the dogwoods are in bloom, spawn is in full swing. Fish are already staging for it now. You need to start when it's still an uncomfortable temp. Even if spawn is a ways off, your the bites this time of year are mostly from good quality fish as they store up calories for the spawn.

Go to drops and weed edges near spawning flats. Fish all around from bank to deep water. They're somewhere in there. The biggest mamas tend to spawn the earliest.

[Airman4754]

4 hours ago, WRB said:

What Catt maybe trying to point out is not all bass behave according to the majority of the population and every body of water is different. Ideal isn't always availble to bass and they adjust,  find a way to spawn under adverse conditions...if they didn't there wouldn't be any bass in some bodies of water.

The photo period seems logical until you experience contradicts that. The water temps in some bass water stays fairly constant year around in the 60 to 70 degree range in Florids and power plants lakes. The bass don't spawn year around in those waters, they adjust because  it takes about a full years cycle from laying eggs to laying eggs again...if everything like weather, water levels etc, etc, stays the same. There is a high altitude lake at 7,000 feet 30 miles from a lower alititude lake at 2,500 feet in the exact same photo period. The high altitude lake stays frozen over or very cold water the same time bass are spawning in the lower altitude lake. It's common in SoCal with lakes located in mountain ranges having spawning periods several months apart within 25 to 50 miles from each other.

My experience the 62-67 water temps work for LMB spawn for the majority of locations, Smallmouth about 4 degrees cooler. Also agree one temp range doesn't work everywhere.

Tom

This is a great example Tom. The lakes over the hill in the valley are around 500ft elevation and the three local lakes are over 4,000. Two of those high lakes are smallie lakes and one is largies. The two high smallie lakes run the pre, spawn, and post around the same time. The pre on the one high elevation lake starts when the spawn is basically over in all the others. I caught my PB in mid June on it as she was moving up to spawn. 

I like the "Fish your ass off from President's Day to Memorial Day." rule. 

[CJ]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

What Catt maybe trying to point out is not all bass behave according to the majority of the population and every body of water is different. Ideal isn't always availble to bass and they adjust,  find a way to spawn under adverse conditions...if they didn't there wouldn't be any bass in some bodies of water.

The photo period seems logical until you experience contradicts that. The water temps in some bass water stays fairly constant year around in the 60 to 70 degree range in Florids and power plants lakes. The bass don't spawn year around in those waters, they adjust because  it takes about a full years cycle from laying eggs to laying eggs again...if everything like weather, water levels etc, etc, stays the same. There is a high altitude lake at 7,000 feet 30 miles from a lower alititude lake at 2,500 feet in the exact same photo period. The high altitude lake stays frozen over or very cold water the same time bass are spawning in the lower altitude lake. It's common in SoCal with lakes located in mountain ranges having spawning periods several months apart within 25 to 50 miles from each other.

My experience the 62-67 water temps work for LMB spawn for the majority of locations, Smallmouth about 4 degrees cooler. Also agree one temp range doesn't work everywhere.

Tom

The Florida example is what pushes me toward photo period as a key player. I think water temps are as well or I believe they have to be. Bass aren't going to lay eggs under ice. I have caught bass that have been on the bed in under 60 degree surface temps, those have been big bass at that. I believe there is a minimum temp, who knows maybe 55 or even lower. But I believe the photo period is a must. It's natures only clock. It dictates so much with wildlife behavior and habits. Perhaps a safe formula is photo period + minimum water temp + moon phase (I have seen bass on beds and not be a full moon or even close but I've also seen how a full moon can strike the spawn).

[WRB]

The issue isn't if the females can lay eggs in cold water, it's the survival rate when the eggs take more time to hatch, up to 14 days at 60 degrees and that is dependant on water temperatures being stable.

Where I fish the big females move up to spawn earlier and deeper than the later arrivals and often spawn deeper between 5' to 8', the later arriving female prefer 2' to 4' on average. The sun warms shallower water faster, but it also cools faster during cold fronts.

Cold weather can drop water temperature and the bass vacate the beds until the weather stabilizes and the water warms. It's not uncommon for a entire year class to be lost from severe cold weather or lake level draw downs after the spawn has started.

Tom

[Catt]

Tom did you ever stop to think that maybe the reason the bigger females spawn deeper is because 5-8' of water is less effected by frontal conditions than water 2-4' deep?

A far the survival rate of the eggs an active female will spawn a number of times and, in most cases in a number of different males nests. I think this serves two purposes, one against infertile males and the other  against changes in water weather conditions. This ensures a higher success rate for that years spawn.

[Sam]

On ‎2‎/‎18‎/‎2016 at 8:32 AM, Catt said:

Sam, if you don't use temperatures why ya throwing them out there as a guide?

I'm telling them learn your body of water cause the "magic" 62-67" degrees may not apply!

If y'all like waiting on temperature to get right I promise you pre-spawn/spawn will already have started.

Catt, that post was done in fun. Of course I use water temps as a guide. Up this way the bass start the spawn around the low 60's.

If we know the geographical location of the person starting this thread we could give him some better information.

Take care and do some fishing for all of us who can't get on the water.

[FamilyFishinFood]

Hate to change the subject, but although I've done a good bit of fishing over the past few years, I'm pretty new to the whole prespawn, spawn, and post spawn thing. I was just wondering if you guys would have any advice for fishing on small ponds with mostly soft bottoms? Most of what I find is for reservoirs with gravel slopes and bottoms. 

 

[RCCA]

Just fish all you can for as long as you can

[Catt]

6 hours ago, FamilyFishinFood said:

Hate to change the subject, but although I've done a good bit of fishing over the past few years, I'm pretty new to the whole prespawn, spawn, and post spawn thing. I was just wondering if you guys would have any advice for fishing on small ponds with mostly soft bottoms? Most of what I find is for reservoirs with gravel slopes and bottoms. 

 

A lot of emphasis is placed on needing a "hard/firm" bottom but this doesn't necessarily mean rock, gravel, or sand. 

I've seen nest built on discarded plywood, tires, concrete, logs, & stumps. One reason for the "hard/firm" bottom is it's easier for to male to keep the nest from silting over(less fanning).

The male will build a nest period!

[FamilyFishinFood]

 

On 2/26/2016 at 6:00 AM, Catt said:

A lot of emphasis is placed on needing a "hard/firm" bottom but this doesn't necessarily mean rock, gravel, or sand. 

I've seen nest built on discarded plywood, tires, concrete, logs, & stumps. One reason for the "hard/firm" bottom is it's easier for to male to keep the nest from silting over(less fanning).

The male will build a nest period!

Thanks! Thats good to knkw