Early prespawn techniques

[Guest avid]

strange but true.

The bass in the Ansin Garcia Reservoir have been spawning for weeks.  Beds are clearly visible.

Yet in my home lake which is only about 30 miles away, there is no sign that the spawn has begun.  both lakes have water temps in the low 70's, both have healthy populations of bass.  both have rewarded Avid with many fun days of fishing and several he would rather not talk about, thank you very much.  

[Gatorbassman]

WRB - what did you consider "prespawn" back in the 70's? Where/how/when were you fishing? What is your background and why is splitting hairs over this so very important to you?

Please post links to pictures of you fishing in the 70s, as well as links to your fisheries biology credentials. Also post links to your published studies on bass spawning behavoir.

This should be interesting.

[Glenn]

As the years go by and the more and more I fish through winter and into spring, I'm more and more convinced the whole spawning thing has everything to do with the days getting longer more than anything else.  Rising temperature, it seems, is simply something that happens along the way, but is not related, other than it increases their metabolism.

I have no facts to back this up.  Only my observations on the water.  And yes, I've seen bass spawn in 54 - 75 degree water.  

I just think they're genetically programmed to spawn during a particular time of the year, based off of length of day.  Some are early, some are late.  Nature's way of preserving the species.

[mattm]

I'm more and more convinced the whole spawning thing has everything to do with the days getting longer more than anything else.

I agree 100%.  I don't have facts or years of fishing info to back it up, but I think this is how they know it times, IMO.  I think we tend to tie it to water temps b/c obviously as the days get longer the water temp rises typically.  We used to show cattle and you put them in a cooler with the lights out b/c the cold temps and darkness  promotes hair growth.  The more hair the better.  They do the opposite with horses.  Put them in barns with the lights on, usually not even heated.  The horses are still on long day patterns and don't grow hair.  Horse people like very little hair.

[Glenn]

I guess that means Muddy isn't a horse person.  Have you seen his wife?  GAWD!!   ;D

[5bass]

Good post Glenn and I agree with you about the length of daylight being the trigger in all of this.....it just so happens that when the daylight gets longer, the water is usually in the 55-65 range every year just because that's the weather pattern at that time of year and thats what the temps should be. It's like a yearly coincidence.

As someone mentioned above, the Elite Tournament in 2007 here on Smith Mtn was into the second week in June. It was HOT! Water was warm, the fish on the upper end in the river had mostly spawned out but there were lots of fish in certain areas down the lake that were still spawning. The pro's that didn't close the door on the idea of bass still spawning in June caught good fish off beds.    

[mattm]

I guess that means Muddy isn't a horse person.  Have you seen his wife?  GAWD!!  

Haven't seen her, but i've heard him talk about her enough to know he was more of a cattle man.  We like em fat as well ;D.

I hope i'm not opening myself up to the wrath of Muddy.

[ww2farmer]

I fish a shallow natural lake with milfoil and assorted vegatation a the primary cover. Early prespawn, I like a Rat-l-Trap  ticking the top of the weeds, or a suspending jerk bait. In spots that have been super productive in the past, I slow down alot and fish a fluke or senko.

[Catt]

Here's some food for thought

Toledo Bend is 75 miles long; logical wisdom would lead one to think the south end would have spawning bass first because it's only 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico while the north end is 75 miles farther north.

The reality is the north end spawns first, how can this be?

Answer:

The north end of the lake is mostly shallow flats with the only deep water being river and creek channels; the water is also a lot murkier which retains heat better than clear water. This end of the lake is protected from north winds but is subjected to more direct sunlight.

The south end is comprised of hilly country with numerous deep ravines, creek channels, and the river channel. The water is very clear which retains little heat; its also more open subjected to north winds.

The bass up north will start spawning in early to mid-February while the bass down south will spawn as late as mid-April.

[MattStrykul]

Suspending jerkbaits on mainlake pockets seem to work good. Also the mouths of these pockets have worked for me.

[IneedAnewScreenName-33449]

As mentioned, Bass will spawn at varying temperatures

below or near 60 degrees....the lunar period is what

influences the actual spawn, coinciding with the temperature

being close to actual spawning temps. If a full or new moon

happens to be present ( 3 days before or after ) this will

greatly influence bass to spawn....as long as there is no

major cold front that drops temps dramatically. If it's 60

degree's and a front comes through dropping the temp.

to say 55....bass will still spawn.

[Dirk_Jig---Lure]

I'm really trying to learn new baits for pre spawn and post spawn.  Does anyone have any non traditional approaches?  I'm all about fishing out of the box.  Oddball baits, rare techniques anything like that.

[MFBAB]

Don't know if this applies to Bass but Crappie will move in and out of spawning water several times during the spring.  Females will deposit part of their eggs each time but never the whole batch at once, I guess this ensures that at least some of the fry will survive depending on the effects of unstable spring weather and water levels. 

As far as a good prespawn pattern, I like to focus on the breaklines, ditches, etc. that are directly attached to the spawning flats, these will usually produce all the way through the early postspawn at least.  Think Skeet in the 09 classic, he was in a transition area (Ditch) leading onto a flooded spawning flat, catching them coming and going. 

[A-Rob]

I'm not even allowed to fish bass until June 28th!

[barroncooper]

As the years go by and the more and more I fish through winter and into spring, I'm more and more convinced the whole spawning thing has everything to do with the days getting longer more than anything else. Rising temperature, it seems, is simply something that happens along the way, but is not related, other than it increases their metabolism.

I have no facts to back this up. Only my observations on the water. And yes, I've seen bass spawn in 54 - 75 degree water.

I just think they're genetically programmed to spawn during a particular time of the year, based off of length of day. Some are early, some are late. Nature's way of preserving the species.

I agree here and think that there are many factors involved.  maybe even the moons gravitational pull.  there is something in their genetic make up that senses when the time is right.  I personally think that water temp has less to do with it than what we think