Bass spawning in 40-48* degree water

[santacruz]

Is there a chance bass will spawn in 40-48* degree water,my buddy been catching fish at our lake and seen bloody spots on there tails.Does this mean there are spawning?Or just making beds?Does water temp have to be 55 or above to spawn?

[basscaster88]

I'd like to find this out too cuz me and my buddy went out to a lake today and we dont usually get much but there are big bass. I caught two 7 pounders, a 5, a 4, and a 2.5. They hit as hard as ever so i'm wondering if they're are spawning cuz they're so aggressive.

[texanbassangler]

It depends on local climate (warm, hot, cool, cold), moon phase, and the particular body of water. I know in a warm (or hot in summer ;D) climate like we have in Texas, I'd never expect to see a bass spawning in that water temperature. Up North, maby. Depends on where yall are. More than likely, they're in the pre-spawn, based on your buddy's account of "agressive behavior". Bass eat themselves silly before spawning, when they won't feed often at all.

[burleytog]

Doubtful

[Tin]

They are not spawning yet. Is he watching them around rocky areas? Has there been a recent spike in h2o temps?

[Blue Streak]

My guess is the sudden warming of the water has triggered these bass to feed heavily. You have probably had the same warm front go through there that we have had and the water temps have made a big jump.

[santacruz]

Thank you guys,but i understand the water isnt right but can you explain the bloody tails.That usaully means spawn right?

[Clark Stewart]

I was just about to post a similar question. In Alabama we hit 2 days of 70 degree weather with mid 60s on either side, then a cold front comes through like last weekend and dumps us from 70 to 45 yesterday. Now it's supposed to be 65 or so today! I fish a 4 acre pond that might be 15 feet deep in the deepest part, and I'm wondering if the water will ever hit 60 degrees! I keep trying to fish a couple days a week there just to keep track of the effect the weather has on em. So far I can't tell much difference in the bite - can count on 5-8 bites a trip. My bass have busted lips where I assume they're running crawdads. If we can get a stable week in the high 60s I hope that will put em in full-blown prespawn mode

[Paul Roberts]

I've not seen the "bloody tails" thing, making me wonder if it's mostly a southern thing. Anyway, check this out, see if it possibly jives:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1258140749/0

[Bass_Akwards]

The spawn can start when the water temps jet into the 50 degree area, but depending on where you live, you can get those nasty late spring cold fronts. It's happening here in CO right now and it constantly puts the brakes on the basses natural urge to propagate.

Photo period (length of daylight) is also important but not as important as water temps.

From all that I've read and seen, most biologists seem to agree that somewhere between the low 60s and about 72 degrees is when bass remain in those shallower areas to spawn.  I've noticed that in some ponds I fish, the spawn takes more than a month.  Some bass simply move shallow earlier than other bass do. 

I can't imagine a bass wanting to lay it's eggs in water temps of 40-48 degrees. 

I can see however why the tails on some of these fish are red.  Most likely they are males that are making beds.  Most times the male will put its head in the middle of the nest and spin it's body in a circle, keeping it's head in the middle.  They do this many times to get the nest just right. This is why when you look at a bass nest, you can tell from the radius of the nest how long the males body is.

[Beastie Bass]

I've not seen the "bloody tails" thing, making me wonder if it's mostly a southern thing. Anyway, check this out, see if it possibly jives:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1258140749/0

WOW! I cant believe you've never seen that! Every year I catch countless bass from early March to almost May that have very bloody tails, even anal fins. I fish in southern indiana, so I dont think its a southern thing. It's a spawning thing. I just started finding the red tooth patches yesterday, only on the bass from deeper water!  :-?

[Crestliner2008]

I doubt that nature would be stupid enough to allow fish to spawn in conditions which will not support the fry. This is the reason bass usually start to make beds when the water temps are stable and approaching the 60 degree mark.

I suppose anything is possible, but the frys survival is what's in question here. The egg's survival is dependant on (consistently) warm water and plankton for food to support the hatching fry; neither of which is available yet. JMO - I could be wrong.

[Clark Stewart]

I've not seen the "bloody tails" thing, making me wonder if it's mostly a southern thing. Anyway, check this out, see if it possibly jives:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1258140749/0

WOW! I cant believe you've never seen that! Every year I catch countless bass from early March to almost May that have very bloody tails, even anal fins. I fish in southern indiana, so I dont think its a southern thing. It's a spawning thing. I just started finding the red tooth patches yesterday, only on the bass from deeper water! :-?

Every bass I've caught this year has had the red tooth patches - i thought that was a chasing crawdad thing? I guess gorging on the craws is part of the prespawn ritual? Doesn't have anything to do with nesting does it?

[Paul Roberts]

I've not seen the "bloody tails" thing, making me wonder if it's mostly a southern thing. Anyway, check this out, see if it possibly jives:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1258140749/0

WOW! I cant believe you've never seen that! Every year I catch countless bass from early March to almost May that have very bloody tails, even anal fins. I fish in southern indiana, so I dont think its a southern thing. It's a spawning thing. I just started finding the red tooth patches yesterday, only on the bass from deeper water! :-?

No, I haven't -at least that I've noticed. Certainly not the very bloody tails I see in photos of big southern bass. I see tail wear, usually on the lower part, but not the bright blood red I see in photos, and in tooth patches. I don't think the bloody tails is a spawning thing either as it's seen pre-spawn, and females don't do the bed preparation -at least I've never seen that in my waters.

I think the bloody tails are not due to (physical) spawning activity, nor do red tooth pads involve crayfish eating -although many bass do eat craws in spring. It appears that both are related by timing only.