How Much Do The Eggs Increase The Weight?

[jmed999]

If I caught an 8 lb'er in the fall how much would she weight right before spawn when she is about to bust open with eggs?

Thnaks!

[Lund Explorer]

This will be the second quote from Rolo I've seen today:

"Roe is Overrated

Most anglers agree that the growth rate of fish is influenced by water temperatures.

On the other hand, anglers are sharply divided as to the seasonal period

when bass attain their peak annual weight. Fish eggs (roe) add an average of 8%

to the bodyweight of a cow bass, reportedly ranging between 5 and 11%.

For all practical purposes, cow bass fast during the bedding season,

and the 8% weight gain due to roe, amounts to about 10 ounces for an 8-lb bass.

Solar energy peaks during the summertime, when weed growth is full-blown,

feeding is in high gear and baitfish are large and plentiful. The same 8-lb cow

that gained 10 ounces during the spawn is very likely to lay-up a pound

during the summertime, while toting a 1/2 lb minnow in her gut."

Roger

Simple search got me this from the following thread. Quite easy as the subject comes up every year.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/81035-eggs/page__p__921344__hl__bass%20weight%20with%20eggs__fromsearch__1#entry921344

[jmed999]

Sorry, didn't realize this had been asked already.

[Lund Explorer]

No harm - No foul

Just figured I'd help out.

[roadwarrior]

No appologies needed for any question that's "alredy been asked".

If we had a requirement for all new stuff, we would be closed down

in a day or two.

[Mattlures]

The eggs dont add alot of weight but the females go on an eating spree before they spawn so they can fatten up and store energy. So they have extra fat weight plus the extra weight of the eggs. This is why they are at their heaviest just before they drop their eggs. Once they start the actualy spawn they dont eat much if at all so they loose body weight and egg weight. This is why the look so deflated after they spawn. they can go from their heaviest to their lightest and the rest of the year they weight is more consistant.

[Randall]

On most of the lakes I fish big bass are heaviest during the late fall. They expend less energy in the cooler water (50-55) and have the advantage of more available forage in preferable sizes to feed on. Eggs have much less to do with it than water temp and how easy it is for the fish to feed and get fat.

[WRB]

Female LMB feed heavily during pre spawn and can add as much as 10% body weight including eggs. They loose that weight during spawn to post and add weight back on grow larger the balance the year and repeat the process until they reach maximum weight or die. Fall 8 lber could be 8.8 lbs late pre spawn.

Tom

[Colton Neal]

10%, so a bass that weighed 8 in the fall would be about 8 ounces heavier.

[WRB]

10%, so a bass that weighed 8 in the fall would be about 8 ounces heavier.

8 ounces = .5 lb, .8 lbs = very close to 13 ounces (1 oz - .062 lbs); 8 lb bass in the fall could gain 13 oz during the late pre spawn. To many factors to absolute with calculated bass weight. 10% is a good ball park to use.

Tom

[Mattlures]

Randall makes a good point. It varries from region to region. WRB is not to far from me so we see the same thing. Another reason that our Socal bass get biggest in pre spawn is because the lakes get stocked with trout durring the winter months. Plus our winter is the perfect storm for bass to put on weight. The water is not too cold to slow them all the way down and its not to warm to make them burn a buch of calories. Add the trout and the eggs and they are at their heaviest just before they spawn.