Largemouths seek out shallow flat areas with protective cover in which to build their nests or beds and spawn. Cancelled a fishing trip to the Lake of the Ozarks on April 10th due to the cold fronts slamming the region. Nine times out of 10, after the spawn, bass retrace the path that brought them into shallow water. Old timers use to say that bass spawn when dogwoods bloom in the spring. What are Florida peacock doing when Spawning? Next, twitch your lure very slightly a couple of times. Generally speaking, larger males and females will start spawning earlier, so look to the bottom end of spawning temperature to target the big ones. How To Use Fishing Swimbaits (3 Quick Tips), How To Fish Small Bodies of Water (3 Quick Tips), Bass Fishing in the Fall: Transition Tips, Quick Tackle Tip With LTB: What To Use When, Spinning Gear Vs. Bass live on a schedule. Most of the spawn will occur in the spring months -- April, May and even early June -- but are bass such a widespread species that location plays a large role, too. When do bass spawn? However, take note that lakes, particularly larger ones, won’t warm up uniformly. Is fishing bass during the spawning period detrimental? When you are trying to target the females that are on the bed, I like to use big worms or creature baits li… When do bass spawn? When the water temperature is between 55 and 65 degrees, largemouth bass will seek out a shallow, protected area for spawning. When the females drop their eggs and the males fertilize them, the eggs then settle to the stream bottom and stick to rocks, debris, brush, etc. This will be the 10th year of the Moses Open. And why should you care? Spawning activity takes place later in the North. We've seen several bass with big bellies feeding up for the spawn. Bass spawn in the spring when the water temperature reaches 55-70 degrees. Since Dale Hollow is normally clear, they spawn deep - 8 to 15 feet, down to 20 feet some years. Log in. This stage can last anywhere from 1 or 2 days to 1 to 2 weeks depending on the water and the area you are in. The spawn is a really fun time to be on the water. By the time the water temperature in the main lake reaches 64 to 68 degrees, afternoon temperature in the back of a spawning cove could easily reach … He’s a guide and tournament angler who makes that lake his home and provides some information you can use uplake in a couple weeks, but right now we’re headed downlake. When winter ends and the water warms back up, bass feel the urge to spawn. If you’re down south, bass will spawn way earlier in the year than if you are up north. It is dependent on the water clarity. When do bass spawn? Early season, pre-spawn bass action can be phenomenal — by far the best of the year. When bass spawn is dictated by water temperatures, light penetration, lunar phases and other varying conditions. The next important time period for the Largemouth Bass is the actual spawn. Bass spawn in relatively shallow water -- often only a few feet -- and typically build nests or beds near structures like rocks, logs, reeds, brush or weed beds. When bass decide to spawn is a hard question to answer, as it can be different depending on the body of water and the geographical location. Making the “Cut” The Nixon’s Moses Lake Open has always been a special event. Comments Off on In Atlanta, Georgia, when do bass start to spawn? The largemouth bass is one of the most important freshwater sport fish in South Carolina. Yes. Sign up for our newsletter to receive tips and special offers in your inbox each month. And not only does a good understanding of its timing help with catching bedding bass, but it will also help in catching pre- and post-spawn bass, because those phases will be better timed as well. Nine times out of 10, after the spawn, bass retrace the path that brought them into shallow water. If the water visibility is very good, they may spawn slightly deeper. The entire process can take as little as 3 weeks in some spots! All bass in a body of water don’t spawn at the same time. Generally, the Northwest side of lakes and the upper areas of reservoirs warm up first. Plan A: Right Now Bass spawn next to stumps in 2 to 4 feet of water. If you’re down south, bass will spawn way earlier in the year than if you are up north. From there, the eggs are fertilized and hatched. In fact, the entire spawning process, which involves building a nest, finding a mate, hatching fertilized eggs and guarding young fish until they are ready to be on their own, can take a little as three weeks. If you live very far north, and your lake doesn't get too warm, wait for the upper 50's to come around to start looking for bass on their beds. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Lake George is a great largemouth bass fishing spot anglers should utilize. Here in Oklahoma, White Bass may start moving up in the Rivers and Streams to spawn as early as March. However, early spring weather is unpredictable, and as the water temperature in the shallows fluctuates from day to day, bass will move back and forth between shallow and deep water. Keep in mind that bass are extremely aggressive towards anglers who move in on their spawning grounds. As the water temp hits around 50 degrees, bass will start feeding up heavily preparing for the time when they’re on their beds, which is a 10-14 day stretch where they do not feed up at all. Generally, the Northwest side of lakes and the upper areas of reservoirs warm up first. Down here in South Florida the peacock bass spawn can be around late February to about the ending of April. The prime secondary points are those near gravel and sandy banks where the bass eventually move in to build their nests. After ice-out in late winter or early spring, bass begin moving from deeper areas where they spent the winter toward rapidly warming shallow waters. It’s our mission to support ALL passionate anglers by delivering monthly boxes bursting with baits, lures, and tackle, while also providing education to empower anglers to maximize their luck on the water. They will go to shallow and protected areas for spawning. Most places in Texas, bass will spawn in water from 1-6 foot. Largemouth Bass or Micropterus salmoides are perhaps the most sought-after fish to stock in ponds. Spawning can last for weeks or even months. Some bass are spawning while some are still moving up. When it's time to spawn, bass mean ­business. McCLINTOCK: Smallies will use flats, humps and long points with pea gravel, fine shale and hard clay bottoms. Usually, lakes do not warm up constantly that is why it is worth noting that bass will not spawn at the same time. There is a lot of evidence to back this up, at least when it comes to large fish being on beds and more readily caught. During incubation, these eggs need oxygen to remain healthy. When discussing lure patterns, Bassmaster tournament anglers will explain bass behavior and location as either “pre-spawn,” “spawn,” or “post-spawn.” Pre spawn. I moved up here from Texas and miss catching those angry spawning bass. PRE-SPAWN: Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding to build up their fat and energy supplies for the stressful spawn that is to come. As the water temperature begins to warm, bass will no longer be “sulking” on the bottom of a cold lake and may be hungry. Bass will search for a place where it is safe for spawning when the water temperature increases from 55 to 65 degrees. Any thoughts about the Spawning Bass this spring? They will eat readily right before the spawn. The iBobber Wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder by ReelSonar, The iBobber Wireless Bluetooth Smart Fish Finder by ReelSonar. In my opinion, there are 8 distinct seasonal patterns - winter, pre-spawn, spawn, post-spawn, early summer, mid summer, late summer, and fall (I have articles on each). The bass spawn is one of the pillars of bass fishing. Middle of the country you’re looking at March-April and up north you might be waiting all the way until May-June. The spawn can begin starting in February if you live in warmer states like Florida or might not start until the end of June if you live up north. Teddy Carr has literally written the book on Lake Anna. It is also going to depend on the weather, but you can start looking in April for spawning bass. Moon PhaseThe most controversial spawning factor, where there is some disagreement among seasoned anglers, is moon phase. Let’s break down the key factors that effect when bass move up to spawn.Water TemperatureBy far the biggest factor in the spawning process for bass is water temperature.