RE: Spawn?,
bassindon69,
Mar 19th 2006, #1
RE: Spawn?,
malakas,
Mar 20th 2006, #2
RE: Spawn?,
swimbait,
Mar 20th 2006, #3
RE: Spawn?,
mteman,
Mar 20th 2006, #5
RE: Spawn?,
Urban,
Mar 20th 2006, #6
RE: Spawn?,
humboldtbasser,
Mar 21st 2006, #8
RE: Spawn?,
swimbait,
Mar 20th 2006, #7
RE: Spawn?,
calicokid,
Apr 02nd 2006, #15
RE: Spawn?,
Urban,
Mar 20th 2006, #4
RE: Spawn?,
Bronzeback,
Mar 24th 2006, #9
RE: Spawn?,
bigfish2,
Mar 31st 2006, #10
RE: Spawn?,
magmaster,
Mar 31st 2006, #11
RE: Spawn?,
Gotbass16,
Apr 01st 2006, #12
RE: Spawn?,
bigfish2,
Apr 01st 2006, #13
RE: Spawn?,
Gotbass16,
Apr 02nd 2006, #14
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swimbait | Mon Mar-20-06 11:04 AM |
Charter member
9890 posts
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#16014, "RE: Spawn?"
In response to Reply # 0
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> What triggers the fish into spawning behaviors-water temp, day length?
It would be nice to have some kind of formula for this but bass don't conform to hard and fast rules. In general water temperature above 60 degrees triggers spawning, and fish will spawn up into the high 70's that I've observed anyway. Fish may spawn above or below those ranges, but that's the general time when they spawn. Photoperiod (the length of the day) may certainly have an effect on when fish spawn but there's no largemouth on earth you can convince to spawn in 40 degree water even if it's a long day in March :)
> How do you determine the sex of a black bass?
Male bass, like Don pointed out, seldom get larger than 5lbs. I've caught a few males over 5lbs but it's pretty uncommon. If you see two bass on a bed, the larger one will be the female 99% of the time. You will see more than one female on a bed but never more than one male, they won't tolerate eachother. The most female bass I've ever seen on a bed was 4 at a time.
Male bass will sometimes have a hooked lower jaw, like a salmon, this seems to be a variation that happens only on certain lakes. They usually look skinnier than females, and if you catch one on a bed and starts shooting white stuff around, well... then you know. There's no perfect way to determine the sex of a bass without cutting it open, but in the spring you can usually make an educated guess.
> How does varying water levels affect spawn?
Bass are pretty determined when it comes to reproduction. Ideally the water doesn't go up or down during the spawn, but the bass make do regardless. Bass, especially the males, will often stay on the bed during dropping water to the point where their backs are almost out of the water. Bass on the delta where the tides cause the water to go up and down twice daily will spawn in areas where on a low tide they will be almost exposed completely. I think their basic goal is to make the bed where it gets a reasonable amount of sunlight, then guard it as long as they can. In lakes where the water levels vary a lot it can affect the spawn, but the thing is... bass lay so many eggs and spawn for such a long period of time that they have a knack for making millions of babies regarless of what is happening.
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Urban | Mon Mar-20-06 07:35 PM |
Member since Sep 22nd 2004
402 posts
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#16021, "RE: Spawn?"
In response to Reply # 5
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Well, I dont know about an actual fall spawn, meaning September, October, and November. However, I once documented that bass were spawning into late July. The spawn may have continued but I didnt go back after that. In that lake, I also documented that during certain years, multiple spawns had occurred. This was done by looking at the incremental growth during the birth year. For some reason during certain years you could clearly see that there were multiple length modes during the birth year, and the differences among modes were large enough that clearly the modes were due to being spawned many months apart. The interesting thing about this lake is that water temp rarely, if ever, increased beyond the optimal spawning temperature. This was due to the climate of where the lake was located. So in theory fish in that lake could have continued to spawn into the fall. If it can happen there, I would imagine it can happen at other lakes.
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humboldtbasser | Tue Mar-21-06 09:42 AM |
Charter member
posts
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#16023, "RE: Spawn?"
In response to Reply # 6
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Hey urban, I second that. I have seen fish on beds well into July at our local lagoon. There is also that alpine lake that the local guide talks about a large mouth spawn in late june. On that particular lake the water temp. and day light are prime well befor june. Just a thought. At my home water there is not enough prime spawning areas for all the able fish to do there thing all at the same time with out being harassed by other spawners.(or fisherman) It also doesn't make sence for all fish to have a magic temp. or time to turn on. I'm sure that for the survival of the species they are all programed a little different and pass that on to there young.(a late spawner will bread late spawning offspring.) just my thoughts, but I really dont know what I'm talkin about.:-)
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Bronzeback | Fri Mar-24-06 06:23 PM |
Member since Feb 11th 2006
3 posts
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#16027, "RE: Spawn?"
In response to Reply # 0
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>How do you determine that fish(bass,others too) are actually >spawning? What triggers the fish into spawning behaviors-water >temp, day length? How do you determine the sex of a black >bass? What is the maximum size of a male bass? I've seen posts >where male fish were spotted, how did they know they were >males? How does varying water levels affect spawn?
With a trained eye and a little experience you can actually tell the difference between male and female bass. If you really would like to know, you examine the vent, it will be either round or ovaI. Round, male, oval, female.
The largest male bass I've seen during many years of electro-shock surveys, was a six pounder.
The actual spawn(not nest building)is triggered by a stable water temperature(1-2 weeks)around a full moon. Temps above 62 degrees are ideal. The warmer the temp the faster the eggs will develop. Normaly 7-14 days. And bass spawn at different times of the year depending on were they are located and how big the lake. Bass in the northern(warmer)end, may spawn in March and bass in the southern(colder)end, may spawn in May, or May thru July, ect. Dave(fisheries manager).
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