Well, if you’re wonderin’ when them largemouth bass get to makin’ babies, I can tell ya it’s mostly in the springtime, though it does vary dependin’ on where you are. Down south, in them warm states, they’ll start around late winter. But if you’re up north where it’s colder, you’ll see ‘em start their spawn a bit later, usually in late spring. It’s all about the water gettin’ warm enough, y’see?
Now, these big ol’ fish, like the ones weighin’ five pounds or more, well, they can be pretty old. Sometimes they’re 6, 10, or even 16 years old! So, they don’t spawn every year, but when they do, it’s like their big chance to keep the fishy family goin’.
Water temperature plays a big role. The largemouth bass won’t bother spawning ‘til the water hits about 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, that’s 15 to 21 Celsius. If the water’s colder, like up north, you won’t see them spawn ‘til later in the season, once the water warms up enough. If you live somewhere warmer, well, they might get started a lot sooner, sometimes even in early spring.
When it comes to the spawn itself, there’s a few things that happen. It’s not just a one-time deal; it’s a whole process. There’s three stages to the spawn: first, they’ll start movin’ into them shallow, protected areas near the shore, usually in lakes or ponds. They prefer places where the water’s not too deep, and they like it to be calm. They ain’t wantin’ to be bothered by big waves or too much noise, y’know?
- Stage 1: Them male bass will start building nests, usually in the sandy or gravel areas of the lake bottom. They’re pickin’ a spot where they can protect them eggs once they lay ‘em.
- Stage 2: Once them nests are ready, the female bass will come on over. She’ll lay her eggs, and the male will fertilize ‘em. It’s a quick process, but real important to keep the eggs safe.
- Stage 3: After the eggs are laid, the male bass will stay close, watchin’ over ‘em. He’s protectin’ them little eggs from any critters that might wanna snack on ‘em, and keepin’ ’em safe ‘til they hatch.
The spawnin’ usually happens when the water’s between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s colder than that, you might not see them doin’ much. But once them waters warm up, they get busy.
As for catchin’ them during spawn, well, that’s a good time to try. The bass are more focused on makin’ sure their eggs hatch than they are on eatin’ other fish, but they can still be caught if you know where to look. You’ll wanna be fishin’ near them shallow areas, where they like to lay their eggs.
Now, if you’re wonderin’ how long it takes for them little bass to hatch, it’s usually about 2 to 3 days, dependin’ on the water temperature. The warmer the water, the quicker them eggs hatch. And after they hatch, the little baby bass will hang around the nest for a while, before they start swimmin’ off on their own.
So, in a nutshell, the best time to fish for largemouth bass is usually in the spring, when them water temps hit 60 to 70 degrees. You’ll find ‘em in shallow areas, doin’ their thing and gettin’ ready to lay them eggs. But don’t wait too long, ‘cause once the spawn is over, them fish get more spread out and harder to catch!
Tags:[largemouth bass spawn, when do largemouth bass spawn, bass fishing, fishing seasons, bass spawning time, largemouth bass spawning season]