DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FRESHWATER FISH SPAWN WHEN WATER TEMPERATURES REACH A CERTAIN FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE.
WALLEYE SPAWN ALONG A GRAVEL SHORELINE IN THE EARLY SPRING WITH CURRENT OR WIND SWEPT, SO THE EGGS ARE OXYGENATED.
NORTHERN PIKE MOVE INTO VEGETATED AREAS WITH DARK WATER, ABOUT THE TIME THE ICE GOES OUT INTO BAYS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE 44 TO 60 DEGREES, WITH THE FERTILIZED EGGS BEING CARRIED INTO THE VEGETATION.
BOTH THE SMALLMOUTH AND LARGEMOUTH SPAWN WHEN WATER TEMPS ARE BETWEEN 60 TO 75 DEGREES, THE LARGEMOUTH MALE SCOOPS OUT A NEST IN 2 TO 12 FOOT OF WATER WITH ITS TAIL AND ONCE THE EGGS ARE FERTILIZED PROTECTS THE NEST FROM PREDATORS WHICH INCLUDES BLUEGILLS.
SMALLMOUTH WILL SPAWN IN PROTECTED WATER FROM 3 TO 15 FEET, WHERE THEY FIND BOTTOMS MADE OF SAND, SMALL ROCKS OR GRAVEL, NEAR SOME TYPE OF STRUCTURE, STUMPS, LOGS AND BOULDERS.
PANFISH, LIKE THE CRAPPIE SPAWN IN THE LATE SPRING IN WATER 1 TO 6 FEET, ALONG PROTECTED SHORELINES, BAYS,WITH MUDDY OR SANDY BOTTOMS, AS THE WATER WARMS TO 55 TO 65 DEGREES, WHILE THEIR COUSIN, THE SUNFISH AND BLUEGILL SPAWN AT 65 TO 80 DEGREES IN PROTECTED BAYS, ALONG SHORELINES THAT HAS A GRAVEL, MUCK OR SAND BOTTOMS,
LIKE THE BASS, THE PANFISH MALE SCOOPS OUT A NEST WITH ITS TAIL, WHICH BECOME HUGE COLONIES, OFTEN TIMES FOUND IN BACK COVES, ALONG PROTECTED SHORELINES.
THE MALE, LIKE THE BLUEGILL WILL FAN OUT A NEST WITH ITS TAIL WHERE AND ONCE THE EGGS ARE FERTILIZED THE MALE PROTECTS THE EGGS UNTIL THEY HATCH.
SINCE THE MALE, HASN’T EATEN WHILE PROTECTING THE NEST, IT’ S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE MALE TO GOBBLE DOWN MANY OF THE FINGERLINGS, TEACHING THEM A LESSON THAT THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE AND AFRAID OF EVERYTHING.
CHANNEL CATFISH SPAWN IN THE SUMMER WHEN WATER TEMPS ARE BETWEEN 70 TO 85 DEGREES, THEY SPAWN IN HOLES IN TH BANK UNDER HEAVY BRUSH-PILES OR OTHER SUNKEN OBJECTS IN THE WATER.
WATERS LOCATED FARTHER NORTH WILL WARM UP SLOWER WITH ICE REAMING ON MUCH OF IT, SO SPAWN IN IN NORTHERN STATES AND CANADA WILL HAPPEN LATER IN THE YEAR!
