Time to earn our pay. We have been requested to serve as a data gathering source by Bob for the Bill Dance Group. We need the ability to have an ongoing source for water temps and spawning data from north to south and west to east. I have put links above on some of our past threads wrt this request. Who is up to helping on this?
Time to earn our pay . . .
We need the ability to have an ongoing source for water temps and spawning data from north to south and west to east.
. .. Who is up to helping on this?
I'm gone from home most Mondays thru Thursdays from 5:30 AM through 8:30 PM, but I can certainly monitor temps and spawning activity Friday through Sunday's.
Just let us know how and what you want recorded. I keep an MS Excel spreadsheet of fish kept and released, by date, length, sex (BG only), and weight. I can certainly add daily water/air temperature, and notes about spawning activity.
I don't think I'm the only one who also inspects the body cavities for eggs, milt, and stomach contents.
Just let us know what you need.
Ken
I'll help. I can also provide datat I've already collected from my ponds on yellow perch, bluegill, redear sunfish.
ewest:
Central Ohio
2/17/08, 0800 hours
Temperature 32 degrees F immediately under the ice. No sign of spawning activity.
Thanks guys !! We will need lots of help. I am going to get my old data out also so that would help Bruce. I think this does not need to be a huge chore for anyone. We will have to think about how to compile the data in addition to posting here. I believe it will just be date , temp , type of spawning activity or not and special conditions present. They don't have to be every day stats (once a week or even less will help). Lets see what Bob and Bill need.
The main thing we will need is a bunch of sources ( 1000 points of lights as GHW Bush would say) so think about who can help form the grid. So far we have Neb , Cent. Ohio , WV , Cent. MS , and N. Cent. TX . We will need a much bigger and tighter grid than that.
Volunteers ?
If anyone can think of any other threads here that should be included post them.
This may be another PB is tops in the class event.
To my knowledge this data is not available on a nationwide scope. I know in one of the studies the writer had to call and find a person in each state F & W agency to provide data on a one time basis.
Ewest,
I would be honored to assist in any small way that I can, but you know me...I don't know my fish from a hole in the ground.
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We stocked 800 4" - 6" YP (1 year old) and 1300 RES fingerlings last spring. Also 60# of FH. Seeded with 150 crays in the early fall. Planning SMB this year.
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I believe that I might get a YP spawn this spring...? I don't really know what info you are looking for other than if/when I see the wet toilet paper in the water along the shore, don't call the county health dept...rather to check in here first.
From all the information I have gotten from this forum, it would only seem fair to "give back" as much as possible. I'm in, it would actually be an honor for me to be able to contribute. Add northwest Indiana to the list!
I will try to get a few ponds to sample near my school.
The more the better and thanks guys.
Bski you can measure water temps. That is the important part. The rest I bet you will know it when you see it.
I don't really know what info you are looking for other than if/when I see the wet toilet paper in the water along the shore, don't call the county health dept...rather to check in here first.
No, no...call the county health dept first. Be sure to keep a tape recorder handy and e-mail the audio file to all of us.
I really want to hear how the county man tries to explain to you how that "wet toilet paper" got along the shore while keeping a straight face.
Better yet, get a video camera. Then you can tell him to smile because he's on Pondboss Candid Camera!
I will be able to to give spawning reports from Central Illinois this spring for most every species! I would be glad to help!
Rainbow trout already laid their eggs about 6 weeks ago and have started producing more, the males still have milt squirting out.
I have some rough data from Grady county GA.
I have a cheap aquarium thermometer in my neighbor's little pond where we stocked FH last fall. The temp has been reading 60F consistently for several weeks at about 1 ft below the surface. On one of those days I checked the temp in the top few inches of water and it read 65 degrees.
At this time the FH are the only fish in the pond. They have already spawned and continue to exhibit some spawning behavior and colors. There are schools of fry approximately .75 inches long at or near the surface. If it would be helpful I could net a few and post pics.
Thanks GW. Good info. No need to net the yoy as they are to fragile. If you can get an in water pic that would be neat to see.
I took some photos at Mr. H's small pond today. The 700 FH I added last October have greatly increased in number. They are the only fish in the pond at this point. We had 3 inches of rain 2 nights ago and the surface temp was up to 67 today with air temp of about 70.
In this video (I'm leaning over the dock) you can see two (female?) FH swimming with their dorsal fins against the vertical piling. There has been at least one FH there for the last few days.
I assume these are spawning colors.
Here are the fry as of Feb 19. For reference the piling is a 4 X 4, and the pellet is a Grower 400 which is 3/32 inches diameter.
(Can you find Waldo?)
02-20-08
Main pond
9:00 AM
52.4 degrees - 3 ft water depth
Big CNBG mamas' full of eggs.
Eric,
I guess I deleted earlier reply before posting....
Anyway, water temp is 56-57 degrees at 1-2 foot. CNBG females are full of eggs or just real fat.
Did notice some very small fry along the edge of the pond in groups of 20-30. Couldn't get close enough for an ID.
Also noticed some torpedo-type activity on top tonight. Could be the HSB's I stocked last May............
Feb. 20th central Miss water temp 53F and muddy after a 4 inch rain. No obvious spawning but fish activity has increased markedly over the last 3 weeks. Air temps have been in the 60s for highs for 3 weeks.
March 1 central Miss water temp 59/60 with 12 inch visibility. No noticeable spawning activity. Fish active in shallow water. Air temp highs in 65-75 range for last week.
Water temp 72 degrees. Tilapia spawning and female LMB caught are full of eggs but not bass on beds yet. Redears starting to spawn.
Time to update. If you have info please add it.
Cent. Miss -- 3-8-08 -- 60F - air temps highs in the 70s F -no spawning activity.
-- 3-15-08 -- 62F - air temps highs in the 70s F. - no spawning activity.
-- 3-22-08 -- 65F - air temps highs in the mid 70s - male LMB starting to make beds.
-- 3-30-08 -- 71/72F - air temps in 80 F range w/ some high 80s days - male LMB active in shallow water some clearing beds - no spawning yet - no BG bed activity but close.
Water temps here are in the mid to upper 40's, no spawning activity at all.
Ewest, when the water temps are right, any thoughts on looking for spawning activity on both the new and full moon phases vs the 1/4 moon phases?
I think my CC are spawning.Water temp low 60s,Ill ck it when I go back out to catch supper.
Tom, my Grandson caught a 7 pound CC yesterday. It was loaded with eggs.
Central Miss water temps 4-5-08 72 F - new moon soon - some BG gathering around nest sites. No change in LMB activity wrt spawning yet.
Shorty I will find the link that covers in part what you ask.
Thanks ewest. The water temps here are running in the 45-50 degree range right now so NO spawning activity yet. Just a note, the guys on our NE fishing forum are saying that water temps are averaging 10 degrees cooler now than the were at this same time last year.
Our temps are behind last year also.
Central Ohio April 8, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 66.2 deg F
2' deep Temp 60.2 deg F
LMB patrolling shorelines, assume they were after BG which were present in the shallows. No activity closer to spawning behavior than that.
40 degree surface temperature, cats are pregnant, bird life is all knocked up, opossums have pups in the pouch, but no fish sexual activity noted. 04/09/2008
My pond surface temps are in the mid 50's yesterday but have probably drop a little today as it is cooler. We may get some snow this coming Saturday night.
No perch eggs yet. Bill Cody says not to worry. I'm worried!
Smallies are now hitting the fatheads that I dumped in last fall to give them something over the winter while I hold them before sale.
Erik,
Just got back on after being off for several weeks, so I had not seen this till now, but I have gotten data from my pond i can share.
3/23/2008, surface temp 72, LMB on beds
3/30/2008, surface 74, 72 at 10'. LMB spawned.
4/4/2008, surface 76, 74 at 10'. LMB on beds or post spawn. Tilapia on beds but not spawned as far as I can tell. BG are full of eggs.
4/8/2008, surface temp 77, 76 at 10'. Tilapia off beds, BG spawning. LMB in post spawn.
All data from 25 acre lake, clear water (visibility to 6')in new lake with 2 year old fish.
Water temps 73 both BG and LMB nesting activity is much greater than last week. Males are on the beds. Don't think the spawn has occurred yet but very close. Day time temps have been 80ish highs. Low tonight is 44 with high tomorrow of 65. No RES seen shallow yet. BG feeding ravenously. The water is packed with BG at feeding time.
Central Ohio April 18, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 66.4 deg F
2' deep Temp 64.8 deg F
Prespawn LMB feeding very actively. BG have moved into the shallows but don't show any sign of egg development yet.
Pond surface temp is 46 degrees @ 1030 this morning. No activity noted.
My thermometer disappeared so I can't report temps today, but the FH spawn keeps on a rolling. I've been seeing fry that were 3/8" (8mm) for over a month now. I saw some that were that size just today and I still see adult FH in spawning colors defending territory on the underside of structure. I only added adults a few months ago so I think I can assume that all of the smaller fish are yoy. The largest of them are almost the size of an adult female guppy.
I'll get another thermometer soon. What depth do you want to have me report about?
For those of you in the south you might see BG spawning now - check the moon phase.
Central Ohio April 20, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 67.0 deg F
2' deep Temp 64.4 deg F
Not much temperature change in 2 days, but spawning beds have appeared in the shallows. I have not seen the owners on the beds yet. Based on configuration - about 2 feet in diameter, spaced 2 to 3 feet apart - I presume they are bream beds. Based on location - in 1 to 1.5 feet of water, very near where my shallow water RES nested last year - I suspect they are RES beds.
Theo - This is early in OH for bream spawning. In my experience typically BG will begin spawning first and at a lower temperature of 63-68F. Whereas RES begin spawning at temps of 68F-70F. I suspect your new cleaned nests have been performed by BG or maybe younger bass. Rarely do I see BG on beds before LMB. Have you seen any bass on the beds yet?
Bill, I never see bass beds. Water clarity doesn't allow it.
They are usually 3' - 5' down, aren't they?
I don't know what made the beds (they are in an easy place to check when I feed each night), but they weren't there 2 days ago, or last year.
I will post if I see fish on them.
Cent Miss - water temps have fallen over the last week due to rain and colder than normal air temps. 73F last week now 68F. BG feeding well and some on the beds. Looks like a small first BG spawn in progress. LMB are on the beds but looks like only a small fraction of them are about to spawn. The drop in water temps has set the spawn back or at least reduced the amount of fish spawning. Beds have been newly cleared on all 3 ponds.
Eric this has been one of the coldest springs I can remember here in North Central Texas. We keep getting one cold front with rain after another. The rain has kept the pond muddy and I think that the fish are just in a holding pattern. My surface water temp is still only in the low sixties.
Theo, Yes bass nests are typically located in deeper water of 3'-5'. However I've seen bass create nests and spawn in 2' of water. Most probably your new nests are produced by BG, but it is still pretty early in the central OH season for BG to be building nests. Sometimes bass will build a couple nests before they decide on a final location. You will have best luck seeing the nest builder at morning - mid-day to early afternoon.
I found another "set" of nests 15-20 feet away from the first. The only fish anywhere near them over about a 45 minutes period tonight were two medium-sized (for my pond) LMB in the 15" length range - one at each set of nests.
Could a bass-crowded pond be so full of breeding LMB that some are forced to move into very shallow water to nest?
Yes there can be so many that some don't find adequate nest sites and delay spawning or even don't spawn and absorb the eggs.
My surface temp was 68F yesterday at noon. By late afternoon the GSD spawn had started.
Central Ohio April 23, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 76.5 deg F
2' deep Temp 67.9 deg F
Small to medium sized adult LMB (12"-16") occupying many (what appear to be) spawning beds in shallow (approximately 18"-24") water along the shoreline. Occupied beds are spaced every 15' 20'; some are inhabited by pairs of LMB. They are being pestered by huge hoards of BG in virtually every size, which are accompanied by the occasional juvenile bass.
I have never observed bass on the beds in my pond before. As is usually the case, water clarity prevents observation of other beds in deeper water. I believe the bass spawn is on; the moon phase is just passed full, IIRC, and timing would coincide closely with last year's unobserved LMB spawn which resulted in LMB fry swimming up on April 30, 2007.
Pestering BG are attempting to eat bass eggs. Don't expect to see BG on nests until the bass are finished or about finished spawning. Your central OH water temps are about a week to 10 days ahead of those in northern OH. You are learning grasshopper.
Interestingly enough in a month the tables will be turned.
The yoy and last years small LMB will be hanging out at the edge of the BG beds waiting and watching. Then in a mad rush one or more will invade the BG colony and grab up eggs and fry by the mouthful.
The large BG will counter and drive them off all the while small BG (2-4in) will be picking off stray yoy BG and yoy LMB.
Oh the carnage of it all.
Central Miss - LMB have spawned in one pond and there are swim up LMB fry in schools. Some LMB yet to spawn. Pics tomorrow maybe. RES and BG are spawning. No BG or RES fry yet.
Beautiful little guys, ain't they?
those are great pics eric!
none of my fish have yet spawned so far as i can tell.
As usual he sets the bar many of us strive for!
Al I just got tired of taking crummy pics in the water. I could see the fish great with my $ 7 yellow tint strike king uv glasses but the pics were bad. I tried putting the glasses in front of the lens - better but to much tint. I went to the camera shop and ask what would get the glare off the water . They said a uv filter. Daaaaa - that was stupid question. The lens was more than $ 7 but does the job.
Water temps briefly hit 60 degrees late last week until a cold front came though, saw a small number(2-3)of unattended beds at the pond this weekend. If the weather warms up and stays warm I would not be suprised to see the LMB spawning here in the next 2-3 weeks.
Cent Miss water temps 75 F. BG on the beds (many) LMB have spawned. BG feeding on pellets very well. RES are feeding on pellets along with them.
Central Ohio May 3, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 65.1 deg F
2' deep Temp 64.4 deg F
LMB are OFF the beds. I don't know if they pulled off a spawn or not - no sign of fry/swim-up observed yet.
BG are in shallow water where they will be spawning are are biting very well. Small juvenile LMB right there in the shallows with them and also biting heavy.
Water temps are now a little bit above 60 degrees here and the bass are sitting on beds, I caught two in the 13-14" range with bloody tails that looked like the were spawned out. My best guess is that the bulk of the LMB spawn will happen in the next 10-14 days.
I saw some YOY BG in the shallows of one pond this weekend but missed the first nesting due to turbid/muddy water. No sign in the other pond. Gotta get another temp guage. Mine read 76 degrees and I know that's wrong.
Great photos Ewest.
I didn't see any fish sitting on spawing beds at my place last week.
I did see tons of very small fry. Gams possibly? Don't know.
Jax Fla area 5-1-08
Pond temperature now 80 degrees. The second stringers (Bream) have just left the beds. I can see small bream around structure from the first of this years spawn. I did not see the clouds of LMB or Bream fry that most have observed in their ponds. I suppose they were quickly gobbled up by larger fish. The LMB wolf pack that patrols the shallow water has grown from four to eight each 18+ inches. It is interesting to see the quick change in the BG behavior when they are near.
Central Ohio May 5, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 71.5 deg F
2' deep Temp 67.7 deg F
LMB fry observed near shore, so the bass have gotten off at least a partial spawn. BG/RES are on the spawning beds (and off the feed; only juvenile BG taking pellets).
Central Oklahoma: I don't have a temp on the water, but I have a lot of CNBG fry in the shallows. The water is still pretty murky so I can't see the nests.
2.5 acre aerated (bottom diffuser) pond, 13' max depth in Central Indiana. 12" below surface was 63F at 11AM today. Lots of edge activity but doesn't appear to be spawn related.
52.5 surface temp here in SW Minnesota. Nothing happening. though the turtles and frogs are active.
After a good cold front with rain Saturday waters temps were 58-61 degrees on 5/11/08.
Last night, 5/14/08, water temps were 65 degrees. Based on a very recent and sudden change in body conditions I believe that most of our LMB have spawned now. I would say that better tan 90% have done their thing.
What really made me smile was that I saw 2 SMB getting frisky and swapping slime last night in front of the house. There are two SMB nests about 10ft apart, I was very surprised to see that a SMB nest looks very much like a jumbo sized BG nest, basically a large very cleaned out crater the size of a trash can lid.
The SMB crater nest looks a lot like this and is in 2ft of water.
http://www.pbmphoto.com/bas-90-1.htm
I went out last night and the BG have just started making nests. There is one 14" SMB still guarding the nest and chasing BG off.
Due to poor visability I cant see a thing.Wter temp dropped from 74 to 71 due to heavy recent rains.Saw a lot of activity this morning and the fish woundnt take food but were feeding on SOMETHING pretty good.It may be CC fry.
Here is a picture from this morning of a SMB guarding it's nest, this is the same nest they were swapping slime in Wednesday afternoon.
ewest, I have not taken that close of a look yet, the SMB spooks fairly easy as you walk along the bank. Is it 3-5 days for the egss to hatch? I may have to set up a blocking net in the morning.
Central Ohio May 24, 2008
0.9 acre pond, max depth 9-10 feet
Surface Temp 73.4 deg F
2' deep Temp 68.8 deg F
BG/RES are BACK on the spawning beds after a cold streak that dropped water temp by 12+ degrees for a couple of weeks. There has been no evidence that they were at all successful the first time. Mating dances observed on RES beds near shore. Hubba, hubba!
6/1/08 - I saw 12-15 schools (balls) of small bass fry swimming around at the pond yesterday, most were out in open water outside the weedlines. Some of these balls of fry were 6ft in diameter. This is one of the largest bass hatches I have seen in a long time. In addition, there were male BG on beds everywhere yesterday afternoon.
Shorty - sorry I missed your question. At the rates below the SMB would be on the nest for a couple weeks. Some of the lit. has spawning occurring for several mths depending on conditions. You have a guess as to the factors resulting in a large spawn ?
RELATION OF TEMPERATURE TO SURVIVAL AND
INCUBATION OF THE EGGS OF SMALLMOUTH BASS
(MICROPTERUS DOLOMIEU)
DWIGHT A. WEBSTER
The mean incubation periods are given below, those for 1945 being
marked with an asterisk:
Temperature (øF.) ...................... 77 75 71 70 67 65 60 59 55 55
Incubation period (hours) ........ ,2 54 70 78 90 98 150 167 238 234
Thus the incubation period at a constant temperature of 75 F is
about 2 1/4 days, whereas at 55 F it is between 9 1/2 and 10 days.
Incubation periods reported in the literature which have come to
the writer's attention are given in Table 1. The discrepancy between
these data and those currently presented is no doubt due in large part
to nocturnal-diurnal temperature fluctuations in natural waters.
Thanks ewest! FYI - there was still one SMB guarding a nest yesterday, the other SMB guarded their nests for just 5-6 days a few weeks ago.
You have a guess as to the factors resulting in a large spawn ?
My best guess is fewer weeds in the pond and more spawning areas area available this year, plus most of the bass spawned in a very short time frame this year and the BG started making beds shortly afterwards. I watched a big ball of bass fry yesterday swimming around in shallow, both the larger bass and big male BG were not interested in chasing them. I actually netted some of the fry to verify that the were LMB. The other thing is our BG are in excellent body shape going into the spawn and probably not preying on the LMB fry very hard right now. In addition, we are back to being on the bass heavy side of things again, and once again light on the BG side.