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#502971 03/11/19 04:54 PM
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when should the LMB start spawning in Texas?

tim k #502972 03/11/19 05:42 PM
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That depends on what part of Texas you're talking about. LMB in the furthest southern region are likely to be mostly post spawn already. I live in Sw La, around the same latitude as Houston, and I'm still waiting to see signs of a spawn. My fish are feeding very actively now, so they've either already spawned, or they're getting ready to.

Rule of thumb is LMB go into prespawn when surface temps reach a consistent 55*f, feeding increases prespawn, with the spawn usually starting at around 65*f. My pond never got down to 55, so I'm not sure what stage they're in, TBTH.

Florida's LMB spawning is dictated by how cold the water gets during the winter. If it doesnt get cold enough, the spawn will either be very light to non-existant, because there isnt a trigger (significantly warming water temps) to tell them it's time. But FLMB may spawn sporadically throughout the summer months.

Last edited by Mike Whatley; 03/11/19 05:59 PM.

.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503007 03/12/19 12:45 PM
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In the south - Bill Dance says when the redbuds are blooming the male LMB are making nests and when the dogwoods are blooming the spawn is on. That is a good general indicator. It depends on many factors but the main ones are water temps and photoperiod.
















ewest #503016 03/12/19 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: ewest
In the south - Bill Dance says when the redbuds are blooming the male LMB are making nests and when the dogwoods are blooming the spawn is on. That is a good general indicator. It depends on many factors but the main ones are water temps and photoperiod.


I think Bill got that from one of his predecessors, John Foxx, but yes those are good indicators from my personal experience as well. Photoperiod plays a lot bigger part than a lot of people think. Not just in fish, but basically all wildlife. Water temps are influenced by where/what that water is (ponds fed by springs tend to stay cooler, clearer water isnt as warm as turbid, northwest banks tend to be warmer than southeast due to sun exposure) and may delay spawn past the redbud/dogwood analogy.

Its definitely time here. The wild Iris we transplanted on the pond has its first flower today.


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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Dogwood hasn’t bloomed yet redbuds just started to bloom , crappie are colored up but not in the shallows yet .....

tim k #503036 03/13/19 06:59 AM
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Yesterday I watched five different lmb in a spawning area in one foot of water. The day before I watched two of them together side by side. I looked to see if I could see any bumping or anything like that going on. These look to be males, so I thought maybe they were looking for or building a place to spawn. Not sure or maybe they are just up in the shallows due to the water being warmer there. This spot is in the NE section of the pond and not where the warmest water would be. I wonder if the Northern lmb spawn before the Florida's because these 15 to 16" fish I suspect are some of the Northern's I added last spring. Water temps are in the high 50's in the afternoon.


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Tracy
tim k #503064 03/13/19 01:59 PM
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Northern LMB will start to spawn earlier overall (not necessarily each fish) and the period usually overlaps.

Redbuds in full bloom here and dogwoods about to bloom. Sounds about like yours Tracy with activity. Spawn is close as long as we don't get another freak artic cold snap.
















tim k #503071 03/13/19 03:34 PM
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It's happening here right now! I'm stoked!!! I only have 3 NLMB in my pond, and I've watched them for the last week cruising together and feeding heavier. I've named them 1,2 and 3. One is distinctive due to his hunch back and maybe 13" long, 3 is by far the largest of them all, now pushing 16", 2 is about 14".

When I got home I went straight to the pond and found 1 sitting in the middle of a freshly cleaned spot in about 20" of water and 3 was staying close at hand, hovering back and forth about 3 feet away and running off anything that got too close. 1 would occassionally swim out to her and nudge, bump and bite her sides.

2 made a brief appearance but 3 kinda pushed it off. It think 2 may also be a hen, as it's got a pretty good belly on it.

Thankfully my water clarity has moved down to better than 4 feet, so watching the ritual should be pretty easy...and fun!!


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503104 03/14/19 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Mike Whatley
It's happening here right now! I'm stoked!!! I only have 3 NLMB in my pond, and I've watched them for the last week cruising together and feeding heavier. I've named them 1,2 and 3. One is distinctive due to his hunch back and maybe 13" long, 3 is by far the largest of them all, now pushing 16", 2 is about 14".

When I took out these affordable payday loans and got home I went straight to the pond and found 1 sitting in the middle of a freshly cleaned spot in about 20" of water and 3 was staying close at hand, hovering back and forth about 3 feet away and running off anything that got too close. 1 would occassionally swim out to her and nudge, bump and bite her sides.

2 made a brief appearance but 3 kinda pushed it off. It think 2 may also be a hen, as it's got a pretty good belly on it.

Thankfully my water clarity has moved down to better than 4 feet, so watching the ritual should be pretty easy...and fun!!

Sounds like a ton of fun, Mike. Would be awesome if you had the means to film all that, wouldn't it? haha

Last edited by OliverCas; 09/30/23 01:12 PM.
tim k #503107 03/14/19 10:03 AM
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Try a video.
















tim k #503116 03/14/19 11:50 AM
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I'd love to do that, but by the time I get home, because of where their bedding (SE corner) there's too much glare on the water. Polarized glasses are the bomb!!


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
ewest #503117 03/14/19 11:52 AM
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Saw two large LMB nesting this morning

tim k #503125 03/14/19 03:46 PM
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I'm a bit disappointed today. Went out to check on my bedding LMB, only to find "1"(male) is nowhere to be found. "3", the bigger female, is still hanging around, still very egg laden, and "2" also came in to give me a good look at "her". She's definitely carrying row.

The shallows are saturated with BG and GSF ranging from 2 to 7 inches, a lot more 5-7s than anything tho.

I hope "1" just decided to grab a bite before he settles in for the long haul.

Last edited by Mike Whatley; 03/14/19 03:51 PM.

.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503165 03/15/19 02:06 PM
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Do you have osprey ? They can be hell on shallow nesting fish.
















ewest #503167 03/15/19 05:37 PM
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Cold snap put them back deeper

ewest #503168 03/15/19 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: ewest
Do you have osprey ? They can be hell on shallow nesting fish.


We do have a few in the area, being this is a massive swamp bottom, but so far I haven't had any here at the house. Luckily, my pond is so small, I dont think they give it a second look.

The front that passed through has got the wind blowing out of the NW now and all the pollen has piled up on the bank where the bed is, so it's real hard to see anything right now.

I did get a glimpse of "3" this afternoon, still hanging around that area. "1" finally came back to the bed late yesterday, but I didnt see him today. Everything was acting very lethargic. I'm sure the drop in temps will put them off for a few days. To be honest, I dont expect them to do much until the next full moon.

I did see something yesterday that I've never witnessed before..."2" was swimming through the area with a big BG following right under her. It appeared it was pecking at her vent. I dont know if she was leaking eggs or just doing her businesses, but something sure had that BG's attention.

Last edited by Mike Whatley; 03/15/19 05:59 PM.

.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503172 03/16/19 05:45 AM
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thanks for all the great info!

tim k #503173 03/16/19 05:57 AM
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here you go. the 5 lmb in the shallows are now 4. and they do not move outside a 3' area. Been there for a week now and they are always there. I did see one that looked like he was chasing something off but he moved toward deeper water where I could not see. But he came right back. With what I am seeing I believe these 4 are guarding their nest. I saw the same thing in the same spot last May. My best guess is the lmb spawning may last a month or so with different lmb taking up some of the same spots at different times.

Last edited by TGW1; 03/16/19 06:00 AM.

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Tracy
tim k #503174 03/16/19 07:32 AM
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Tracy, I think the males will stay on the nest as long as there are fry to guard or females to lay eggs. Much like other sunfish. But eventually, I'm sure they have to pull off or die of starvation and stress


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503190 03/16/19 12:33 PM
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I agree Mike, I believe the males will be replaced with another male after these leave. This is based on me watching the lmb nest in the exact spots last May.

What surprised me is that I expected Bg to spawn in the same area before the lmb spawn. I have caught bg on beds in the same spots before. it's possible they spawned when we had about 3 days of nice 70 degree days back in early Feb, even though I did not see them spawning. Or maybe the lmb moved them out of the area. The lmb rule!

Last edited by TGW1; 03/16/19 12:37 PM.

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Tracy
tim k #503202 03/17/19 06:57 AM
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I think, under most circumstances, BG spawn after the LMB, and once they start, its a non stop rotation of females laying eggs throughout the summer months, and a single female will spawn multiple times. Bass, RES, WM and GSF are typically single spawners. Once the females quit coming to the nests, the male will leave once the fry are big enough. Unlike BG, once these other females drop their row, they're usually done.

I've had GSF on bed all of last year (they've already started this year), but my understanding is that the females only lay once a season, just over a prolonged period

While they would want to use the same areas to spawn, I believe the timing keeps them from overlapping in the same areas. I'm sure there is an exception to the rule, but thats my understanding.

Last edited by Mike Whatley; 03/17/19 07:08 AM.

.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
tim k #503206 03/17/19 08:32 AM
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I remember Bob Lusk saying the bg would spawn if we were to get a couple of warm days in Feb. And that is why I thought the bg would spawn before the lmb and that would give the lmb fry something to eat, bg fry. Mother nature seems to have a plan for the lmb fry or young lmb to feed on. It's really amazing how it all works.


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
tim k #503208 03/17/19 09:39 AM
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Tracy, do you remember if Bob said how long a warmup is required for the CNBG to complete the spawn?


AL

tim k #503215 03/17/19 02:03 PM
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The temperatures have had wild swings here lately, but today I noticed several LMB almost against the banks.

tim k #503222 03/17/19 07:40 PM
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These cool days have completely put my LMB off wanting to spawn. I still see them hanging close by, but deeper, and they've abandoned the bed. Hopefully the next full moon will have them ready to do the deed.


.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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