Originally posted by Dave Davidson1:
Jack, you appear to have the same idea that I have had. Namely, that sand bass need running water to spawn. Not so. There are various recorded cases of them spawning on windswept gravel banks.
Will they do it very often? I doubt it.
I do think they will do it often because the lake we fish, Joe Pool it is exactly how they are spawning there and it is heavily fished and sand bass are heavily harvested and yet they continue to get better every year.
The state has not stocked them in 10 years so they have to be comming from somewhere. Trust me I have fished this lake for a long time and fished the creeks running into it. I can tell you almost none of them EVER go up the creek.
They do spawn on the wind blown points IF the points have gravel on them, that is the real key. Joe Pool happens to have a creek channel running along the three big humps we pull them off during the spawn, early in the spawn the females are full of eggs.
The do spawn some on the points too but mostly the gravel humps. I am telling you during the spawn peak you almost can't let the slab hit the bottom with out picking up a sandie.
The real question is can it be done in a pond? I don't know, like I said my friend Brian has them spawning in his pond south of Granbury, the adults are healthy but it is not proven by any streach long term yet.
One thing I do know is if sand bass are hungry they will go where ever bait is. Shallow, deep, fast water or slow, find the bait find the sandies.
At the end of spring for instance we consistantly catch them in about 6 feet just beyound the weed beds in the evenings just before dark. The shad move near the mouth of the marina and the sandies follow.
They key is now that it looks like I might be able to build a 7-8 acre lake is can I establish TFS? From what I know that is VERY tough even in a big pond.
Also one thing yall can anser for me is when you stock tilapia what area in a pond do they hang out in?
