Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking LMB spawning habits

I have a male LMB sitting on a spawning bed now for at least two weeks and nothing seems to be happening. I have read that they will abandon the bed if the water drops in temperature by 5 to 8 deg. F.It might be pretty close to this now. The spawn was later in the year (late May / early June) last year.

I know the water temp was at 64 deg. when he started his routine and the female was hanging around with him at that time for a few days. He is still there and we have had some pretty cool nights lately. I have not measured the water temp this week, but am afraid the eggs will not hatch? I also read that the eggs should hatch in 3 to 7 days!!! Is this also true in the Great White North...or this in the sunny South?

Thanks

What a difference between areas! I just was at the local lake today and saw 2 males on beds as well. I'm about 30 miles SW of South Bend, IN. Water temp here is 72 at 1' in the shallows. Those were the first bass that I saw on beds this year. It's been a crazy spring!

esshup,
I will get a current water temperature when I get home tonight, but the male was still cruising over the bed this morning!

This is early for this area in my opinion. We actually have a closed season on all Bass fishing until the last Saturday in June to protect the spawn on public waters.

I measured the water temperature near the bed and found it to be 64.7 deg.F tonight. I suspect the temperature may have dropped to the mid 50's range in the time this male has been on the bed.

Would he stay on the bed indefinitely, even if the eggs have been affected by the cooler temperatures...or is there still hope that this spawn will be successful?

I only have a few adult Bass and they were successful last year, but only about two dozen appear to have made it to the 3" inch size since last year. I also stocked some 1" Bass two years ago this June and they are about 6" long now. I realize that this is very slow growth compared to what I have read about here and in the Pond Boss magazine. Would the shorter growing season have this much affect on size?

Thanks

Rattletrap2, I'm just a rookie, but I can give you my thoughts.

He might stay on the bed if the temps are that low hoping to attract another female to lay more eggs. I don't know what pushes them off the bed if the eggs don't hatch, whether it's water temp or a certain length of time.

With the shorter optimum growing season up there, the LMB could be smaller, especially if they can't "go to sleep with their mouths open and wake up with a full stomach."

The local water temp climbed a degree today and I saw 5 males still on beds, without any females in sight. I also saw some small fry, about 1/8" - 3/16" long today in the shallows of that lake, but no male bass was guarding them. If I run into them tomorrow I'll try and nab a few.