With spring upon us (at least in the south) it is time to have some spawn time fun. In that regard the question of water spawning temps. is a relevant discussion. We can all look at the reported spawning temps of various species but what does that mean.

Last week I reported the first signs of the spawn. In fact a few LMB and lepomis ( BG or RES hard to tell at less than 1/2 in.) have spawned , hatched and reached swim up. We have had an unusual spring - hot in Jan. ,cold in Feb. then hot in early March. The ponds are full + but we have not had huge rains to muddy the water and make it cold. Surface water temps. are 70 , but at 3 ft. the temps. are 65 and at 5 ft. 58. These temps are up 10 degrees at the surface and up 11 degrees at 3 ft and up 5 degrees at 5 ft. from eight days ago. Talk about rapid heating ! Our friend "Ray" ( as named by Bruce) and all his energy have been in full swing.

One fisherman's tale from the south is that when the redbuds are in bloom the male LMB are looking for nest sites , and when the dogwoods bloom the LMB are in full spawn. With this weather we went from redbuds to dogwoods in 3 days but no major LMB spawn yet. Difference in air and water temps. I guess.

Here is the question. When the published material says that X fish spawns at Y water temp. does that mean surface water temp or temp at spawning depth and how do you account for the different depths and temps. used both between species and within a species? For example biology tells us that many predator fish spawn first so their yoy will be ready to eat forage fish yoy at hatching. What if the water temps. at the spawning depth of the predator are to cold when the forage fish spawn in quickly warming shallower water? Is that one example of when we have a bad predator recruitment year ? Thoughts or comments on a slow post day.