Some of the gravid females will drop their eggs if no males are present. A significant percentage of females without males may not lay the eggs and then reabsorb them. In mid-Indiana one should begin seeing eggs mid-March and for the next 2 maybe 3 weeks. In northern OH during years with a warm spring I will see my first eggs the last week of March. Watch your water temperatures and look for eggs when the surface water 12"-24" deep is 48F to 50F. All YP egg laying is usually finished when the water is consistently 60F. When I hear pond toads trilling my YP spawn has usually ended.
If your brush structure is deep below the water transparency depth it is likely you won't see egg ribbons. I always place my brush /tree tops in shallow water 4"-24" deep along the shoreline so any eggs on or near the tree twigs are visible in calm water. YP ribbons look like toilet paper in the water; strung out or clumped.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/30/15 10:44 AM. Reason: spell correct
