Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations late spawn?

while actively fishing for crappie, i have caught several adult bluegill (8-11 in) that are quite thick with eggs. water temp was 58 two weeks ago and has warmed to 61 with the last two weeks hot weather here in va. is it normal to have egg laden bluegill with the water so cool, so late in the fall? will these bluegill actually spawn? jb

If your water warms a few more degrees, those bluegill absolutely will spawn. If water cools, they will absorb their eggs, and begin redeveloping more eggs for the next time your water warms.
In Texas, I have documented lakes and ponds where bluegill have had 5 spawns in a year. Typically, we get a few "butterfly" days in January or February, and electrofishing surveys pick up tiny bluegill in March. Then, spawns happen again in April, June and September or October. And, I have found fish in December that were only three to four weeks old.
That's why bluegill are the backbone of the largemouth bass foodchain.

thanks bob!