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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 20
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 20 |
Hi,
can you tell me, at which size LMB beginn to spawn? what water temp. is good for spawning?
What is the favourite spawning substrate for LMB? (I have heard gravel or sand)
I know, many questions, but I want that my LMB at home will spawn next year...
Thank you very much!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
LMB will typically begin spawning at 2-4 years of age and 10"-12" in size. The bass you have posted in your other thread are mature fish and should be spawning for you... You'll start to see male LMB fanning out and building their nests when water temps rise into the low 60's and full blown spawning should be occurring by 68 degrees or so.
LMB like small gravel and sand, but can spawn on almost any substrate, from silt to clay, they just fan out a nest until they reach hard bottom.
With the mature bass you have in your pond, I would think they should pull off a good spawn for you unless there is something very abnormal about where your pond is located in Austria...
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 20
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 20 |
thank you very much.
I am sure that LMB are spawning in Austria. There is one fish farm, where bass spawn every year. It is the only fish farm in Austria, that produces own LMB! This guy has mature LMB with about 8lbs!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Well, at the rate you're growing yours I can see 8 pounds in your future too! A mix of pellets and natural forage will grow some very nice bass.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,507 Likes: 269
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,507 Likes: 269 |
Here is some more info from SRAC.
SRAC Publication No. 200
Largemouth Bass
Biology and Life History
Spawning
Largemouth bass in the South
will usually spawn when 1 year
old, if they are at least 10 inches
long. Males select a nest site in
the spring after the water temperature
has stabilized above 60o F.
Bass normally spawn at temperatures
of 65 to 75oF in water
depths of 1 to 4 feet near shore,
but nesting has been observed as
deep as 20 feet in clear water.
There are some data, based on
induced spawning trials, that
indicate spawning is also affected
by photoperiod or day length.
The male constructs a shallow,
circular nest, about twice the
male’s body length in diameter,
by sweeping away debris. Hard
substrates such as sand or gravel
are preferred and if cover or any
form of structure is available, this
will be the area of choice. Males
normally guard the area about 6
feet around the nest. If there is an
obstruction, males will often nest
closer together than 12 feet because
they are unable to see one
another.
After the nest is completed the
male is often observed swimming
in the vicinity of the nest searching
for a compliant (ripe) female.
When a ripe female joins the male,
they slowly circle the nest, side by
side. Spawning occurs with both
fish tilted laterally so their vents
are close together. Both fish shudder
as eggs and sperm are
released simultaneously. The male
may turn and check on each
release of eggs before resuming
the spawning position.
Spawning with multiple females
is common. Females normally
release about one-half of their
eggs during the first spawn and
half of the remaining during the
second spawn. A third spawn up
to 1 month later is common.
Females average about 4,000 eggs
per pound of body weight, but the
number can be quite variable.
Reports of up to 80,000 eggs from
one female have been reported
but the average is much smaller.
Larger fish tend to have larger
eggs and therefore larger fry but
fewer eggs per pound of body
weight. Usually at spawning the
weight of eggs in females will be
10 percent or more of her body
weight. During the spawning season
the male does not eat and
many males die each year due to
their poor body condition prior to
the spawning period.
Males attempt to guard the nest
and fan the silt away from the
eggs until they hatch. If he is successful,
eggs hatch in 2 to 4 days
in the southern U.S., depending
on water temperature. The male
will continue to guard the fry
until they disperse, which may be
a period of 2 weeks or more
depending on temperatures. In
nature, most nests are lost to sunfish
predation.
Nesting success is also reduced if
the temperature drops below 60o
F. This temperature usually causes
the male to leave the nest.
Without parental care the eggs
will not hatch and predation will
be increased. The fry feed on the
yolk sac of the egg for the first
few days. At 68o F they will
develop mouthparts in about 190
hours. Fry swim up when they are
about 8 days old and begin feeding
on zooplankton (cladocerans,
rotifers, copepods). They remain
in a school, guarded by the male,
for 2 to 7 more days before dispersing.
They continue to feed on
zooplankton and add insect larvae
and fish to their diet when about
2 inches long.
Normally fry feed about every
three hours as this is the length of
time necessary for food to pass
through the gut. Adult bass are
often observed to feed after about
14 to 24 hours depending on the
size of prey devoured.
Studies have found that largemouth
bass tend to move toward
warm water in the colder months,
although this may be affected by
prey availability. In addition, most
bass will move less frequently
when water temperatures are
below 50 or above 80o F. Largemouth
bass apparently do not
learn quickly. There are some
bass in every population that are
non-learners. This may make up
the majority of the harvestable
surplus.
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