Spawn Period

Major Rivers

Outside of the oxbows and sloughs adjoining them, large rivers offer bass few suitable spawning areas. The entrances to such spots can offer hot fishing for almost a month, while spawners come and go back into the main river.

If such shallow areas aren’t present on rivers where you’ve caught largemouths before, you’ll probably find spawners near the most protected shorelines or in boat harbors.

Wind Direction and Water Temperature

Bass are triggered to begin spawning when water temperature reaches about 60°F to 62°F at dawn. As spring progresses, day- and night-time temperatures become more predictable and there’s less of a difference between them. During the Spawn Period, bass spread out over a greater area of lakes and reservoirs as the water temperature rises toward 70°F.

Bay Shape

Just as in early spring, the ideal spawning bay has substantial shallow flats, cover, deeper refuges, and is protected from strong winds. The difference at this time of year is that with more constant warmth, bass move into deeper water. Besides looking for bass on the northwestern sides of lakes and in the most sheltered of bays, check deeper reaches of bays and the holes adjoining the mouths of rivers and creeks. Anywhere adjacent to warm, shallow water is likely to hold spawning or immediately postspawning bass.

Cover

In the South, lily pads, pennywort, and other water-weeds reach the surface during the Spawn Period. These, along with stumpfields in deeper water, provide the combination of cover and warmth so attractive to largemouths.

As water mixes in spring winds, bottom waters are re-energized with oxygen. In the Spawn Period, some bass take advantage of deeper water on the warm side of lakes and reservoirs. Weedgrowth in the North is scanty until the Postspawn Period, so look for bass around structure like stumpfields, docks, and concrete cribs.

Time of Day

As springtime temperatures stabilize and rise, fishing can be successful earlier in the day than during the Prespawn Period. Afternoons and evening are best, however, because they give the largemouth’s metabolism time to rev up.