Bass spawning cycle about to start
Annual ritual dependent on a number of factors, including water temperature
Within two weeks the bass start their annual spawning cycle on Clear Lake and it is one of the most exciting times on the lake. To see the large females position themselves on their spawning beds is a sight to behold. According to biologists, the length of the day and water temperature are what determines the spawning cycle for bass.
During the spring months when the water temperature reaches 60 degrees, the male bass selects a location and fans an area about the size of a dinner plate with his tail. When the water warms up to 62 degrees or more, the females start to stage near the spawning beds. The males attempt to attract the females by swimming around them and actually bumping them. The female positions herself above the nest where the male releases his sperm and the female releases her eggs. The actual spawning occurs when the water temperature reaches about 65 degrees, and the height of the spawn occurs when it is between 68-70 degrees. The female often spawns above several nests. This act spreads her genes among many fry or bass minnows. It should be noted that largemouth bass aren’t native to California. They were introduced from Illinois in 1891 and are now found across the state.
Water temperature determines how long the eggs take to hatch. When it is less than 65 degrees it can take as long as 12 days. However, if the water temperature rises to 70 degrees, the eggs hatch in two or three days. This is important because the longer the eggs take to hatch the more vulnerable they are to predation from other fish or crayfish. Bluegill and other fish are constantly on the move trying to devour the eggs. Millions of eggs are laid each year but only a small portion actually hatch.
If the water temperature never warms up to 65 degrees, most of the females still spawn although