Ask The Pros
Weather Q. and A.
How Do You Know When It’s the Spawn?
Q. How do you tell when the bass start spawning? Winter is almost over in my neck of the woods and I’m getting anxious to start fishing again. The spawning season for bass is usually a good time to fish because they’re looking for food, right? I’m in Illinois and any tips or help would be appreciated!
Mark Moersch
A. Here’s a good way to tell: when the leaves on a willow tree get the size of a mouse's ear, the bass are on the beds.
Connie Kilpatrick
Southern Pro
A. I also live in Illinois (Northern Illinois). Typically the bass up here spawn in or around the month of May. It all depends on the weather patterns (temperatures), but usually it is in May.
JT Bagwell
Midwestern Pro
A. One of the things I always key on is the nut and fruit tree blossoms. When they start to bud and the first white and pink fluffs appear, that's a pretty reliable sign that things are starting to warm up. This typically will tell me that the water temps too are starting to climb, and the bass are now beginning their transition to the shallows. This is a period when they definitely gorge themselves and the big girls are fattening up after their winter diet plan. This is a great time to throw lipless cranks, jigs and plastic swimbaits.
Once they do get on the beds though, and this can occur any where when the water temps are from 60-68 degrees depending on your location, the spawning bass become very visible and easy to catch in the shallows. At this time, they are not so much interested in feeding, but become very territorial and will readily fend off predators that come looking to raid their nests. This is SENKO time my friend! Don't leave home for the lake without ‘em!
Andy Cuccia
Western Pro