How Long?

[Flysmallie]

I will say that on all the Ozark streams I fish, most spawning is done in April and early May.

I have seen them spawning a lot later in the year in the streams around the Springfield, Branson area. Mid to late June. But I have no idea if that's the majority of the fish in the streams. Might just be late bloomers.

[Al Agnew]

Can't say that I've seen them actually on beds any later than about the third week of June. But some do spawn late, or re-spawn that late if the first nest is wiped out. There is an optimum temperature for development of the fry, so really late spawns, or early spawns during cold springs, may not be very successful. But on a normal year, the water temps will reach the spawning zone sometime in April, and many (not all) are most actively mating right around the full moon in April during a normal year in my rivers.

[joeD]

The fish will spawn when they are ready. Usually in the spring. If they feel like it. Maybe they won't. Maybe they're tired of seeing their brothers and sisters yanked out of the water and then not return. They get depressed. They live in a nice tidy hole with their buddies, but after a few years, they find themselves alone. No one to share their good spot. They mature, get a little gut from overeating and not moving around too much. But they have no one to share their life with. The neighborhood just isn't what it used to be. They probably wonder where all their friends went. They wonder if they'll ever find a mate, what, with getting that special urge all the time. It's lonely at the top.

[KrookedKreekKing]

The fish will spawn when they are ready. Usually in the spring. If they feel like it. Maybe they won't. Maybe they're tired of seeing their brothers and sisters yanked out of the water and then not return. They get depressed. They live in a nice tidy hole with their buddies, but after a few years, they find themselves alone. No one to share their good spot. They mature, get a little gut from overeating and not moving around too much. But they have no one to share their life with. The neighborhood just isn't what it used to be. They probably wonder where all their friends went. They wonder if they'll ever find a mate, what, with getting that special urge all the time. It's lonely at the top.

HA! Good stuff.

[David Unnerstall]

The fish will spawn when they are ready. Usually in the spring. If they feel like it. Maybe they won't. Maybe they're tired of seeing their brothers and sisters yanked out of the water and then not return. They get depressed. They live in a nice tidy hole with their buddies, but after a few years, they find themselves alone. No one to share their good spot. They mature, get a little gut from overeating and not moving around too much. But they have no one to share their life with. The neighborhood just isn't what it used to be. They probably wonder where all their friends went. They wonder if they'll ever find a mate, what, with getting that special urge all the time. It's lonely at the top.

JoeD,

I have never thought of it that way. I ain't going fishing no more.

[taxidermist]

It will take a lot of rain to raise the creek. The last threemiles above Yelleville is a dragging bitch I mean a bitch and that is putting it mildly.

My buddy and I fished from Kellys slab to Yellville Friday and we did catch some fish, but if you are not a profootballine man forget about it cause the rocks are slicker than greased goose poop, and those that are not under are sticking up way to high to carry a boat of any size over.

There is about four really nice holes to fish, but the creek is to shallow to run even a 4hp 2 stroke motor on except for the deep holes and thats where you want to fish.

Water temp was 93F.

You will be dragging a lot right now!!! I mean a lot!!!!