Spawns And Floods

[joeD]

I'd like to get to safer ground (literally, figuratively, pun intended, and (for me anyway) ironically). I brought this up on the Crooked Creek heading(?), and I'd like to throw my query out here. Spring floods are nothing new to our smallie streams. Our fish adapt accordingly. But I'd like to know if we think it really does affect spawning behavior and success. I know the floods move gravel and trees and banks and such around, but does it affect their spawning behavior? I am under the impression that, generally, fish get that special feeling around 65 deg., more or less, everything else being average let's say. For example, years ago, I had a great trip on the upper Huzzah in late May. There were alot of beds, and alot of fish caught. I can also remember, recently, that on a certain stream the spawning was over at this time, late April. So, basically, assuming no more flooding, how will the spawn shake out? Are my assumptions incorrect? (don't answer that. the only exercise i get these days is jumping to conclusions and flying off the handle).

Yes, I know. I am like Barney (from "The Simpsons") when he had to be a designated driver for the gang to go to Chicago and not drink. Eyes twitching, hands shaking. That's me. Because I can't fish. Getting crabby and house-bound. Or, come to think of it, I haven't had a drink in several hours...right eye blinking...

[hoglaw]

on CC the fish that have already spawned are unaffected, the fish that were on beds when the water hit got blown away, and the fish that haven't started yet I imagine will start when the water drops out. Can't imagine any fish trying to spawn at 20000 cfs, but the big flood water is gone. The fish know what this feels like, and they know how long it will be until the water starts clearing up and they can get back at it. I would say that the spawn would be largely unaffected other than those that were on beds definitely couldn't stay on them. It may even be that some that were ready to go could tell this was in the works and held off a bit. I think you'll just see a later spawn, plus the water never really got that warm before all this anyway.

[Al Agnew]

Timing is everything. Given normal spring water temps, a lot of river smallies spawn around the full moon in April. If that happened this year, the eggs or fry are probably pretty well wiped out. But not ALL of them spawn then. And not all the females who spawn then drop all their eggs. So there will still be some spawning after the water goes down. Not all the smallmouth that live most of the time in the larger streams spawn there, either, and smaller tributaries they may move into to spawn drop very quickly. These floods could result in a poorer year class, but there will probably still be some fish produced this year. Like you said, the smallmouth have evolved in these rivers, and spring floods have always been pretty common.

Another thing...once the fry turn into fingerlings, over an inch or so long, a lot of them will survive big floods. Some will be washed away and end up somewhere way downstream, but most will seek out quiet eddies up in the trees, and hopefully will move back down into the river as the water goes down, although you'll always find a few stranded in left over pools.

[Gavin]

From my talks with some of the biologists...they need one good spawn in 3 years to maintain a good population...a flood may knock out a good portion of a year class but some will make it. Not all gloom & doom and there is lots of mortality built into the equation already. I'd rather have a flood year than a couple years of drought conditions.

[joeD]

Good info fellas. But one of my questions wasn't really answered. The water temp factor (around 65). All things being equal, what is more important, water temp or, now, entering the ring, a full moon in April? Just asking. I know nothing is absolute. Passing time while Cardinal closers try mightily to give games away.

[flytyer57]

As the water warms from a long cold winter, the smallmouth get ready to spawn, regardless of moon phase. The 65° water temp thing is a general average of spawning for smallmouth. In northern climates, the smallmouth may spawn in water that is 55-60° or less. There is no hard facts as to when they will spawn. Only the fish know when it's time for them.

[Mitch f]

As the water warms from a long cold winter, the smallmouth get ready to spawn, regardless of moon phase. The 65° water temp thing is a general average of spawning for smallmouth. In northern climates, the smallmouth may spawn in water that is 55-60° or less. There is no hard facts as to when they will spawn. Only the fish know when it's time for them.

And when the moments right, you need to be ready.

*please consult your physician for a spawn that lasts for more than 4 hours.

[Tim Smith]

If conditions are wrong, they'll wait.

Broadcast spawners are going to have a heyday in all of this flooded timber. Look for incredible numbers of shad and carp and suckers to recruit this year.

Not sure about white bass, but maybe them too.

[Al Agnew]

I don't think there's any hard and fast rule for water temps vs. time of year or moon phase. If everything comes together..."spawnable" water temps and good water conditions, the April full moon will be kinda like the final trigger, although certainly not all will be triggered by it. But if conditions just aren't right, water temps too cold, and/or bad water conditions, they won't do it then. On the other other hand, they "know" that they have to get the spawn in sooner or later. There was one year when it was an exceptionally cold spring, and even up in mid-May water temps were not staying consistently above 60 degrees on upper Big River, but I saw smallies on beds at 56 degree water temps in mid-May mornings. I suspect that the eggs still hatched but it took longer. You will sometimes see them on the beds as early as the first of April and as late as the first part of June.