This spring has been so warm, it's looking like it might hit the normal spawning temperature a month before it usually does.  I was wondering if the bass will spawn at the temperature they normally do or wait for the right day light length?

We have had a long debate on this topic, you can search "photoperiod".

Winter to spring water warming combined with time between the last years spawn to mature eggs is predominate. The photoperiod is attached directly to latitude, longer sunlight period tends to warm water temperatures. The debate comes with geographic zones like Florida where water temperature can remain 60 to 70 degrees during the winter, water temperature is ideal year around for spawning. Photoperiod may be the predominate factor in Florida.

IF the photoperiod is the same and lakes within that zone that have desperate water temperatures; some lakes with bass population in SoCal are located at high altitude during March and still frozen over, while lakes located within 100 miles near the coast are fully into the spawn, the photoperiod isn't a factor, water temperature is the primary factor.

Tom

Down here on the Gulf coast we had a warm winter with no freezing weather or even a heavy frost.

We did not have a lot of sunny days but what we did have was very stable temperatures both day & night. January & February had over night temperatures in the upper 60s to lower 70s with daylight temperatures in the mid 70s.

Until last weeks rains the bass had moved up & a few males were building nest. 

Mall of these is a full month early so you tell me which is more important?

11 hours ago, Centralinfinnesse said:

This spring has been so warm, it's looking like it might hit the normal spawning temperature a month before it usually does.  I was wondering if the bass will spawn at the temperature they normally do or wait for the right day light length?

Did you see our weather for this weekend? Ugh

Yes, I did so well over the weekend, I was hoping the weather would stay the same for next weekend for a similar trip, but at least some great pre-spawn fishing is right around the corner.

In Florida we really only have two seasons. The spawn, and the summer. A few fish can be found on beds most of the year with the largest spawning movements occurring between mid February and early April. The most drastic temperature swings occur in January-February with stabilization in the following months. In my experience stable to warming conditions trigger the spawn more than the season (length of day), or an exact temp.