Just curious on opinions. Prespawn based on the photoperiod or based on water temps? 

6 of one, half a dozen of the other ..... IMO both!

Both with the emphasis on water temp.  They won't spawn when the water is cold, no matter the phase.  

Water temperature, bass are cold blooded animals, warmer water warms their body temps. Photoperiod indicates the length of daylight time, longer days with sunlight warms the water faster.

If photoperiod was the primary factor, then bass in the same area would spawn at the same time regardless of water temperature and that doesn't happen.

Example Big Bear lake in the San Bernadino mountains is 7,000 ft altitude and the bass spawn in May-June, Los Angles and Ventura  lakes 100 miles further north at near sea level the bass spawn in Feb-March, difference is water temperature, 62-67 degrees ideally.

Tom

1 hour ago, mattkenzer said:

6 of one, half a dozen of the other ..... IMO both!

 

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

Both with the emphasis on water temp.  They won't spawn when the water is cold, no matter the phase.  

 

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Water temperature, bass are cold blooded animals, warmer water warms their body temps. Photoperiod indicates the length of daylight time, longer days with sunlight warms the water faster.

If photoperiod was the primary factor, then bass in the same area would spawn at the same time regardless of water temperature and that doesn't happen.

Example Big Bear lake in the San Bernadino mountains is 7,000 ft altitude and the bass spawn in May-June, Los Angles and Ventura  lakes 100 miles further north at near sea level the bass spawn in Feb-March, difference is water temperature, 62-67 degrees ideally.

Tom

Thanks for the input fellas. Yeah water temps in VA are still cold below 50° possibly right at it some days but seems they are in prespawn. Fish I have been catching have had some full bellies. They have been on moving baits pretty good. Square bills produced majority of my fish this year.  Weather just has been up and down this year here. Colder than normal. 

Photoperiod lights the spark, heat makes it burn.