Guys, this is something I should already know but here goes...

At what water temp do largemouth typically start spawning? If location is a factor I'm in north Georgia.

Thanks,

Kudzu

60 degrees fahrenheit

I once heard the PEAK spawn in Florida happens when the water temp is around 70 degrees. But I don't know for sure how true that is.

Currently, I think most Central Florida lakes have a water temp in the high 60's.

I think some can give you 'ideal' temps, but there are too many variables.   (where, what exact part of the lake, moon phase, temp steady without ANY drop for a long period of time, etc, etc.).

Probably thinking first warming trend in the spring, in N. GA, the water temps are near or over 60, nearest the full moon phase that time of the spring, and then there is a good chance you have a good number of bass spawning somewhere in the waters you are fishing.

Here in Colorado.............about 62 degrees..........

The spawn starts at 55 degrees and I have seen bass on the bed into the mid 70s.  The larger fish go on the beds first  around 55.  The peak of the spawn is 62 to 65.

Yeah I think a lot of it has to do with moon phase once the water temp has reached 55-60.

when your fishin a large pond thats heavily stained, how can you find where the bass beds are?

Look for visible cover and work your preferred spawn lure slowly around it and make several cast to that cover.

Several consistent days of 60-62 degree water

8-) 8-) 8-)

Yeah I think a lot of it has to do with moon phase once the water temp has reached 55-60.

Thats pretty much what I've heard; I always heard that the spawn starts 2 weeks after the first full moon once the water is consistently above about 60-62*.  

Thoughts?

Byrdman

Actually it is two things in combination:

1.- Constant water temperature over 55-60 degrees for a period of at least two weeks in a row

2.- The increasing light levels of the spring.

The spawn may take place during the full moon but that doesn 't mean the full moon rules the spawning behavior.

Ok we can almost all agree that the spawn can start as early as 55 all the way up to 70+degrees.I was out float tubing in 37 degree water on Monday, 1st I hit a 4lb largemouth in about 3 ft of water with no signs of spawning or anything which is what I would exspect.But then in the same temp and same depth I hit a 7.1 which to me is a very nice fish.Now this fishes tail had all the signs of spawning already,red blood color,all beat up like she had been on a bed or something.But lets remember the water temp was only 37degrees.I tried to check the cover she was in,it was some stick-ups that just came above to the surface but the water was to stained to see the bottom.Now could this fish have been starting the spawn or maybe something just got ahold of her?We do have fresh water otters up here along with other critters that would mind chewing on a bass.GB...Jim

When water stabilizes at 60 male LMBs begin fanning out beds, then actual spawning begins at 65 degrees and generally ends at 75 degrees. Females can continue carrying eggs well into warm months, but not be escorted to a bed for fertilization by a male.  Jim

Thanks guys! I knew you'd come through for me.

Kudzu

Another instance.....

Power plant cooling lakes are a different beast.

You need to look to when the water temp gets DOWN to 68 or cooler. Since mid-December, we have seen beds on one of our local power lakes. Water temp at the beginning of Dec was 71-73. When it hit 68, we started to see males in the shallow staking out spots. Currently, the water temp is in the mid-70s with most spawnning over.

On to another lake where the spawn is more usual. Water temps on that lake has reached 59-62.  8-)