Ok, I got a bunch of questions here, so bear with me.

I read that the bass spawn during a full or new moon. I was wondering, why do they do this? What affect does the moon have on their spawning? Why do some bass spawn in the full moon (more light) and some in the new moon? (much less light)

Also, what water temp. do the bass prefer to spawn in?

If there is shallow structure with a sandy bottom (or a bottom perferable for spawning) Will the bass spawn close to the structure or do they try to avoid it?

Would a muddy bottom large (many acres) cove that is very shallow (2 at deepest) covered in lilly pads atract spawning bass? I read that sunlight is needed for a sucsessful spawn. Would this keep bass from spawning under lilly pads? Would a bass spawn in a mud bottom, or only sand/gravel bottoms?

Would a female bass who is spawning/guarding eggs chase down food? Is it best to act like a threat or like a meal when fishing for spawning bass? (I am ussuming its best to be a "threat")

I bet carp are a big danger for bass eggs. They are too big for the bass to attack, and they feed on anything they can slup up. True or false?

If carp are a danger, then why dont they make small carp lures/swimbaits to use during the spawn? Would useing golden/brown jigs or crankbaits be worth trying around nests?

After the full/new moon, (spawn starts) how long does it take for the eggs to hatch? Do the bass start eating the hatchlings right away or do they kinda give them a head start? A spawning bass will stay near the nest (most of the time) intill the eggs hatch right? Once she is done spawning, (eggs hatch) will the bass return to normal feeding/schooling and other things right away?

After the spawn is over, when fishing for bass and pickerel, It is probaly a good thing to use baby bass imitating lures, correct?

How long does it take for a baby bass to reach 12" in length?

When do panfish spawn? I see them with their nests in the early summer, but I'm not exactly sure. Do the same rules apply for panfish/crappie as they do with bass? If a bass sees a spawning panfish, would she be more or less prone to attack then when she sees a panfish just swiming around?

Thanks alot for anyone who answers one of these questions. Sorry for asking so much.

Matt

EDIT

I forgot to add, I release every bass I catch. (spawn or no spawn) Is it best to release spawning bass where you landed them or where their nest is? If you release them 30 feet from where you cought them, they should be able to find their way back quickly, right? Any particular way that is best for landing spawning bass?

Two words:  Doug Hannon!

i have read just a little over half of big bass are caught close to the full or new moon. However new or full moon time happen half of the month so therefore the other half of big bass are caught not within the times of full or new moon. So this means that the moon cycles mean nothing. There was an entire article on this but i forget where I read it. Maybe in In-Fisherman, not sure. as far as the question about carp not being able to be chased away by bass, I think a bass could chase one away because in the animal kingdom if something smaller asserts dominance it will chase away larger animals, I know this happens in my fish tank at home.

Read this months in fisherman, great article on what you are talking about

All critters react to the gravitational pull of the moon.  It is increased during both the new and full moons.  I do find that many more bass go on the beds as the moon fills to full. When water temps hit to low 60's start looknig for beds in the shallower coves that get direct light from the southern sun. Bigger bass choose the best locations for a nest.  Some males will make multiple nests in an effort to convince the larger females to visit. Bass do prefer a hard, clean bottom on which to lay eggs. Sometimes they'll even lay eggs off the bottom  suspended area like a jet ski lift or on a submerged stump. Not all bass seek out the sun for a nest.  I've flushed them out from under swim platforms and from under the shade of docks, but many will spawn in the light. It's the male that actively guards and shases away threats esp. after the eggs are laid. Females are tougher to catch on beds becasue they don't stay as long and do not try to defend the turf as readily. Bass are not in an eating mood on beds.  They strike defensively.  Sometimes a larger bait will provoke a strike like a floating lizard or bluegill swimbait, but often you'll get more success on a tiny tube or craw or worm. Crankbaits would be a last choce for me.  I want sonmething that stays in that bed a long time and provokes a strike. I think the bedding process is usually about a 10 day event. You may only see the female of about one or two days, and often she'll be cruising the area checking out the best mate. I think the fry appear in about 10 days, and the males will usually stay close and drive out enemies for about a week to ten days.  Some males are more duty bound.  These are the easiest bass to catch on beds and should be left alone as they are taking care of the youngsters.  Big female post spawners take some time to get back in the rhythm of eating.  My guess is about a week.  But since not all the bass spawn at the same time, you may encounter prepawn females, heavy and eating to target, in cooler waters, and not worry about the post-spawn blues.

To get a foot in lenth will take a year at least in most climates. In the north country it could take five or six years.  You can tell when the bass spawn is nearly over in the shallows.  When you see the swarms of bluegill making their round nests, the bass have just about finsihed their spawn. I think this is natures way of protecting both species.  Spawning bluegill are having many of those domestic quarrels with their neighbors giving some of the the bass fry a chance to survive.  The male bass are still protecting the fry so they don't maraud too many of the bluegill nests. Pretty cool, eh?  I hope this helps, and I don't know everything there is to know about spawning.

Thanks a ton Nick. I was worried no one would answer.

Matt