Hey guys, not sure if it could be postspawn yet.  I live in PA and have noticed some abandoned beds in ponds and wondered if it could be post spawn already.  Its been warm but dont know if the ponds are really in post spawn yet.  We did have a big cold front and low pressure system with some storms that may have pushed them off.  Some of the smaller lakes have just started to spawn.  I just started to see a couple big females on beds.  The bass in ponds have been spawning for about two weeks now.  Could these bass be in post spawn and if not what stage.  Thanks everyone

I sounds as if they have just backed off for a little while.

Smaller shallower waters will spawn first, then progressively, the deeper. The whole spawning season considering shallowest (~5foot)  to deepest (~50+ft) waters will likely take two months or more start to finish.

In any one water though the range will be shorter. In the smallest shallowest waters the whole egg laying period will be done in about 3 weeks, with a one week period that sees the bulk of it. In large deep waters with different groups of bass living in them, (shallow and deep), the time range might be a couple months.

Males will stay to guard beds and then fry for as much as three weeks. In the ponds I observe, females stay on with a given male about 3 days. Some (maybe many) return to spawn with different males, over a two to three week period, or more.

If you are interested enough you should spend some time just observing the spawn. You'll get familiar enough with it that you can tell by almost a glance where you are in the season, coupled with looking at weather trends over the previous week of your planned fishing trip.

BTW: Males often abandon beds, for several reasons: They make them prematurely (no females ready yet), severe cold fronts (although after eggs have been layed I've watched a number of males sit right on through snowstorms), made beds in not quite the right location, and angler's catching and re-catching them.

Since ponds warm earlier the bass will usually be ahead of the lakes. Sounds like the weather has backed them off. Don't think the lakes in Pa. will have moved to post spawn this early unless the weather has been really warm.

Be aware that bass (Usually the larger ones) will move in and spawn a lot earlier and in water that is cooler than most people realize. The majic temperature of 62 degrees is a misnomer. I have seen bass here in the south move in, spawn, and be gone in water mid to upper 50s many times. Actually the water they bed in(1-2ft) is several degrees warmer than the reading you are getting due to fact that they are in the 1-2 ft and you tend to be out 15-20' from the shore where the water is cooler. So if you are reading 55-58 in a cove the water against the bank can and will be several degrees warmer. JMO