If the big females spawn first, then are they the first to move into summer patterns.  I just thought of this today and never saw much info on it and was just curious.  Thanks everyone

Maybe but, I have found that warmer water temps are what start up the deep water bite for me.

Well, as far as summer patterns go; what are some keys to fishing bass that are in the summer pattern?

My #1 summer pattern is deep water structure  

Are females first to summer patterns? Since the males stay on the nest longer one would think so but then again both males and females move to the first couple of break lines leading back to summer areas to feed.

yes,typically the larger females spawn first and move out first.they also dont roam as much as the smaller bass so they take up permanent residence sooner,but water temp plays a big part of bass movement so everything is relative concerning seasonal patterns.

Does this go for ponds too?

For an added clinker to the discussion, females in food rich situations have been known to spawn, eat and gain more fat reserves (which are converted to eggs), and spawn again.

I once saw a large female at a particular bed (two different males) over a month and a half period apart! It's possible it was a different female, although they looked very much alike. Regardless, the second time around that female would qualify as a late spawner.

From what I've observed in my ponds, I think as long the hormones are raging, at least some females hang around the spawning areas.

Do the biggest females come first? I haven't seen that in my shallow ponds, unless they spawn deeper than I can see. However, I've seen, and other observers have too, that smaller females (and males) seem to spawn later. It's believed that one reason is because it takes a certain amount of fat reserves to convert to eggs, and smaller bass come out of winter requiring more time to gain necessary weight. Or maybe, since experience is known to affect fish spawning site fidelity and success, it might simply take longer for younger bass to get with the program. The older bass simply know what to do.

Just some thoughts.

I believe and have seen the larger females move in and spawn long before anyone realizes. I have personally seen females on a bed in water temps ranging from 55-60 degrees. At least that is what my guages read. I have also seen them spawn in the forks of trees out in the middle of the lake and come in, spawn, and be gone a month before anyone even started looking for them. With the right water clarity and sunlight they will spawn out a lot deeper than most would think. Tons of the fish that many think are prespawners that they are catching are actually females locked on a bed in water deeper than you can see.  

Before I try to answer to your question about females moving to summer patterns, let me ask this; what do you believe a summer pattern is where you fish?

The bass calendar is made into the following; winter cold water period, transition to pre spawn, spawn, transition to post spawn, summer, fall periods. 6 baisc periods, all with a different patterns inter mixing on a daily basis.

Bass spawn at different times around the lake, it's natures way to prevent a catastrophic loss of all the spawn. Big females bass may spawn several times at different nest sites before releasing all their eggs, they don't dump everything onto one bed. However it takes a bass one annual cycle to develope mature eggs. Most larger lakes will have 3 spawning cycles lasting about 3 months depending on how stable the water temperature remains.

To answer the question; like most things in nature there is a pecking order, the most successful survive. The female spawns over a week or more period, then moves off to a sancturary place to rest and recuperate for about 5 days. Following the recuperation period the bass move to start feeding and continue the hunting and feeding cycle until the next spawn period in about a year.

Summer period patterns vary greatly from lake to lake and bass to bass, they are not all the same. Big bass tend to move to deeper cooler water during the warm summer period and move to shallower water to feed at low light periods, like night. Young adult bass tend to stay close to the young of the year baitfish and prey to feed. Whatever patterns these feeding cycles take is a puzzle we all try to determine every time out on the water.

WRB