Ok, in the next 8 days we are supposed to have temperatures from 44-58 degrees, Will this trigger the bass to move up and stage to spawn at all? The next full moon is February 18, then the one after that is March 19, but I think the waters are going to get warmer and warmer throughout this week and next week, so wouldn't the bass be going shallow to feed. At what air temperature do bass begin to spawn at?

Basslover..

At what air temperature do bass begin to spawn at?

The spawn is not triggered by AIR temps. The spawn is more a function of length of day (hours of daylight) and water temp.

Think about it. The shortest day of the year is in December, and the coldest water is usually in Dec or Jan. So as the days lengthen and the water starts to warm (warm is a relative term) the instinct to spawn will start the process.

I've read several theories about what happens when adverse conditionts persist.

1.) That the female will spawn her eggs no matter how cold the water is.

and

2.) That she will carry the eggs without laying them and absorb them back into her body.

I'm not sure which theory is correct or if both or neither is correct. 

Yes, I think your bass should start to feed up or go into Pre-Spawn mode. BUT they may not be moving up shallow to feed. Down here in FLA, last month we found bass in a pre spawn condition and for over a week we absolutely beat on them in 20 feet of water. Deep diving cranks were the lure du juor or live bait free lined to them. These fish went from 3-8 lbs. This has happened several times in the last month usually with the passing of a cold front. then as  the water and weather warmed the fish moved up on the nearest flats to continue feeding and some to start the spawn.

Hope this helps.

There are some excellent articles and posts here on the subject, you may want to do a search.

Tight Lines

Nick O

when the water temp starts to climb above the 45 degree mark the bass will start to move in shallow. When the water hits 55-60 degree the bass will start to spawn.

At night the air temperature is going to go down to the 30 degree range and the low is in the high to mid 30s

From a previous discussion

We are not talking spawn here but rather Pre-Spawn; with water temperatures on many East Texas and West Louisiana lakes in the 50-54 temperature range pre-spawn has already started. Now this is not to say the bass are ready to spawn; that is still a good 1 ½ months off. Any adverse weather will move the bass immediately back to deeper water; that depth maybe only a couple of feet depending on the severity of the weather.

There are no set reasons for pre-spawn as far as I know and water temp had very little if anything to do with it. I look at pre-spawn in no less than 3 stages which are listed below and early pre-spawn can start with water temperatures ranging any where from 35-40 if the weather is stable for a couple of day.

Early Pre-Spawn:

Individuals or groups of bass begin making short reconnaissance trips into coves. Only when the water temperature is stable for a couple of days will any appreciable number of bass remain for long. Look for bass on main lake and secondary points

Mid Pre-Spawn:

Bass leave deep water drop-offs and enter protected coves; the majority of these fish will be males. The weather and water temperatures will still be unstable. Look for bass on feeding flats adjacent to deeper water.

Pre-Spawn:

Weather and water temperatures have became stable and large fluctuations of bass are now present in shallow water. Start looking for a solid bottom, Bass avoids soft, muck bottoms; instead they prefer to spawn on hard sandy bottoms, gravel or rocky banks, large boulders or even a fallen log or lily pad root.

Keep in mind pre-spawn bass will be looking to feed before they start looking to spawnCatt

Basslover..

At what air temperature do bass begin to spawn at?

The spawn is not triggered by AIR temps. The spawn is more a function of length of day (hours of daylight) and water temp.

Think about it. The shortest day of the year is in December, and the coldest water is usually in Dec or Jan. So as the days lengthen and the water starts to warm (warm is a relative term) the instinct to spawn will start the process.

I've read several theories about what happens when adverse conditionts persist.

1.) That the female will spawn her eggs no matter how cold the water is.

and

2.) That she will carry the eggs without laying them and absorb them back into her body.

I'm not sure which theory is correct or if both or neither is correct.

Yes, I think your bass should start to feed up or go into Pre-Spawn mode. BUT they may not be moving up shallow to feed. Down here in FLA, last month we found bass in a pre spawn condition and for over a week we absolutely beat on them in 20 feet of water. Deep diving cranks were the lure du juor or live bait free lined to them. These fish went from 3-8 lbs. This has happened several times in the last month usually with the passing of a cold front. then as the water and weather warmed the fish moved up on the nearest flats to continue feeding and some to start the spawn.

Hope this helps.

There are some excellent articles and posts here on the subject, you may want to do a search.

Tight Lines

Nick O

What he said

Go out now and start casting crankbaits and crayfish, and catch some prespawners.