Spawn

[mooneyes]

how messed up is spawning season gonna be because of all this bogus weather? any opinions on how late

[Nick Kuhn]

Despite the late ice out I think the shallows will warm rather quickly. Spawning activity should still be wrapped up before June rolls around, except maybe Vermilion and LotW. Biologists will know more than I will but my assumption is for certain species this year will be an extremely poor spawn and for others it will be great.

[Shawn Kellett]

Since there's still ice north of Brainard I think that many of those lakes may still be in mid spawn/spawned out by the time opener comes. I know a few years ago I caught a muskie on walleye opener (shad rap) and she still had eggs and that spring wasn't as late as this one.

[SmellEsox]

I saw two fish obviously spawning in early June back in 2008. I think they will be spawning into June for sure this year.

[Nick Kuhn]

Given the current weather and forecast the lakes will still warm very fast. Waconia went from ice covered to spawning temps for muskies in a week. Cedar in Wisconsin had its ice go out May 1st. It's current water temperature is exactly the same as on this date last year. If we are talking really deep and clear lakes they won't warm as fast. But if we are talking lakes with a little dark water and some shallow flats I think water temps will surprise most anglers.

[JackPineGuy]

last time we had a year like this i was on tonka and the muskies were going nuts right after opener. just ferocious they were all dripping milt all over the boat. Just gushers. all caught in 38 fow just inches under the service. it was on real period of about 8 days. just drippin im tellin ya

[SmellEsox]

That is amazing to hear JPG. In the thousand or so male muskies we've netted at ice-out, we have to rub and rub and rub (no comments from the peanut gallery!) to get a couple drips out of males to determine sex. It is very hard to get them to give up their milt. In fact, a 15 inch northern spews 10 times the amount as a 45 inch male muskie. Maybe after you fight them they are wore out and can't keep it in??????

[BrianLucky13]

Been seeing some muskies mixed in with pike this year the last week or so. Maybe some tigers will be made???

[JackPineGuy]

Been seeing some muskies mixed in with pike this year the last week or so. Maybe some tigers will be made???

gaaaaaangster

[MuskieFever]

Witnessed some muskie intercourse yesterday on a metro lake, it was awesome!

[Nick Kuhn]

I saw it on May 12th on a lake that had ice out on May 7th.

[JackPineGuy]

I saw it on May 12th on a lake that had ice out on May 7th.

much like this season up north

[SmellEsox]

We've been netting Shamineau since the 13th and most females are now ripe and spawning. We are still getting some green females too though.