Minnesota Spawn

[burnmyyard]

Can anyone out there give me an idea of when the first spawners start in MN and when the last are usually done? I'm trying to get a general time frame on the spawn, and subsequently the pre and post spawn, times on Minnesota lakes. Growing up I always that bass season opened later so it was after the spawn for the most part.....

[bassin]

Most years the spawn in the metro area and south is done by opener. You start to hit it the further north you go. The only Northern lake I fish early is Mille Lacs. There they are spawning on and before opener through about the 3rd week in June.

[fishcast]

Like bassin mentioned, in my experience most of the shallow spawning largemouth are done spawning around the metro area (which is the reason for opener being the time it is I think). If I remember correctly largemouth usually spawn around mid to upper 60 water temps. However, every year I usually see a few still on nests in shallow, and there are probably some main lake areas and deeper water spawners that are in prespawn/spawn mode yet but it all depends on the years weather.

[Nick Kuhn]

Fish in our lake are usually off the nests by Memorial Day. Last year was a very successful hatch for largemouth in our lake, which likely means a poor hatch this year.

[SnipeZilla]

I remember seeing something on either TV or maybe online about people finding bass spawning as late as June and into July in some deep water. Obviously this is not the norm, but interesting nonetheless. For smallies, DNR HSOforum says 60-65 water temp.

[TonkaBass]

I go off the temperature (65 degrees), but that is really general. Many fish spawn before and after this, however a lot are on the beds at this temp. I have caught a smallmouth, on the bed on the forth of july. This fall I also saw smallies fanning beds out right where their were old beds. This is just a mock spawn, but it's pretty cool to see.

[ducksnbucks]

I live in Bemidji and often the bass are in the late stages of spawning at opener or just finished. On opener you can catch skinny fish on a spinnerbait and also fish still on the beds. I fished a tourny in Grand Rapids the sencond week of June and the smallies were still on beds eveerywhere. Depends a lot on the weather and water temp as before mentioned.

[Scott M]

 Originally Posted By: TonkaBass

I go off the temperature (65 degrees), but that is really general. Many fish spawn before and after this, however a lot are on the beds at this temp. I have caught a smallmouth, on the bed on the forth of july.

If the water temperatures don't warm up too quickly they will stay on the nests for quite a while. The DNR does spring bass electrofishing as late as the second week of June. You'd be surprised to find how late bass will still be on beds.

[Central Bassman]

Good information Da_Chise!!!

[ocf1]

Ive seen a bass on the bed 3rd week of june, i didnt believe my eyes but you could see it shooing away other fish and protecting it!

[DancesWithWaves]

I've known for bass to be on their beds as early as three weeks after ice out, and as late as early june. Each lake has its own biological norm, its just a matter of where the opener lines up with spawning pattern on your lake.