Early spawn?

Are these fish going to spawn early with the flow and water temp steadily increasing and the full moon being the 27th this month?
I personally believe it’s going to be an early spawn. I’d like to hear the opinions of the locals and the guys in the know.

I’d be inclined to say yes as spawning is generally water temperature related.

I would not be afraid to say yes either. Around here it is usually the second to third week of April when the girls do their deed. I have no idea what they will do this year. We have a combination of low water and early rise in water temps. I doubt this is a good thing but do not know.

I think that in most of the pools a large part of the female population depend on that high water to access a general area or maybe even a specific location if it is possible. If not then they have to find a secondary location. This will take a toll on them but their bodies will give them a week or two flex as far as water temps and conditions go. It will be interesting to see what happens this year??? We have a couple weeks to left yet before anything happens in my opinion.

A good friend gave me a very good analogy to look at…
“Fish are more like a plant with fins” Only a few things dictate their survival. They need adequate surrounding, food and the ability to reproduce. Their bodies tell them what to do. Not their minds unlike us. Keeping that in mind there is a chance that they will stay on schedule for the spawn. If the shallow areas they prefer are not available they may have to stay deeper and be left out in the main channel and drop seeds with the saugers.. Make some little saugeye vabies

buschman wrote:

I would not be afraid to say yes either. Around here it is usually the second to third week of April when the girls do their deed. I have no idea what they will do this year. We have a combination of low water and early rise in water temps. I doubt this is a good thing but do not know.

I think that in most of the pools a large part of the female population depend on that high water to access a general area or maybe even a specific location if it is possible. If not then they have to find a secondary location. This will take a toll on them but their bodies will give them a week or two flex as far as water temps and conditions go. It will be interesting to see what happens this year??? We have a couple weeks to left yet before anything happens in my opinion.

A good friend gave me a very good analogy to look at…
“Fish are more like a plant with fins” Only a few things dictate their survival. They need adequate surrounding, food and the ability to reproduce. Their bodies tell them what to do. Not their minds unlike us. Keeping that in mind there is a chance that they will stay on schedule for the spawn. If the shallow areas they prefer are not available they may have to stay deeper and be left out in the main channel and drop seeds with the saugers.. Make some little saugeye vabies

….Yup What He Said … rrr

So can someone educated me? Will the fish spawn regardless of the water flow and temp? With the vast area of the river isn’t there always someplace that would accommodate them too spawn? Thanks.

From a few different sources I have read on walleye spawning habits one from a book and another from a study. The walleye spawning cycle is based some on water temp but a lot on the length of the day and time of year. That’s why walleyes seem to pretty consistently spawn around the middle of April. I’m sure it varies some on water temp if it’s a little earlier or later but I think it’s pretty consistent. This year it might be a little early but not as early as some might think. That’s just my two cents.

bayedup92 wrote:

From a few different sources I have read on walleye spawning habits one from a book and another from a study. The <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleye spawning cycle is based some on water temp but a lot on the length of the day and time of year. That’s why walleyes seem to pretty consistently spawn around the middle of April. I’m sure it varies some on water temp if it’s a little earlier or later but I think it’s pretty consistent. This year it might be a little early but not as early as some might think. That’s just my two cents.

.. .SPOT ON. From what I have seen over the years here on POOL 4. … rrr

I think the last explanation is good but I also think that the maturity of the spawn comes into play. Orr in the case of males fish, the milt. When we get these early shots of warm weather and warmer water it comes before the fish can dump viable spawn. These early warm temps often get trumped with a cold snap that gets everything back on track, including the idea that the fish will spawn. I have always used the males who will ooze milt when handled as the proof of whether things are ready for spawning. If the males are losing milt, the eggs are or nearly are ready to drop.

The timing of the spawn is based upon both temperature and photoperiod. The two of them together act as nature’s check and balance system so that fish don’t spawn when the water is unusually warm early when there is a good chance that it will again get cold, killing the eggs. When the photoperiod is right and the temperature is right, they start spawning.

DING DING DING I’m pretty sure we have a winner!