Sunfish still loaded with Spawn ?

I’ve got into a decent deeper ( 14-16 FOW ) bite for sunfish the last few weeks. Keeping a few for a meal, I was surprised to find most were still loaded with Spawn. I guess given how fat they were I was not that surprised. Is it normal for sunfish still to be loaded with Spawn this late into the summer? With the rather Normal or somewhat early spring we had, I’d think the sunfish would have spawned in early to mid June. The last few times out the bigger fish have all but disappeared. There are still lots of smaller fish, but the #’s of larger fish is way down. My guess is that those larger fish still with spawn may have moved shallow to spawn.

The constant cold fronts we had this spring and early summer prevented water temps from being anything but stable. THey do not spawn unless stable 70 degree water coincides with the lunar periods etc.Those conditions did not happen and many panfish did not spawn as well as some bass. Babe Winkleman was on the radio a few weeks ago explaining the biological reasons why there was not a great spawn bite in the Brainard lakes region for panfish and spawn bound was the reason. They will eventually reabsorb the eggs like a fat supply leading to a poor bite. Also not all bluegills spawn shallow either. Perhaps you found some that spawn deep and the condition are not right yet? My brother caught some crappie and bluegill last week at my cabin that had spawn in them when cleaning them. My cabin is North of Hayward WI

Mwal

True or not, I’ve read bluegills will at times spawn multiple times, or at least go through the stages? I have caught them with eggs all through the summer.

I know Sunfish will spawn in somewhat deeper water but I would not think they would have much success in spawning in 16 FOW. I’d not think they would get enough sunlight or warm enough water at those depths. I have seen plenty of sunny beds in 6-8 FOW. The eggs did look a little different so maybe they were in the process absorbing them. I had thought we had a rather normal or warm spring. At my age my memory is not what it use to be

Spawning season for bluegills starts late in May and extends into August. The peak of the spawning season usually occurs in June in waters of 67 to 80°F.

So far, this thread has
-failed to spawn
-spawn late
-spawn multiple times
-spawn deep
The only thing that’s missing is “waiting for the spawning stork to arrive”

I don’t know which answer is right or to what extent. I didn’t think the sunny was such a misunderstood fish.

What a fascinating little fish.

They are a menagerie trois…

Huh? NOW u have my attention!

mplspug wrote:

They are a menagerie trois…

an orgie????????? I cleaned some sunfish this past weekend and a few had some spawn/egg sacks yet. they were caught in 8 ft of water. I have heard various reasons………spawn several times as well as and I hate to agree with a catfish guy but several months threw the summer!

Glenn, take that spawn and mix Ina little salt and hold in the fridge a few days then spread it on crackers to eat while you wait for the fillets to fry. A little pseudo caviar won’t hurt you.

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Glenn, take that spawn and mix Ina little salt and hold in the fridge a few days then spread it on crackers to eat while you wait for the fillets to fry. A little pseudo caviar won’t hurt you.

Mmmm, I like fried fish eggs, but this sounds better!

The spawn is on, found these beauties in shallow weeds.

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Keep rubbing it in our faces…

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Glenn, take that spawn and mix Ina little salt and hold in the fridge a few days then spread it on crackers to eat while you wait for the fillets to fry. A little pseudo caviar won’t hurt you.

thanks..but i’ll pass. don’t do fish eggs!!!