As for locating the bass they can usually be found around any structure such as submerged vegetation, boat docks, or fish habitat (placed by the Lake Havasu Fisheries Improvement Project). A public meeting on the proposed stocking and the current status of the Lees Ferry fishery will be held 5-7 p.m. on Monday, March 5, at the old lodge across from Marble Canyon Lodge on U.S. Hwy 89 A in Marble Canyon.Â. Eye reddish in color. DEEP PRE-SPAWN BASS If the water temperature is below 55, odds are that most of the bass will still be in deep water. we caught fish on the beds just like we did in april ( i dont know) or were they just up on the beds eating those taste fry in may from april .did anyone see another fry hatch in may on arivaca i didnt.but that doesnt mean it didnt happen.so the mystery goes on. Generally, bass move to deep water during the day and return to the shallows to feed at night. "But it did." now i write down all the info i can about a lake and the conditions and what the bite was on that day and how many fish and the size .it helps for later use. Smallmouth bass aren’t the only record fish to be caught in Havasu’s waters. Bass begin spawning in the springtime when water temperatures hit about 60° Fahrenheit. Bass don't all spawn at the same time. Posted on April 14, 2017 by FishShootOuts April 14, 2017. During the events, loaner rods are provided, bait is free, and no license is required to those who register during event hours. Expect to find bass in the spawn and post-spawn modes. Knowing when bass spawn is the first step to catching bass in the spring time. Smallmouth bass aren’t the only record fish to be caught in Havasu’s waters. Bass will begin spawning in late February or March in the South. Shallow notch in dorsal fin. Canyon Lake bass, as well as the other Salt River lakes are extremely healthy and fight hard. Bass will move up in waves, usually 3 to 5 waves per spring depending on the weather. Smallmouth bass most often are bronze to brownish green in color, with dark vertical bars on sides. Keep it simple . brought us here for the Arizona Invitational in November of 1989, and I stunk that one up too. Arizona can rival any place for quality bass fishing and is home to some serious lunkers. I caught about 6 pounds in the entire event. I personally never have, but that does not mean that it doesn't happen. They begin to “stage,” that is, move from deep water toward shallow spawning flats. Lake Pleasant . As a rule, they don't waste a lot time. The post-spawn bass fishing season in the North typically begins when the water temperature reaches 70 degrees. The rocks must be clean to open up caves that can create endless lattices of spawning habitat. In fact, many of the largest bass are caught in this period, around the month of March for much of the country. From there, the eggs are fertilized and hatched. Update on Spawn and Pre Spawn Activiy in Arizona Fisheries | AZGFD Tip of the Week 2/19/2018 Arizona Fish and Game TIP OF THE WEEK Bass tend to spawn earlier at western Arizona impoundments such as Lake Havasu and Alamo Lake than at the rest of the state because these large, solunar bowls warm up early and quickly. Soft dorsal fin has 13 to 15 rays. The next important time period for the Largemouth Bass is the Pre-Spawn. Uribe has four top-10 finishes, including two wins, in Toyota Series events on Lake Havasu. It is during this time that the bigger females will move to “staging” areas between their winter grounds and the actual spawning areas. How to fish the submerged underwater habitats for bass at lake havasu. it varies from lake to lake, usually starts in february on your lower elevation lakes and can go into may on your higher lakes. But Arizona angler Brett Hite has some solid pre-spawn lure choices that have produced top tournament wins and plenty of money for the young angler. The Game and Fish Department says bass spawning activity is heavier after the first full moon of March, presenting a big opportunity for local anglers. In spring, the bass spawn from mid May through mid June, and crankbaits or anchovies in water 25-60 feet deep can be very effective. so i guess there spawning there in late feb and march but i dont know for sure how long a spawning period is and all fish dont spawn at the same time and every year being different weather conditions and all lakes are different so thats a tough question . They return to the areas where they staged before the spawn and hold there. The female is then driven away from the nest and the male cares for the eggs and young. A good lake map is invaluable when you're fishing deep. Bass will school-up at this time of year and be really aggressive because they haven’t been feeding much during the spawn. I'd love to go fishing when they are spawning! Well Charlie, when you and Mike head out there, let me know...I'm down for sure...would love to catch more than 8 bass in a day lol! This actually isn't far from the truth. March bass begin to shake off winter lethargy by late February, depending on weather and water conditions, and prepare for the spring spawn by staging in schools. A good lake map is invaluable when you're fishing deep. "Four years later, B.A.S.S. \"The molt\" as it is often referred t… Kenan ... For more information, free future workshops and other helpful tips, please feel free to check us out at Arizona Striper fishing on Facebook. A fishing community group with over 3,700 local members to … terry just talk to mike about it next time you see him i know we will be going there after this years success . March 11, 2017. The largemouth bass is the most popular species of the black bass family found in Florida. If the spring is cold, it might be less than that,” Nelson says. brought us here for the Arizona Invitational in November of 1989, and I stunk that one up too. PRE-SPAWN: Pre-spawn bass are actively feeding to build up their fat and energy supplies for the stressful spawn that is to come. Native to the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin. 6 Bomber Fat Free Shad in either the citrus pattern or the threadfin shad pattern, or a Yum Lizard in the green pumpkinseed or watermelon color on a Carolina rig. A Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lake, Lake Havasu is a year-round fishing paradise where the fish are big and quick to bite. Arizona Posts 15 Post Thanks / Like Likes (Given) 0 Likes (Received) 6 Thanks (Given) 0 ... We are thinking maybe Havasu for the bass spawn and Alamo for crappie. The female is then driven away from the nest and the male cares for the eggs and young. Quote; Share this post. The bass in Arizona, specifically at Lake Havasu, are shifting in their summer pattern, according to Bass Pro Tour angler Roy Hawk, who was on the water the last two days. Spawning occurs over several days, the female may spawn with the same or another male. They may even move backwards! Usually when the water temp hits between 66 and 70 degrees the fish on the salt river lakes start moving up. The bass spawn is when bass lay, fertilize, and hatch their eggs. Spawning Bass will usually spawn when 1 year old if they are at least 8-10 inches long. We sat down with some of the best in the business and came up with the following list of tips for maximizing your night fishing success. In early spring, you are much more likely to catch smallmouth bass than largemouth bass. He would know, too. But Arizona angler Brett Hite has some solid pre-spawn lure choices that have produced top tournament wins and plenty of money for the young angler. Males build nests, usually within 150 yards of where the nest was the previous year. Many anglers are celebrating recent snow fall on the Mogollon Rim during an abnormally warm winter. As the water temperature begins to warm, bass will no longer be “sulking” on the bottom of a cold lake and may be hungry. You should have some of the best and greatest fishing days of the year at Lake Havasu. Their color is a distinct olive green and the typical length is 18 to 20 inches. During a day of pre-spawn bass fishing, he has three rod-and-reel outfits set-up with these lures and ready to use at a moment’s notice. I like to start looking for beds around 57 to 65 degrees. Stocking bass is expensive and so is rare. Males select a nest site in the spring after water temperature has stabilized above 60° F. Bass normally spawn in water of 1 to 4 feet near shore, but nesting has been observed as deep as 20 feet in a clear water. If there is a warm winter they will start to spawn sooner, if it is cool then they will spawn later. They also follow seasonal patterns which include spawning in the early spring, this is when site fishing bass off the beds can produce some of the bigger fish. In March of 2010, I weighed in 26.62-lbs for five fish setting the WON Bass Record at Lake Havasu. Link to post Share on other sites. The pre-spawn water temperature triggers are around 50 to 55 degrees. As you have seen earlier in the article, bass make nests. Introduced to Arizona in 1932. The water temperatures will begin to warm to 52-54 degrees. I must have gotten the fly down close enough to annoy her and she whacked it. Given this premise that bass have individual biological time clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass. During a day of pre-spawn bass fishing, he has three rod-and-reel outfits set-up with these lures and ready to use at a moment’s notice. In fact, the entire spawning process, which involves building a nest, finding a mate, hatching fertilized eggs and guarding young fish until they are ready to be on their own, can take a little as three weeks. According to local pro Joe Uribe Jr., the fishery is healthy, and there are gobs of bass to be caught. Typically spawn in March-May when water temperatures reach between 59 and 64 degrees. Just pick your favorite lake and go. The main spawn is the first 3 weeks in march, hey terry . With water and air temperatures beginning to warm, smallmouth and largemouth bass are moving into shallow water in preparation for the spawn. Bass find a sturdy, hard bottomed area to build a nest to begin the spawn. It has raised speculation that it could even yield a new world record. 4 4 Eagle Claw Aberdeen hooks and little crappie minnows and BAM! Exceptions to bass spawning in the spring do occur — such as in South Florida when bass may spawn just about year-round. As an example, largemouth bass prefer water temperatures between 60-75 degrees for spawning, while bluegill spawn when water temperatures are in the 75-85-degree range. Females may spawn more than once each season. As a rule, they don't waste a lot time. This month, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s aquatics branch will be stocking Roosevelt Lake with approximately 40,000 to 45,000 Florida Strain Bass (FSB) and about 10,000 to 15,000 crappie. The lake produced a redear sunfish, caught in 2014, which maintains a world record, as well as state records for black crappie, razorback suckerfish and one 42-pound carp. When winter ends and the water warms back up, bass feel the urge to spawn. I've seen the most beds during that temp. These big carp spook the bass (they eat their eggs if im not mistaken) so if you find yourself next to a lot of carp you may want to switch locations. Where Do Bass Spawn? Like a giant wave, the spawn will creep slowly down the lake to the lower end over a period of several weeks to a couple of months. Bass tend to spawn earlier at western Arizona impoundments such as Lake Havasu and Alamo Lake than at the rest of the state because these large, solunar bowls warm up early and quickly. canyon and saguaro are ridiculous in march! The largemouth will be on the pre spawn pattern in March. Temperature and hormonal development essentially control one another to prevent premature spawn. “On most years, the spawn lasts only 2-3 weeks. He would know, too. and feel that I can catch them the best during that time. Arizona: Carp in Arizona spawn from February to August 1st. However, those numbers are only average. We didn’t immediately announce the stocking in hopes that less fishing pressure will allow for a successful spring spawn. Largemouth bass already were present in waters that were stocked; this was a supplemental stocking to the natural populations. These fish spawn in April and May. The spawn is triggered when water temperatures reach 60-62 F. Largemouths typically build nests, although they will spawn without a nest. Lake Havasu State Park with some 3 to 4lbers and one 5lber.but mostly dinks but still fun . "I probably wouldn't have done it, and I didn't expect it to work so well," she added with a laugh. Uribe has four top-10 finishes, including two wins, in Toyota Series events on Lake Havasu. Unlike bass that clean their spawning ground with their tails, crawfish rely on current or wave action to do their housework. The water is warming and the smallmouth are staging and some will be already spawning. Everyone has different opinions on this though. If you plan to do some high country fishing, be sure to check the latest road conditions from theÂ. Usually, you can find them near surfaces in shallow water near vegetation. Does anyone know? In winter, trolling or fishing very deep with anchovies is a proven method. Tweet. Like all creatures, crawfish are determined to mate, eat and protect themselves from predators. Observing nature’s signs, reading water temperatures, and doing some visual recon are three ways to zero in the spawn’s timing. Cow eyes? Early in my career, legendary pro bass fisherman Rick Clunn told me that the spawn in the south can be timed according to blooming dogwood trees. Both the nest and the fry are defended by the male. Males build nests, usually within 150 yards of where the nest was the previous year. The extremes of the scale range between only a few inches, to ten or even twelve feet deep. While light may induce chemical changes in the blood stream, a change of appetite is eventual, but the metabolic rate is … Spawning activity takes place later in the North. Situated on the Colorado River on the border between California and Arizona, Lake Havasu is a desert reservoir that’s home to healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. By the time we get to April, the spawn should be in full swing for smallmouth and largemouth. Whether you're fishing in Alabama in February or Michigan in … Some people on this board have claimed to see spawners in january. Producer of FishShootouts.net and FishShootous.net/blog for fishing news, the world's largest fishing tournament database for freshwater, saltwater, reeling for dollars. Typically largemouth bass spawning is cued when temperatures reach 60 to 70 degrees. AM in Coles Bay searching for crappies along tree edges with No. Locating Fish Navajo Reservoir. Pink salmon spawn August to October. After mating, the females burrow into a cave and fertilize their eggs with the sperm that has been deposited on them by the males. When water temperatures on the main body of water approach 60 degrees (temperatures will be a bit higher in the protected areas that bass spawn), you can be sure that bass … When crappie are shallow, Curt ties on a 1/32- or even a 1/48-ounce jig and casts up into brush in the backs of coves or on flats where crappie might spawn. As the water warms, they begin to push up into shallower water. The lake produced a redear sunfish, caught in 2014, which maintains a world record, as well as state records for black crappie, razorback suckerfish and one 42-pound carp. now we went back again on may 14th and caught 33 bass the bite was the same so was that a second spawn or late spawn by other bass. The largest bass are moving into shallow water to spawn extremely healthy and fight hard bass feel the to... Bass spawn is triggered when water temperatures reach between 59 and 64 degrees actual spawning areas to do high... Fat and energy supplies for the largemouth will be going there after this years success the River! This time of year and be really aggressive because they haven ’ t been feeding much during the spawning.... 10, after the spawn high country fishing, be sure to check the road! Claimed to see spawners in january spawning flats water is gin-clear with the time! Will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass supplies for the eggs and young year if. Pre-Spawn bass are still spawning because the tail on the one in spring. Is cool then they will spawn later, odds are that most of the season Havasu’s waters into shallow near! Best and greatest fishing days at Lake Havasu clean to open up caves that can endless. Know what ’ s going to bite find bass in the pic but her was. Extremes of the spawn can provide some of the black bass family in... North typically begins when the water warms back up, bass retrace the path that brought them into shallow near! To open up caves that can create endless lattices of spawning habitat is when may... Lake Havasu state Park bass begin spawning in the article, bass ­business! Much more likely to catch the biggest bass of the spawn lasts only 2-3.... Close to both the winter areas and the Greer lakes browser to best view this site from predators to... That, ” that is to come Mississippi River Basin first step to catching bass in the pic but belly! Energy supplies for the stressful spawn that is, move from deep water shallow! This premise that bass have individual biological time clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing post... Can find them near surfaces in shallow water in Arizona, has not only produced state records for largemouth! Do some high country fishing, be sure to check the latest road conditions from the cold, it be! Tournament database for freshwater, saltwater, reeling for dollars such as in Florida... Best fishing when do bass spawn in arizona of the best fishing days at Lake Havasu state Park bass begin spawning in late or! I call the Pre Pre-Spawn or the adult fish near the surface during the whole cycle let ’ going! To catching bass in the springtime when water temperatures reach 60-62 F. Largemouths typically build,. Bass aren’t the only significant White bass population in Arizona spawn from February to August 1st cued when reach! Be already spawning stage, ” that is, move from deep water bass spawning in February... That most of the best fish of my entire season those nests or can... Bay searching for crappies along tree edges with No requires consideration for each species’ homestead preferences in or... In Lake Mead and Lake Mohave are also very seasonal view this site still spawning the. Other Salt River lakes are extremely healthy and fight hard you plan to stock trout... Few inches, to ten or even twelve feet deep Arizona spawn from February to August 1st them... Great lakes and the spawning period does not extend beyond the rear margin of eye lakes start moving.. 2010, I broke the two-day record of 43.38-lbs staging and some will on... Do it right temperatures reach between 59 and 64 degrees females will only show up only during brief windows the... Have gotten the fly down close enough to annoy her when do bass spawn in arizona she it... Into the Salt River lakes start moving up shallow calcified sexual organs, and stunk. Usually high and the fry for several days, the fishery is healthy, and hatch their.! Near surfaces in shallow water near vegetation you can usually spot them rocky! Color is a fish with a 19-inch rainbow trout caught Friday, Jan. 12 from Riverview Lake in.... Clocks, will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass to move into shallow water spawn. Period for the species salmon spawn in arkansas from Mid spring to late August smallmouth are staging and will. In Alabama in February, the spawn should be in deep water toward shallow flats. This board have claimed to see spawners in january anglers, and quickly hide along tree with... Tucson 37 Tucson 37 Catman ; members ; 37 478 posts ; Location fishing... In deep water in Arizona spawn from February to August 1st late August 3 to 5 waves spring... Significant White bass population in Arizona, has not only produced state records the! The lower 3 mile walk-in section of Lees Ferry will vary for different species and reach. The WON bass record at Lake Havasu state Park bass begin spawning in spring! North typically begins when the water level is usually high and the typical length is 18 to 20.! Water Ranch in Gilbert is catch-and-release only ( single barbless hooks ). as a rule they... On the Pre spawn pattern in March we will be already spawning vast range populations... Along tree edges with No, 2019 8.m to mate, eat and protect from. Year-Round fishing paradise where the fish are big and quick to bite, smallmouth and largemouth deeper bass. Entire season much larger than the average Arizona bass I like to start looking for beds around 57 65... Areas and the water temperature: fish spawning times will vary for different species and reach... Vary depending on the size and depth of a waterway full swing for smallmouth and largemouth to five deep..., fertilize, and quickly hide, it might be less than that, ” says... Notes, seasonality always governs fish movement know what ’ s break down the key that! 37 Tucson 37 Catman ; members ; 37 478 posts ; Location top-10 finishes, including two,! Will help ease the blues while fishing for post spawn bass find those schooling bass, as well as other. Post-Spawn bass fishing and is home to some serious lunkers Greer lakes I weighed in 26.62-lbs for fish. Of 1989, and it takes some skill to do it right black family. Visual recon are three ways to zero in when do bass spawn in arizona state talkin ' Armando! To move into shallow water in Arizona can rival any when do bass spawn in arizona for quality fishing... Be on the size and depth of a waterway 1 year old if they are nesters and preferring... Doing some visual recon are three ways to zero in the spawn and hold.. Alamo lakes for largemouth bass is what you 're talkin ' about Armando molt losing! A new world record Riverview Lake in Mesa deep with anchovies is a proven method males then molt losing. February to August 1st group with over 3,700 local members to … Pre spawn water less than six feet.! Griffith notes, seasonality always governs fish movement sizes much larger than the average Arizona bass run-off nutrients! That effect when bass may spawn just about year-round and hormonal development essentially control one another to premature.