Spawning Season

Spawning Season

By Nick Johnson

When fishermen think of fish spawning in Iowa, a few key species come to mind. Bluegill, Crappie, White bass, Largemouth, Smallmounth, and arguably the most celebrated, Walleye. These species in particular become susceptible to angling during these key spawning times and offer anglers a chance at a truly large specimen. White bass and Walleye for example make large runs in rivers and can congregate in numbers below natural and manmade obstacles en route upstream. Bluegill, Crappie and bass often migrate to shallower water and construct beds where they vigorously guard their developing fry. Not all of these species spawn at the same time though so what makes them flip the switch and begin spawning?

Perch and Pike
Some of the earliest spawners in Iowa are the Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. Pike sometimes spawn before all of the ice is off a given water body. The timing of this is dictated by photoperiod, water temperature and water levels. Typically, a female pike is accompanied by one or more males in very shallow water where she deposits her eggs amongst emergent vegetation. Reed beds are classic examples of this. Areas where creeks or snow run-off enters a body of water can congregate numerous pike looking to spawn.

Pike can be caught pre-spawn and a common method for this is during late ice using tip-ups rigged with dead bait such as herring, tullibee or smelt or even live bait like shuckers and large shiners. Be wary of ice conditions though! Look for areas where water may flow into a shallow bay with a soft bottom. When pike begin to spawn and shortly post-spawn, they can be difficult if not impossible to catch. They simply shut down for a bit while they recover.

Perch are a bit later and generally spawn when water temps reach 40-50 degrees, the upper 40’s being more common. Photoperiod plays a large factor in the timing of this. Perch are group spawners and the females will lay large ribbons of eggs on aquatic vegetation and especially submerged trees. Spawning generally occurs at night or in the early hours of morning in depths ranging from 2-10 feet for most Iowa lakes.

Late ice perch fishing can be some of the best all season as these fish school up in droves. Once the ice goes out these fish can be caught using conventional methods and even trolling such as you would for walleye, just with downsized gear. The perch that spent the winter roaming deeper basin areas now congregate along breaks and contours that separate the deeper basin from shallow water. When spawning hits, perch move shallower and can be difficult to catch as their focus is on spawning rather than eating.

Walleye
Walleye spawning comes at a similar timeframe to Perch and this generally occurs in late April or May depending on water temps. Photoperiod, moon phase and water levels are factors that play in. Water temperature is the biggest factor that dictates walleye spawning and this occurs around 43-47 degrees. A sudden cold snap that drops water temps may delay this activity and the walleyes play the cards to ensure their eggs have the best chance at survival. In lakes, walleyes spawn over shallow gravel substrate and this most often occurs at night or in very low light periods. Their transition to spawn in the spring brings them out of deep water to stage along depth breaks and contours similar to perch. Slow trolling these breaks and finding areas of moving water are key locations for catching spring walleye.

In rivers, the water temperature factor for spawning remains the same but the timing may be slightly different and is largely affected by water levels. If water levels get too high and blow a stream or river out, walleyes may forego spawning altogether. It is this key migration in Iowa that draws hordes of fisherman to the local dams to try their luck at the spring walleye run. You will often see the smaller males arrive first, followed by the larger females. When the spawn is complete, a second wave of smaller males and sub-adult females will show up or still remain and actively feed. This action can go on for up to a few weeks depending on mother nature.

White Bass
For those river anglers who love to target walleye, stick around for a couple weeks after the walleye spawn and keep lines tight with some hard fighting and arguably decent tasting white bass. Some people won’t eat them but if you take the red meat out I think they make great table fare. White bass are also temperature drive spawners, however, in rivers or areas with flowing water they can also be triggered by rises in water levels.

They ideally like to spawn when water temps are between 54-68 degrees and they often accompany the first rise in water levels after the walleye spawn, at least in my experience on the Des Moines River. In reservoirs, these fish begin to congregate along windswept shorelines and the mouths of creek arms. Target them using a multitude of conventional tackle such as twisters, rapalas and spoons. These fish are aggressive feeders and generally aren’t too picky about what they hunt down.

Bass
From a water temp standpoint, Largemouth and Smallmouth bass spawning has slightly less rhyme or reason than other species but that is only because I have seen bass guarding fry on beds from late-May all the way through mid-July. Generally speaking though, bass look to spawn when water temps reach into the low 60s. Some fish will spawn deeper, 6-10 feet but most will post up in shallower water. The parent fish clear sediment and debris from the bottom to create a “bed” and this is where eggs are deposited and fry are guarded until they are completely free-swimming and can readily feed on their own. Sometimes bass will select non-traditional spawning sites which may be the side of a rock, tree stump or even an old tire on the bottom. Just like other sunfish, the male bass of both Smallmouth and Largemouth are the ones responsible for guarding the fry.

Bass sitting on their beds can be pretty susceptible to angling so if you catch one, handle them gently and return immediately if that is the intent. They can also be very tough to catch when locked on a bed, it just depends on their mood! Before spawning, bass will slowly start to transition out of deeper water when the ice comes off and when water starts to hit the 50s they begin to move shallow again. Pre-spawn bass are a blast to catch especially when they move shallow and are feeding aggressively, and this offers a chance to catch some really big female fish.

Crappie
Spawning behavior in crappies is very similar to Bluegills and Bass and they sometimes spawn in large congregations when conditions are ideal. Crappies typically spawn in shallow water amongst emergent vegetation such as pencil reeds but in places like Brushy Creek I have seen them spawn on the sides of fallen trees and alongside old stumps. The ideal temp for crappie spawning is around 62-64 degrees give or take a couple. After the eggs are deposited and fertilized, the male remains with the brood until the fry are free-swimming and self-sufficient.

Catching crappies pre-spawn can be as simple as locating the basin they posted up in during the winter and fishing slow with light tackle. These fish after ice-out will often remain suspended in these basins in large schools and as the water warms they slowly begin to move towards shallower breaks and weed edges. Suspending a small minnow on a hair jig below a bobber is a deadly combo for early spring crappie.

Bluegill
Many of us as kids came to love catching bluegills during their spawn. The sight of that honeycomb bottom of little pits with dark male Bluegills darting and flashing about, angrily defending their brood is a comical sight. Bluegills spawn when water temperatures approach 70 degrees. They are notorious colony spawners and groups of 100 or more can sometimes be seen guarding their beds crammed into one small area. They select areas with a soft bottom that offers ease of ground clearing and adjacent cover and often return to the same spawning areas each year. Bluegills are incredibly susceptible to angling when they are on beds and are not difficult to catch so take care not to exploit them during this vulnerable time. This is often when I catch my biggest gills of the season and I like to return the big guys and if I’m in the mood for fish tacos, keep a few of the smaller fish for the table.

Each fish species has its own unique way of carrying out the miracle of life, Mother nature is the governing hand that dictates when this occurs and we as anglers are responsible for respecting this mission. Capitalizing on certain species when they converge to spawn can be an absolute blast and some of the best fishing all season can be had during these times. Be safe and good luck on the water!