Bass Biology Question

[AmadorBasser]

Hey all -

In fishing Shasta, Camanche, Pardee Melones, etc lately, it's awesome to see the water levels where they are at. Well, maybe not Melones cause they are letting so dang much out, but thats a whole 'nother thread...

I hear people say that this will increase the survivability rate due to shoreline cover being innundated (fry has a place to hide), but will the crazy weather swings negate that? I mean, I was on Shasta this week, and the surface temp was 57-59 degrees. Camanche was at 67 the day before yesterday when I was out. Will the cooler temps affect the fry's survivability?

Just asking. Thanks!

Chris Larson

[Bill K]

I would imagine that with more cover, more fry would manage to survive, seems that it would stand to reason.
I know it sure is nice to see the water level up. Sure wish old Eagle Lake, up here, could get some rain/snow run off and fill back up. It will be lower, this year, than last and that was bad.
You can barely launch a boat and they better be smaller and have way less draft. BIll K

[FinesseKid]

There are many reasons that ecosystems thrive when water levels come up:

• Of course, there is more sanctuary for fry, hence an increase in survival percentage
  
  Due to new cover now under water, there are more nutrients in the water to sustain a greater number of microscopic organisms that compose the basis of the food chain
  
  These micro organisms are the primary producers and consumers which provide energy for baitfish and other secondary consumers meaning more of them too.
  
  Eventually, this means an increase in (K) or carrying capacity for Largemouth and other tertiary or quaternary consumers in the ecosystem.

As far as weather goes, all organisms in the ecosystem are physiologically equipped to deal with changes in weather so long as those changes fall within the organism's tolerance curve for that variable. For example: largemouth Bass might be able to tolerate a water temperature range of 48-87 degrees. So as long as the water stays within this temperature range, the organism can survive, even though the extremes in that range are far out of the organisms optimum liking.

Hope this helps you.

[BassManDan]

Finessekid,
Couldn't have said it better myself.

[acm95301]

Lower tempratures can often delay the spawn, but at some point even in mid fifty degree water bass will spawn, partly because of solar and lunar influences.fish fry benefit from higher water levels because of available oxygen, increace nuturient load, limitations to poor habitat like silt or stagnant areas etc. More important in my opinion is the benefit of stable water levels on the spawn.

[AmadorBasser]

Very interesting perspectives! So thus far everyone is in agreement that the fluctuating temps (at least as we have seen on nor cal lakes) are not critical to the survivability of the fry.

Here's to a new batch of future 10 lber's!



Chris Larson

[tunaman]

The up-and-down temps here on the Delta are the reason, IMHO, that the main spawn has been delayed and has largely not happened yet in most locations.

There certainly are some places where there are some larger fry from earlier spawns, but most of the locations have been devoid of fry until very recently as far as I've seen. I have seen some fry/fingerlings that were probably from a very early wave back in late January/early February, when we had that one good snap, and it is good to see that they have survived to this point.

More and more I'm starting to see fresh fry, and now with this weather and warmer overnight temperatures (not to mention the full moon phase) I suspect most that have waited will be rushing the banks and procreating like there's no tomorrow.

Another observation Andy and I have made is regarding the spawning locations - it seems like many of them have forgone the bank and started looking to build beds out deeper, in the middle of the grass pockets. Most of the bank beds have been long abandoned and have been deviod of the bucks who began the construction process.

Roger

[AmadorBasser]

Cool deal, Roger. Good info.

I know it fluctuates with tide and location, but what kind of water temps are you seeing lately?

I'm trying to sneak out and launch out of Paradise Point sometime this week....

Take care,

Chris

[tunaman]

We were out today, and the temps came up a lot from a week ago. Leaving Sandmound last Sunday, the temps started out at 61.5... today they were 65.5.

We saw temps as high as 68, so they're bouncing back nicely. Gary (hubspinner) saw temps further south which were running 63-64, so it looks like a short warming trend is having significant impact on this shallow fishery.

Roger

[Gator]

Wow - and when I fished last Saturday the coolest water I found was 84 - St. Johns River in FL - that's why my fish came punchin

[Oldschool]

The spawn is initiated by a few facors; water warming from the winter period matures eggs, the older eggs mature first, this creates multiple egg laying over a few week period...all the eggs are not layed in the same basket.
The lower the water temps the longer the male bass must guard the nest; 58 degrees about 14 days, 75 degrees about 5 days, the problem ; the warmer the water the more egg eating predators are near the nest site. Optimal spawning temps are 62-65 degrees as the water warms initially from the cold water winter period...ie; longer day light period to warm the upper water column.
Note; bass don't lay eggs on the water surface where the water temps you the reading are located.
Another note; bass can't survuve more then 10 degree water temp change in a 24 hour period, they move to maintain body temps. The female must lay mature eggs of loose them. When watwr temps drop suddenly, those eggs are lost. Bass fry become part of the foos chain, like other young of the year bait fish.
High water = more bait fish and higher recruitment.
Tom