When do bass spawn?

Bass spawn in the spring, as soon as the water temperature has stabilized above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. A male bass makes a nest on roots or grass over rocky or muddy bottoms and searches for a female bass. They usually spawn between 2,000 and 26,000 eggs.

The eggs hatch between three and six days after laying, depending on the temperature. The males guard the young fry for about two weeks after hatching. Many fisheries close during spawning season in order to maximize bass production. If males are captured instead of guarding the nests, fewer eggs hatch, and fewer fry survive.