bream/bluegill spawn

[bama647]

when do you start looking for the spawn ? same time as crappie?

[dixieangler]

From the FWC for Florida Bluegills:

Spawning Habits - Bluegills are well known for "bedding" in large groups, with their circular beds touching one another. Bedding occurs in water two to six feet deep over sand, shell or gravel, and often among plant roots when the bottom is soft. Spawning occurs from April through October with the peak in May and June, when water temperature rises to about 78-80 degrees. A female may lay 2,000 to 63,000 eggs, which hatch 30 to 35 hours after fertilization.

From the FWC for Florida Specks:

Spawning Habits - Spawning occurs from February to April when water temperatures reach 62 to 65 degrees. They nest in colonies. Circular nest are fanned by males over gravel or soft-muddy bottoms and frequently around submerged vegetation in waters from three to eight feet deep. After spawning, males guard the eggs and fry. Females may produce between 11,000 and 188,000 eggs.

I imagine that times will vary according to national regions or from state to state. I have seen Bluegill spawning as early as March depending on the weather and water temperature warming up. Other species of bream like Shellcracker (Redear) or Redbreast may start the spawn in March or May (earlier or later).

[Roberta]

Up here, we figure on June - right after crappie. - Roberta

[slabsrus]

My sons and I usually find the gill staged just off spawning grounds at about the time we get the first run of big specks on the spawning turf. About the time the second run of speck comes in the first batch of gills are coming in to create some beds. By the time the last batch of crappies is spawning the gills are really getting into the swing of the spawn.
As far as time frame goes,it varies, but up here in northern and central Michigan the crappies are starting around the first of May and rapping it up around the mid June. The gills on the other hand are really just getting started around the first of June and may extend well into July. Of course it all depends on the weather. If it is a long cold winter with late ice it might all start a couple weeks later or vice versa on an early spring.

[CrappiePappy]

when do you start looking for the spawn ? same time as crappie?

For "gills" -
Full Moon ... May thru Sept ... given the right water temps ... up here in Bluegrass Country !! I start expecting "spawning", by the Crappie, in anywhere from early April to mid May -- depending on the body of water, area of the state, and the weather's effects. ..... cp

[turkeyfootnc]

In NC they spawn in late May-early June and later in October.

[DENNIS BOWERS]

For "gills" -
Full Moon ... May thru Sept ... given the right water temps ... up here in Bluegrass Country !! I start expecting "spawning", by the Crappie, in anywhere from early April to mid May -- depending on the body of water, area of the state, and the weather's effects. ..... cp

I agree-here in Tn. Its the same.seen 7 caught some dandys while fishin the willows for Crappie. Gills will spawn several times a year