Fishing Forum

Got at the Confluence(Wyo.) 6/21 about 2 pm and honkered down in the tent trailer, set up just in time, and waited out high wind and rain. My buddy arrived about 6pm and we fished until dusk. Caught some small dinks and were getting discouraged. Fished the mext day and did a little better but still on th small size. Noticed about 10% had eggs. Had a great meal of smallies. Did notice that they were getting a little bigger, 9-10 1/2 in. Fished again this am and again noticed they were gettin bigger, 11- 12 in. Again, after cleaning about 10 % had ripe eggs. Fish to start off, were shallow and then it was a mix of shallow and deeper (15ft.). Trying to use the Dude's explaination, I tried to see if some had ovaries that were going away without ripening, but not sure, maybe? Daytime temps. 78-82 F and night about 50-55. Water temp. was 65-67 F which seems warm!!!!! Each afternoon we had thundershowers. Switched from the old stand by 3 in pulse worm to a dark green tube with chartreuse skirt, which worked best, seemed to catch bigger fish.
My Bud and his Golden along with Sparky had a great time listening to the Cayotes, and seeing pelicans, ducks, rabbits, antelope, etc. without anyone around. It's a great place to kick back and relax, Notoced that no carp were spawning which is normally my clue to bass spawn. Still don't know what stage the bass are in but fishing was pretty good.
So, pre spawn, spawn, seconday spawn, post spawn??? Full moon the 21st. Any opinions? I understand that the spawn comes earlier up north?
Leaky

[cool][#0000ff]Hey Leaky, glad you had a good trip and at least got in some fishing between wind gusts.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As we have been discussing, this weather year has the fish in many waters off their predictable schedules. Who knows what is really the story? Not me.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As most of us know, after spending a few years chasing fishies around, everything can be totally different from year to year, during the same time period. Heck, things can be greatly diffferent from day to day...or hour to hour. Fish spawn according to two main factors...hours of daylight and water temps. They may instinctively be ready to spawn around a certain week each year, but if the water temps are not right, the eggs will not finish ripening in time. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If the water temps get too warm, too fast, then the spawn is sometimes aborted. A good example is the walleye in Utah Lake. They spawn when the water first gets above about 42 degrees, but they cannot spawn in water above 50 to 55 degrees. That means that in a spring when the water temps rise too quickly, some of the "slow ripeners" might not get to spawn before it is too warm. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]All species are subject to having delayed or aborted spawns, if spawning conditions are not right. They usually either just dump their eggs or else reabsorb them back into their bodies. We hate to see that, but it is a part of the greater plan.[/#0000ff]
[signature]