Weather has significant impact on spawning

By Paul A. Nelson

For the Pioneer

      It’s almost like the weather enjoys playing nasty little tricks on us.

      The first three weeks of April were on course to set a record for warm temperatures. Then, the weather turns cold this past week and spoils the averages, turning this April into just another “normal” month of weather in the Bemidji area.

      The weather has a significant impact on the spawning success of fish. The ideal conditions for spawning are a gradual, but steady warm up, with no large fluctuations in water levels. Any extended period of cold weather that causes water temperatures to drop, puts fish hatches at risk.

      There are often gaps between strong age classes of fish. A success rate of one strong age class every five years is common for many species. Competition for food between age classes usually prevents two strong age classes of fish in consecutive years. Healthy populations of fish usually have at least three or four representative age classes at any one time.

      The 2004 age class of walleyes was nearly wiped out in most parts of the state by the cold weather last summer. Crappies, sunfish and bass were also significantly impacted by last summers’ cold weather.

      Perch spawn earlier than most fish and were one of the few species able to put in a good hatch last spring. With little predation from young walleyes, the 2004 age class of perch probably had good survival rates over the winter and will likely turn into a strong age class of perch.

      Natural reproduction is responsible for producing the vast majority of fish living in our lakes. Stocking only contributes a small portion of the total number of fish hatched each year.

      Stocking is important for special programs like the Red Lake walleye restocking project, or for placing desirable species like walleyes, trout and muskies in lakes that normally have poor natural spawning success for those species.

      Anglers have begun to hit the lakes searching for crappies, but fishing success was limited this past week by cold and windy conditions. Most crappies and sunfish pulled out of the shallows and are holding along the primary drop-off, waiting to move back in to feed when the weather turns warm again.

      Crappies and sunfish were feeding in 4-7 feet of water on the inside edge of cabbage and coontail weeds while water temperatures were rising. The recent cold front pushed most of the panfish back towards the outside edge of the weeds in 7-10 feet of water.

      Crappies and sunfish will bite during a cold front, but they are often in a neutral or negative feeding mood, so it may take a slow moving, small presentation to trigger a reaction from the fish.

      Water temperature is often the biggest clue to where the panfish are located. Crappies and sunfish will usually be concentrated near the warmest water in the lake.Three or four degrees can make a significant difference in the spring.

      The presence of baitfish is another key to panfish location. Anglers can stand up while they fish and use polarized sunglasses to watch for baitfish as well as crappies or sunfish spooking away from the boat.

      Finding the fish is by far the most difficult part of the battle. Once the fish have been located, catching them is the easy part.

      A slip bobber rig is perfect for spring panfish, because it holds the bait at a specific depth and helps keep the bait out of the weeds.

      Small ice fishing jigs work well for panfish in the spring. Small hair jigs are also effective baits under a slip bobber. Sunfish and crappies will hit jigs tipped with wax worms or eurolarve, but minnows are usually the bait of choice for crappies.

      Once anglers have found the “mother-lode” of crappies, they may want to consider entering Bluewater Bait’s Spring Crappie Contest to be held May 7 on any lake open to public fishing. For entry forms or more tournament information contact Bluewater Bait and Sports in Bemidji.

Paul A. Nelson has been a multi-species fishing guide and outdoor writer in the Bemidji area for more than 23 years. He can be contacted by calling 218-759-2235.