When do bluegill spawn in texas

Pilothawk 81, Mark Perry 64, FattyMcButterpants 61, Most Online 36, Jan 23rd, Print Thread. Joined: Feb Caldwell, Texas. David D. East Texas. Bass Bug. There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs - Ansel Adams. Joined: Jul The HUGE fat bull bluegills are busy bees in the bedding areas right now.

The females are here and there, but by midweek will be in full effect! Joined: Nov They actually spawn multiple times over the spring and summer months Bluegill are sight-feeders, consuming aquatic vegetation, zooplankton, insect larvae, insects, fish eggs and, occasionally, minnows and small fish, although insects and other invertebrates compose the majority of their diet throughout their life.

Bluegills feed primarily under low light conditions at dawn and dusk, but are opportunistic and will feed whenever a meal presents itself. Spawning sites are usually in shallow sand or gravel, but males will sweep depressions in the clay bottom if suitable habitat is not available.

In small, east Texas reservoirs, female bluegill spawn an average of five times over the season. Males greet females with a spawning display in which they rapidly and repeatedly swim circles around their nests. Females can produce up to 25, or more eggs, though the average is probably closer to 12, Under normal weather conditions and optimum temperatures, eggs hatch in two to five days. Growth rates are highly variable for bluegill and are dependent on growing season and food availability. The world record bluegill caught in Alabama in weighed four pounds and twelve ounces.

The Texas state record bluegill weighed 2. Stocking: T he ability of bluegills to thrive and multiply is a mixed blessing. While bluegill are often abundant for fishing and as a forage for largemouth bass, they can easily overpopulate a pond, especially ponds less than 1 acre, resulting in stunted a stunted population.

To reduce predation, additional stockings of bluegill in bass ponds should be limited to fish at least 3 to 6 inches long. Population management becomes difficult in ponds less than 1 acre where stunted populations can develop.

Bluegill should be stocked at a 1o:1 ratio with largemouth bass. June 5, May 20, May 12, October 4, September 18, August 31, However, the late spring to early summer is when the shallows really get active.

The bass and crappie spawn start when the water temperatures hit degrees. Sunfish take over the bedding flats when the water temperatures hit degrees. While the peak in the south is usually from late April to early June, these feisty fish will continue to spawn until the cooldown in the fall.

Seasoned anglers know it can mean non-stop action. This is also a great time to get beginners hooked on fishing. To learn more about how to identify different types of sunfish check out this guide:. Types of Sunfish.