How smallmouth spawn

See the smallmouth spawn as you've never seen it before. Despite the efforts of the male and female bronzeback, only 1 in 1,000 of their fry will live to be 1 year old.

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Throughout Ontario and most of the Northern United States, the winter of 2013-2014 was one of the longest and coldest in decades. Late ice out, followed by a cool spring, delivered a perfect recipe for late spawning bass. Such was the case across 280-square-mile Lake Simcoe, just an hour north of Toronto. Despite the challenging circumstances, the famed smallmouth living within this world-class fishery continued their spawning ritual. John Whyte of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation captured some fascinating spawning activity using underwater cameras, and to get the photos, he donned neither scuba nor snorkeling gear.
Throughout Ontario and most of the Northern United States, the winter of 2013-2014 was one of the longest and coldest in decades. Late ice out, followed by a cool spring, delivered a perfect recipe for late spawning bass. Such was the case across 280-square-mile Lake Simcoe, just an hour north of Toronto. Despite the challenging circumstances, the famed smallmouth living within this world-class fishery continued their spawning ritual. John Whyte of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation captured some fascinating spawning activity using underwater cameras, and to get the photos, he donned neither scuba nor snorkeling gear. “I prefer instead there to be minimal prolonged human presence or interaction,” he said. This shot and many of the others in this gallery were taken by leaving a camera on a custom-bottom tripod. The camera takes a photo every 10 seconds while shooting video. “It makes for an awful lot of editing afterward, but my friends tell me the results are well worth it,” he said.
When water temperatures reach and sustain 59 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the male bass prepares the nest by fanning the bottom vigorously with his tail. The preparation of the next may take anywhere from a few hours to several days. If the water temperature continues to rise slightly, the smallmouth bass is ready for spawning. This image is the first time White caught a smallmouth in the act of constructing a nest.
When water temperatures reach and sustain 59 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the male bass prepares the nest by fanning the bottom vigorously with his tail. The preparation of the next may take anywhere from a few hours to several days. If the water temperature continues to rise slightly, the smallmouth bass is ready for spawning. This image is the first time White caught a smallmouth in the act of constructing a nest.
After the male has built the bed, he waits for a female to venture into the area. The female typically stages back in deeper water until construction is completed and conditions are suitable. Often triggered by a full moon, the females will head shallow and take inventory of which males are ready to receive them.
After the male has built the bed, he waits for a female to venture into the area. The female typically stages back in deeper water until construction is completed and conditions are suitable. Often triggered by a full moon, the females will head shallow and take inventory of which males are ready to receive them.
Once they
Once they “hook up,” the male vigorously nudges the female over the top of the nest he created. A brief water waltz ritual takes place before the female finally settles in to expel her eggs. Often, the eggs are not all ripe at the same time, so Whyte has noticed that the female may swim away but hang around the same general area for a day or two, servicing different males in nearby beds with her rich bounty.
The female attempts to expel eggs. As she rolls over on her side and quivers, the male looks for the results. The eggs settle to the bottom of the nest and adhere to the clean gravel within. Some of the more successful fry yields are from beds with coarse gravel, which allows the eggs to settle beneath the cracks. Despite having his hands full (or more accurately, his fins) fending off an array of predators, some of the eggs are still beyond reach of these hungry nest raiders. Predators include aggressive invasive species, such as round gobies and rusty crawfish, which invariably devour a significant portion of the eggs.
The female attempts to expel eggs. As she rolls over on her side and quivers, the male looks for the results. The eggs settle to the bottom of the nest and adhere to the clean gravel within. Some of the more successful fry yields are from beds with coarse gravel, which allows the eggs to settle beneath the cracks. Despite having his hands full (or more accurately, his fins) fending off an array of predators, some of the eggs are still beyond reach of these hungry nest raiders. Predators include aggressive invasive species, such as round gobies and rusty crawfish, which invariably devour a significant portion of the eggs.
After the female has finished one of many attempts to deposit her eggs, the male inspects the bed to see the results. If enough eggs are present, he fertilizes them. If he's not satisfied with the number of eggs, he herds the female back over the nest for another try.
After the female has finished one of many attempts to deposit her eggs, the male inspects the bed to see the results. If enough eggs are present, he fertilizes them. If he’s not satisfied with the number of eggs, he herds the female back over the nest for another try. “I have seen this happen every 30 to 60 seconds and last for hours,” said Whyte. The male is on triple duty, fending off predators, keeping the female focused and chasing off other males waiting in line for “his” female.
An average 18-inch female smallmouth can produce 10,000 to 20,000 eggs. After depositing these eggs, the female leaves the nest and the male takes up sole parenting duties. Once the male has eggs to guard, he is anchored on the bed. He regularly fans the eggs with a gentle movement of the fins, which helps prevent silt from settling and provides a supply of oxygen over the eggs. He doesn't eat until the fry have hatched and are no longer under his care. The incubation period depends on water temperature. It's three or four days when it spikes to as warm as 70 degrees, but it takes 10 to 12 days when it's only 55 degrees. Studies have shown that, at an average temperature of 62 degrees, the fry left their nests 12 days after hatching.
An average 18-inch female smallmouth can produce 10,000 to 20,000 eggs. After depositing these eggs, the female leaves the nest and the male takes up sole parenting duties. Once the male has eggs to guard, he is anchored on the bed. He regularly fans the eggs with a gentle movement of the fins, which helps prevent silt from settling and provides a supply of oxygen over the eggs. He doesn’t eat until the fry have hatched and are no longer under his care. The incubation period depends on water temperature. It’s three or four days when it spikes to as warm as 70 degrees, but it takes 10 to 12 days when it’s only 55 degrees. Studies have shown that, at an average temperature of 62 degrees, the fry left their nests 12 days after hatching.
Common shiners will eat eggs, but in this photo, shiners are in prime spawning color with those vivid red fins. They are likely also looking for their own clean gravel to spawn over. The male bass will chase them away if they get too close. Four species of fish are actually around this male bass, including the emerald shiner in the top right.
Common shiners will eat eggs, but in this photo, shiners are in prime spawning color with those vivid red fins. They are likely also looking for their own clean gravel to spawn over. The male bass will chase them away if they get too close. Four species of fish are actually around this male bass, including the emerald shiner in the top right.
<p>The invasive goby (bottom, far right) is perhaps the greatest threat to bass nests overall. Their numbers have skyrocketed across Lake Simcoe, and they are very efficient bass nest raiders. The native yellow perch (left of center) is not as proficient, but it is also seeking a meal whenever it can. Both the goby and the perch are barely detectable.</p>
The invasive goby (bottom, far right) is perhaps the greatest threat to bass nests overall. Their numbers have skyrocketed across Lake Simcoe, and they are very efficient bass nest raiders. The native yellow perch (left of center) is not as proficient, but it is also seeking a meal whenever it can. Both the goby and the perch are barely detectable.
When the fry hatch, they soon use up the food stored in the yolk sac. The fry first appear translucent, but they gain pigmentation within a day or two.
When the fry hatch, they soon use up the food stored in the yolk sac. The fry first appear translucent, but they gain pigmentation within a day or two.
For the first few days, the young, vulnerable fry remain tight to the bed. In a few days, they begin to disperse, breaking off into smaller bait balls.
For the first few days, the young, vulnerable fry remain tight to the bed. In a few days, they begin to disperse, breaking off into smaller bait balls.
The first bass fry Whyte saw in 2014 didn't appear until June 25, a full three weeks later than most other years. Bass season on Lake Simcoe opens the fourth Saturday in June, and anglers cannot fish for bass here (regardless of whether they practice catch and release or harvest their catch) until June 28.
The first bass fry Whyte saw in 2014 didn’t appear until June 25, a full three weeks later than most other years. Bass season on Lake Simcoe opens the fourth Saturday in June, and anglers cannot fish for bass here (regardless of whether they practice catch and release or harvest their catch) until June 28.
At this stage, the bass fry are about an inch long and jet black in color. They have left the nest and travel in schools under the protection of the male until they are several weeks old.
At this stage, the bass fry are about an inch long and jet black in color. They have left the nest and travel in schools under the protection of the male until they are several weeks old. “Although research elsewhere has demonstrated that male bass can leave the nest area with fry,” said Whyte, “I have never actually witnessed this. From my observations on Lake Simcoe, it seems the cloud of fry just spread out, and then they disperse into smaller schools.”
One in a thousand fry will survive to be one year old. Temperature is a major factor in the successful reproduction of bass in May and June. A warm, stable spring can yield a terrific year-class, but it must be followed by an even warmer summer and plenty of food so the young-of-the-year can reach fingerling stage by fall. Research has shown a size of 3 to 4 inches is required so that these young bass have enough body mass to see them through a long, cold and harsh Ontario winter.
One in a thousand fry will survive to be one year old. Temperature is a major factor in the successful reproduction of bass in May and June. A warm, stable spring can yield a terrific year-class, but it must be followed by an even warmer summer and plenty of food so the young-of-the-year can reach fingerling stage by fall. Research has shown a size of 3 to 4 inches is required so that these young bass have enough body mass to see them through a long, cold and harsh Ontario winter.
<p>Smallmouth spawned through August this year in Simcoe. Males seemed to be maintaining empty beds while still waiting for females to do their part. The phenomenon often happens when the spawn is extremely late. If and when the occasional female arrives, rarely are her eggs still viable. Most eggs start to be absorbed late in the season. Considering the extremely late ice out, cold spring and unseasonably cool summer, the 2014 year-class of smallmouth in Simcoe will not be one of the strongest in recent memory. However, poor year-classes are often followed by strong, healthy ones that continue to supply this water body with some of the finest trophy smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in the world. See some of Whyte's underwater smallmouth videos on <a href=
Smallmouth spawned through August this year in Simcoe. Males seemed to be maintaining empty beds while still waiting for females to do their part. The phenomenon often happens when the spawn is extremely late. If and when the occasional female arrives, rarely are her eggs still viable. Most eggs start to be absorbed late in the season. Considering the extremely late ice out, cold spring and unseasonably cool summer, the 2014 year-class of smallmouth in Simcoe will not be one of the strongest in recent memory. However, poor year-classes are often followed by strong, healthy ones that continue to supply this water body with some of the finest trophy smallmouth bass fishing opportunities in the world. See some of Whyte’s underwater smallmouth videos on YouTube.