Spawn Cycle

I know bass (or the sunfish family for that matter) are triggered to spawn on the full moon, provided the other conditions are adequate. However, do they also spawn on the new moon ? Thanks for replying.

Full moon is very key to the spawn. I found smallie beds in 51-53 degree water last week Friday just prior to the full moon. On Saturday, I caught quite a few fat prespawners in the same areas and yesterday, every female I caught was spawned out. Water is 55-57 degrees now. Biologists say smallies spawn usually 58-60 when we haven't even touched that temp yet. Beds everywhere, saw over 50 yesterday afternoon. And you say that water temp is more important...

I believe fully that the moon DOES effect the spawn cycle. Water temp does as well. I just got back from Patoka resevoir in southern IN. At the beginning of the week there were only a few fish up spawning. As the week progressed and the full moon got closer another wave of spawners moved up. And the water has been steady in the low 70's since late March down there. I believe it peaks around the full moon. I know that some people feel that a wave spawned in mid March when we got warm. My feelings are that some bucks might have made beds but the females eggs werent ripened enough for them to drop their eggs. And its never too warm for a bass to spawn. We saw fish spawning last July on Como and the water temp was in the low 80's.

I don't think there is any scientific evidence that moon phases have any effect on the spawn. I think that is one of those "facts" that have been repeated so often that many believe it is true. Water temperature is the main trigger for bass to start spawning. If the water is not at the right temperature when the moon is full, they will not wait 4 weeks for the moon to be full again to spawn. By that time, the water temps may be too warm. Also, not all bass spawn at the same time. If the spawn was triggered by the full moon, all of them would spawn at the same time.