Since the spawning period is the peak of bass-catching activity at Davis Lake, understanding the reproductive cycle of largemouths is important. For this, we turn to the reference book, Inland Fishes of Mississippi.
Male bass prepare a bed in shallow water near logs, brush, rocks or under overhanging limbs. The male will place his head in the center of the nest and using powerful undulation and pushing motion, will clear the nest of debris. It will also place its head in the center of the nest and make pivotal motions while beating the pectoral, second dorsal and caudal fins. Because of this the radius of the nest is generally equal to the length of the bass.
Once he has the nest complete, the male will search for a female in a display that includes rapid changing of pattern color. Once a female joins him on the nest, sperm and eggs are expelled simultaneously. Males may spawn with more than one female, and nests may contain from 5,000 to 43,000 eggs. The male will continue to guard the nest for the next several weeks until the fry move up into the water column and begin feeding for themselves.
One note to consider, heavy fishing of a nest could frighten the male away and result in higher egg mortality. Males seldom eat while guarding the nest, but will remove intruders from the nest and drop them a ways away.
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