When does the bass fishing season start?

The season for Largemouth Bass starts at different times of the year in each state. The starting date is generally governed by when the Largemouth Bass spawn. The purpose of having an open season is to give the Largemouth Bass a chance to lay their eggs and guard them so they hatch. When anglers catch a female bass during their spawning period a whole nest of eggs is assuredly doomed to die. By refraining from fishing for a species during its spawning period we ensure continued fishing success for everyone in the years to come. The preferred temperature for a Largemouth bass to begin spawning is between 58 and 63 degrees. Largemouth Bass spawn once a year. In southern states like Florida spawning can occur as early as February. In Kentucky Lake the spawning period is generally in middle to late March. If you travel to Northern Minnesota Largemouth Bass often do not spawn until mid to late May. Largemouth Bass prefer an area of water to spawn that is away from heavy winds. Generally they spawn in shallow water, one to four feet deep. They prefer a bottom that is sand, mud or rock. The female says several thousand eggs per each pound of body weight. Once a female Largemouth Bass lays her eggs it takes anywhere from two to five days for them to hatch. The male guards the next until the fry reach approximately one inch in length. At that point he will abandon them and eat any fry he encounters.