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Post Info TOPIC: Where do fish Spawn?
Otter


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Where do fish Spawn?
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Since there seems to be some confusion out there.  If you see a bowl or even a deep pool 3 to 4 feet deep in front of a gravel spawning area the fish are digging in the deep water in front of and often times behind the gravel.  The bowls "pools" deep holes are actually where the fish are spawning.  In the major spawning areas that were marked this year you could see fish spawning in shallow water and water up to 5 and 6 feet deep.  The eggs are deposited at the back of bowls.  It should be noted that fishing anywhere closer than 30-40 feet away from these areas will result in the fish to spook and one might think the fish have stopped spawning.  



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chris
mike b


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Interesting
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Your description reminds me of a hole I fished this winter.  It was close to spawning gravel and about 4-5 feet deep.  I could see fish and at least some of them were feeding.  Some fish were rising to baetis and some were feeding on nymphs.  I could not see any spawning activity in this pool.  And the pool wasn't marked.  There was definitely spawning going on in the shallow gravel beds in the area.  I've never seen trout spawning in water as deep as I was fishing that day (at Putah or any other moving water).  I'm not trying to get into an argument.  If the fish are spawning in this deeper water then why are they on shallow gravel beds?



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Otter


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RE: Where do fish Spawn?
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There are approximately four or five areas where I have seen fish spawning in deeper water. Mostly these areas are close to normal spawning areas. I was out there videotaping some of these areas and could see fish spawning in deep water. I believe there are three reasons for this. 1. People are fishing these areas and the fish have no choice but to spawn in deeper water. 2. There is limited gravel for the fish to spawn. 3. The larger fish need deeper water and can spawn in faster water. The smaller fish in the 16-18 inch range will spawn in the shallow water.

On a side note trout/steelhead do eat aggressively.during the spawning period.

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chris
lightfoot


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The big redd in the frog water just upstream from the gravel areas at access #3 is a good example of deeper water use.. It certainly doesn't fall into the typical looking spawning location one would expect.

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Rossflyguy


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I've seen fish last November clearing out gravel up near the bridge in about 5-6' of water. Not to say every fish in that depth is doing that but it's happening. I've also seen fish at #3 that were at least 25" with there backs out of the water on beds.

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SK60


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The prefered spawning habitat is gravel that is easily cleaned, is 1-2" in size, rounded edges with a flow at X cfs and Y dissolved oxygen. Tailouts most often meet these requirements. In PC limited deeper areas may work for the fish and you will see a few fish using gravel pockets between rocks in 4-5 feet of water. You can't totally avoid spawning fish under the latter conditions, but (rule of thumb) if you can see large fish hanging in the same small area, returning after you spook them, they are probably spawners. Certain FF know that spooked fish move to deeper holding area above or below their beds, hence the "I am not fishing the redds excuse" for fishing these holding areas.

The spawn is winding down but you have to avoid wading the gravel areas as much as possible. By now you should know why.



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mike b


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Thanks
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I appreciate your time with this issue.  I know I don't post here very often, and I was concerned that my questions would be interpreted as trolling.  I work many weekends so I wasn't able to help out with the bed cleaning this season.  Hopefully I'll be able to next year.  I will avoid fishing the spot I mentioned during spawning season.  By the way I live in Hidden Valley Lake close to the upper section of Putah Creek.  There's some decent smallmouth fishing in the summer if any of you get up that way.  Mike Borba



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