Fish spawn calendar
Spawning shapes a fishing year more than weather does. The weeks before it are frequently the best of the season, the spawn itself is the slowest, and the recovery after takes a fortnight or more.
This is the same seasonal data our engine grades on, so the calendar and your daily forecast cannot disagree. Timing shifts with latitude and with the year: a Texas spawn runs weeks ahead of a Minnesota one, and water temperature is what actually triggers it, which is why our grades read the thermometer rather than the date.
Pre-spawn
Staging and feeding hard. Often the best fishing of the year.
Spawning
On beds and defending rather than feeding. Handle carefully and release quickly.
Post-spawn
Recovering. Bites are slower and less predictable for a few weeks.
Fall feed-up
Feeding ahead of winter. The other annual peak.
January
Pre-spawn
Spawning
February
Pre-spawn
Sheepshead, White Bass, Peacock Bass, Steelhead, Rainbow Trout
Spawning
March
Pre-spawn
Northern Pike, White Bass, Mahi-Mahi, Black Sea Bass, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Steelhead, Walleye, White Sturgeon, Spotted Seatrout, Yellow Perch, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Flounder
Spawning
Peacock Bass, Rainbow Trout, Rockfish, Sheepshead, Steelhead
Post-spawn
April
Pre-spawn
Northern Pike, Mahi-Mahi, Smallmouth Bass, Black Sea Bass, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, Wahoo, Walleye, White Sturgeon, Blue Catfish, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Cutthroat Trout, Tarpon, Tautog, Flounder
Spawning
Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Peacock Bass, Rainbow Trout, Sheepshead, Spotted Bass, Steelhead, Walleye, White Bass, Yellow Perch
Post-spawn
May
Pre-spawn
Smallmouth Bass, Flathead Catfish, Musky, Striped Bass, Wahoo, Blue Catfish, Bluefish, Red Snapper, Yellowfin Tuna, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Tarpon
Spawning
Black Sea Bass, Blue Catfish, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Cutthroat Trout, Largemouth Bass, Mahi-Mahi, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Steelhead, Striped Bass, Tarpon, Tautog, Walleye, White Bass, White Sturgeon, Yellow Perch
Post-spawn
Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Peacock Bass, Rainbow Trout, Sheepshead, Spotted Bass, Steelhead, Walleye, White Bass, Yellow Perch
June
Pre-spawn
Spawning
Black Sea Bass, Blue Catfish, Bluefish, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Cutthroat Trout, Flathead Catfish, Mahi-Mahi, Musky, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Striped Bass, Tarpon, Tautog, Wahoo, White Sturgeon
Post-spawn
Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Steelhead, Striped Bass, Walleye, White Bass, Yellow Perch
Fall feed-up
July
Pre-spawn
Spawning
Black Sea Bass, Blue Catfish, Bluefish, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Mahi-Mahi, Musky, Red Snapper, Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Tarpon, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna
Post-spawn
Black Sea Bass, Blue Catfish, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Cutthroat Trout, Musky, Smallmouth Bass, Striped Bass, Tarpon, Tautog, White Sturgeon
Fall feed-up
August
Pre-spawn
Spawning
Post-spawn
Black Sea Bass, Blue Catfish, Bluefish, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Mahi-Mahi, Musky, Spotted Seatrout, Tarpon
September
Pre-spawn
Coho Salmon, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Kokanee, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Redfish (Red Drum)
Spawning
Post-spawn
Fall feed-up
Black Sea Bass, Musky, Bluefish, Cutthroat Trout, Flathead Catfish, Northern Pike, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, Flounder, Pacific Halibut, Spotted Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Yellowfin Tuna, Brown Trout, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Redfish (Red Drum), Rockfish, White Bass, Brook Trout, Lingcod, Mahi-Mahi, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Tarpon, Bluegill
October
Pre-spawn
Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, Lingcod, Pacific Halibut, Redfish (Red Drum)
Spawning
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Flounder, Kokanee, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Redfish (Red Drum)
Post-spawn
Fall feed-up
Black Sea Bass, Musky, Bluefish, Cutthroat Trout, Flathead Catfish, Northern Pike, Striped Bass, Tautog, White Sturgeon, Blue Catfish, Flounder, Red Snapper, Snook, Spotted Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Yellowfin Tuna, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Rockfish, Steelhead, Wahoo, White Bass, Mahi-Mahi, Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Tarpon, Bluegill
November
Pre-spawn
Spawning
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Flounder, Kokanee, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Redfish (Red Drum)
Post-spawn
Fall feed-up
Black Sea Bass, Musky, Bluefish, Northern Pike, Striped Bass, Tautog, Blue Catfish, Red Snapper, Snook, Spotted Bass, Spotted Seatrout, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Sheepshead, Steelhead, Wahoo, Rainbow Trout
December
Pre-spawn
Spawning
Post-spawn
Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Flounder, Lake Trout, Landlocked Salmon, Redfish (Red Drum)
Fall feed-up
Spawn timing is a thermometer question
A spawn month with cold water is not a spawn. Enter your location and we will read the water where you actually fish, rather than assuming the calendar.