Regional spawn calendar
Southeast Rivers and Reservoirs spawn calendar.
17 species with documented spawn timing in Southeast Rivers and Reservoirs. Spawn timing is driven by water temperature — these calendar windows reflect the typical years when water reaches each species' threshold.
All species
Southeast Rivers and Reservoirs spawn windows.
- Largemouth BassMicropterus salmoidesTypical window: Late February – Early MayTypical window: Late February – Early May
Florida bass spawn earliest — Lake Okeechobee fish bed in February. North Georgia and Carolinas peak April.
- Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieuTypical window: Mid-March – Late AprilTypical window: Mid-March – Late April
Tennessee and North Carolina river smallmouth peak April.
- Spotted BassMicropterus punctulatusTypical window: Mid-March – Late AprilTypical window: Mid-March – Late April
Coosa and Tallapoosa river systems peak April; Alabama Coosa bass earliest.
- WalleyeSander vitreusTypical window: Late February – Mid-AprilTypical window: Late February – Mid-April
Tennessee tailwater walleye (Cherokee, Norris, Center Hill) peak March.
- MuskellungeEsox masquinongyTypical window: Mid-March – Late AprilTypical window: Mid-March – Late April
Tennessee and West Virginia muskie peak in April.
- BluegillLepomis macrochirusTypical window: Mid-April – Late AugustTypical window: Mid-April – Late August
Southeast waters can have multiple spawn cycles from April through August.
- Redear SunfishLepomis microlophusTypical window: Mid-April – Late AugustTypical window: Mid-April – Late August
Florida and Gulf states have extended redear spawn from April through August.
- Black CrappiePomoxis nigromaculatusTypical window: Mid-March – Mid-MayTypical window: Mid-March – Mid-May
Tennessee and Carolina reservoirs peak April; Florida peak in late February.
- White CrappiePomoxis annularisTypical window: Late March – Mid-MayTypical window: Late March – Mid-May
Tennessee, Alabama reservoirs peak April.
- Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatusTypical window: Late May – Late JulyTypical window: Late May – Late July
Southeast waters peak June.
- Flathead CatfishPylodictis olivarisTypical window: Mid-May – Mid-JulyTypical window: Mid-May – Mid-July
Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia rivers peak June.
- Blue CatfishIctalurus furcatusTypical window: Late May – Mid-JulyTypical window: Late May – Mid-July
Tennessee River blue cats peak June; Cumberland River.
- White BassMorone chrysopsTypical window: Mid-March – Late AprilTypical window: Mid-March – Late April
Tennessee River system white bass run peaks late March.
- Striped Bass (Inland)Morone saxatilisTypical window: Mid-March – Mid-MayTypical window: Mid-March – Mid-May
Tennessee, Cumberland, and Coosa river systems peak April.
- Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykissTypical window: Late January – Mid-AprilTypical window: Late January – Mid-April
Southeastern tailwater wild rainbows (White River, Norfork, Cumberland) peak February–March.
- Brown TroutSalmo truttaTypical window: Late October – Mid-DecemberTypical window: Late October – Mid-December
Tennessee tailwaters (South Holston, Watauga, Clinch) peak November.
- Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalisTypical window: Mid-October – Late NovemberTypical window: Mid-October – Late November
Southern Appalachian native brookies peak October–November.
Southeast Rivers and Reservoirs spawn alerts.
Bield: Fish ties USGS gauges in your area to species spawn thresholds — get notified the day water temperature hits pre-spawn for your target.
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