Freshwater bass spawn in the spring based on the water temperature. For us the smallmouth bass spawn first followed by the largemouth a couple of weeks later. We all care because the males first scuff a bed in the gravel in water under six feet deep. These show as white spot in the gravel about the size of a hubcap on the bottom. After the female deposits her eggs and they are fertilized the males defend these nests fiercely. This provides some amazing fishing action not to mention an excellent sight casting opportunity.
This great fishing generates calls and e-mails (ok and a few Facebook messages and Tweets too) asking about the timing 
of the bass spawn. I fished this morning and can report a few things. I was on one of my colder and clearer lakes so other waters will be slightly ahead. The males have started to scuff a few nests but only a few are defending them at all. The bigger females are holding nearby so the spawn will happen very soon. I would guess next weekend on this particular lake and that it is already well underway in a few of the shallower and darker lakes. I have openings almost every day and the weather will be perfect after a cold front goes by on Monday. So this is the week! Make your reservations now.
The best fly was one of the deceiver patterns developed for me by AJ in Connecticut (thanks AJ) and fishing on a clear intermediate Orvis line. One other note is that the rain over Memorial Day weekend set back water temperatures and caused the water to be stained by the runoff, actually the tanning from the leaves in the woods that stains the water like tea. That should clear in a few days as well.
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