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river levels and spawning

Cliff Turner

Cliff Turner

Senior Member & Supporter
If it carries on raining and high water levels continue will this affect spawning behaviour ? If water temp is high enough is water colour and level relevant ?
 
I think water temperatures have a lot more bearing on whether the fish will spawn or not. Most flooding has reduced and water levels stabilised. (though relatively high for the time of the year)
Looking ahead weather wise, the outlook is pretty dour, continued showers and relatively cool weather. With 'normal' May weather conditions, barbel and chub would be hard 'at it' by the second week of this month, but by my reckoning they are still ten or more days off, from having their seasonal fun. We need regular night time temps not to dip below double figures.
 
I cannot remember where I read it (some science paper somewhere) but Barbel (like many other species) only spawn when daylight hours are between certain limits (in the uk that happens mid-may to mid-june approximately). If all the rest of the parameters (water temperature, flow rate over spawning beds etc) are not right within that period they forgo and the protein is re-absorbed.,
 
The bream on my local Res are in there spawning areas, even though the water temp is till low in comparison to the previous 2 years. There maybe something in the daylight hours theory as darryl says.
 
interesting, so water colour has no adverse affect other than we can not watch their spawning activity ?
 
Hi men ,

Funny , was discussing this the other night with Rob Swindles. In the floods a few years ago people in the Teme valley were struggling for a bite . Dave Mason was in continual contact with me and Sue , knowing we were on a deserted stretch where we could see fish up close . Our observations showed they deff spawned later , of for a second time , but the thing we noticed was the numbers that gathered were very small . Often only 3 fish on known spawning gravels , with fish spred along the stretch in small numbers aand small pockets . They also seemed to do it with less gusto , if you know what i mean , as in the past we had seen them in withering bundles . This was repeated upstrem a few miles at Daves bit , and we used to drive up for a cuppa , and watch it repeated . The fishing was poor , but we never cast out in these areas untill they had well and truely finished . Strangly we see more lamprey that season as well , not sure its connected , but pukka to watch anyway . If they do spawn later , does it make eggs more vunrable to be eaten by crays , and other fish that are feeding up after their spawning exersions ?.

Hatter
 
I thought they might be, I was discussing the subject of spawning with a friend the other evening and both thought the increase in temperatures might put them in the mood for love. Looks like the trotting rod for the start of the season as I know how I'd feel if some one was trying to disrupt my fun if I can remember how that feels :p
 
Water temp 16.5c on the Great Ouse yesterday and after clearing my cray-fish traps I went and had a look on the shallows and they were at it.

Good mixture of year classes too which is rare for there.
 
Evening all,

how far will barbel usualy travel to spawn?
ive walked about 5 miles of my local river today and watched barbel spawning for the first time. some of the shallows had 3/5 fish on whereas others had upwards of 20! I wondered weather the areas with greater numbers held more fish or if the spawning grounds were better and pulled fish from further a field?
 
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