Fish Start Spawning at White Rock Lake

Thursday, March 21, 2012

It is the day after the torrents of rain and the flooding of White Rock Lake.

It’s almost as though someone has blown a whistle as a signal for the carp to start spawning. It would appear that conditions are just right for the amorous carp because Dixon Branch Creek, flowing into Sunset Bay, has become a boiling cauldron of huge fish churning up the shallow water with their “love-making” ritual.

Spawning carp in Dixon Branch Creek, flowing into Sunset Bay.

This time of year, the male carp follow the female carp in anticipation of the “big event.” Before spawning takes place, conditions need to be perfect. The biological boiling point of marsh water is about 60 degree F, and when this temperature is reached, the carp begin their spawning activity, churning up the water in the process. Clusters of carp continually breached the water, making loud splashing sounds as they did so.

The females were releasing their eggs along the sides of the inlet, amongst the submerged water plants, and the eggs were fertilized by the ever present male carp in the retinue.

Clusters of carp continually breached the water, making
loud splashing sounds as they did so. 

A female carp can lay from 100,000 to over one million eggs, depending on her age and size. The fertilized eggs attach themselves to the leaf of the plants in the water, and they will hatch 4 to 5 days later.

A couple of fishermen had their lines in the water and were amazed that the carp swimming by them paid no attention to their lines. They obviously did not know that spawning carp will not feed.

White Rock Lake is an angler’s paradise, containing 19 different types of fish, the most popular being bass, crappie, and catfish.


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