I started thinking about what triggers bass to spawn in power plant lakes. It can't follow the same pattern that cold water lakes do. I looked online for any articles on the subject but didn't find anything. Does anyone know of anything written on the subject? Past experiences? Thanks for the input

Good question!

Its when water temps drop instead of rising.

Good question. I can't find anything written on it either outside of some speculation. I'm sure water temp is still the driving factor, it just might be a range of temperatures more unique to that particular body of heated water. I've also heard that length of daylight also plays a factor in general on bass spawn, and I would guess that again while different from unheated bodies of water, this still probably plays some sort of triggering role.

I met a game warden at squaw creek on saturday. She said the bass spawn on that lake a little earlier then most lakes. Id say Jan?
From this article on Martin Creek Lake it says they spawn between december-feb. It also says there are probably a few stages depending on how far and close they are to the discharge of hot water. Also while at squaw creek there was a school of pretty good sized bass id say about 10 3-5 lbs just hovering suspended in about 3 feet of water.. i casted everything i had to them and they woulnt bite? any advice on what to do if this happens again?
good article.
http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2003/feb/ed_5/

Photoperiod. Had a great guide and a game n fish biologist tell me flat out it's the case. Same goes with any lake.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/cgi-bin/aa_durta...mp;place=dallas

Biggest factor is likely the extension of daylight hours as winter moves into spring.

Based on this link, I'd think that 11.5 - 13.5 hours per day would be the larger window while the 12.0 - 13.0 hour is likely when the majority spawn.

Water temps, fronts/ storms , moon phases etc. are all contributors.

Specific to PP lakes, I'd drop this down a bit.

Water temp dropping and staying stable, and the full moon.
I have noticed that a lot of PP lake fish spawn deeper than fish on regular lakes. I think it has to do with fishing pressure.

Look up Richie White. He's a sight fishing guru and has lots of knowledge about the spawn.

I have caught them off beds and in heavy prespawn on Monticello in December when both units were running. more prominent after the winter solstice if water temps are right

I saw a few scattered fish on beds back in the first week of this month on Welsh. They were real spooky but definitely bedders. Gonna look for a few tommorrow as well.

In 2010 when they re-opened the lake back up at Squaw Creek I got to go fishing with a Luminent Energy employee in early May before they opened it up to the public - and believe it or not they were on beds up in the far back of Lollar Creek.

Worried about the upcoming spawn at Monti. For generations, those fish have been programmed to spawn as daylight hours increase. Daylight hours started increasing as of yesterday. Dec 22nd shortest day of the year. June 22nd is the longest

Length of day might be a factor, but the spawn starts in December at Falcon and that is the shortest days in the year. But then it is much farther south.. Who know for sure.

I've noticed fish tend to spawn deeper in a PP lake than normal too.

The thing that triggers the spawn at PP lakes is the same thing that triggers bass to spawn at Non-PP lakes: Water Temp

I have fished Monticello 100 days a year for almost 40 years. Not counting the past couple years but in the past, there would be a 10-15 degree difference in water temp from the far south end of the lake to the discharge cove.

The fish would start spawning in the warmer coves on the lake in Dec and would continue all the way thru April on the south end of the lake. The primary spawn would occur around the full moon in February at Monty.