Yesterday when I was fishing all my fish came from one single spot. All the gills I had caught were fat and mean. Fatter then I remember seeing any gill in this pond. I was fishing the dropshot and and there was one instance after unhooking a gill, throwing it back then clearing my weight of weeds I noticed a piece of weed had a pea sized "water" drop on it with tiny specs in it which is obviously fish eggs.

So what I'm getting at is could it be possible with the mild winter we've been having that I found a spawning bed that was being protected by the gills? At first I thought to myself there's no way it's way too early but after further contemplation I thought it may be possible? Or am I just dumb as hell lol

what is the water temp? I think 70-72 is what triggers the spawn

Couldn't have been that high but I don't know for sure, it was also overcast so I doubt it

It has to be at that temp for a while before it triggers the spawn

Plus #1. However Gills sometimes spawn through out several times during the year depending on the weather/temperature conditions. Also were you certain that what you saw on the weeds were fish eggs. Gills usually sit on nest of gravel or hard clay.

Might have been another species' eggs they were feeding on...

Yeah I know they don't lay eggs on weeds just thought I might've dragged the weeds through a nest and some eggs latched on. It definitely has to be some kind of eggs. As I said it was like a pea sized water drop with a bunch of tiny specs in it and I could poke it and everything and it wouldn't "break". Maybe it's some kind of organism in the water haha I'm no expert on aquatic ecosystems. Just thought it was a weird coincidence that I was also catching the gills in the same spot.

I cleaned some Gills last week for Dinner that I caught out of Dunlap and none had any eggs. Either way those were some nice Gills you caught Peyton.

Yeah I must be thinking too much again... it's dangerous lol, and thanks

This is a hot thread!

It looked like there were beds in Barton Springs a while back. The water temp there is pretty decent. Could be wrong tho. Let the spawning begin!!!!!!!!!

Sunlight is the key! 'Gills find hard bottom (as oppose to mud and marl) to spawn on. Weeds growing in that hard bottom will be cleared out of the nest but left around the nest. Seen honeycombs in weedbeds many a time. Never seen eggs stuck to weeds though. Seen white bass eggs stuck to rocks though!

Maybe a second spawn?

Gillinator,

I was thinking the same thing yesterday.

The water was very warm (at least 70 degrees) and all the LMBs that Ive been seeing are patrolling around in pairs.

Same here, in pairs.