Bluegill are one of the most popular panfish in North America and are one of my favorite panfish to target. They are a fun fish to catch, they taste great, and they provide excellent fishing opportunities for all anglers regardless of age and skillset.
One of the most important events of the year for bluegill and anglers targeting them is the spawn. Understanding this seasonal behavior will help you effectively locate, target, and catch bluegill as the go through this key period. You might be wondering, when do bluegill spawn?
Bluegill spawn in the late spring when water temperatures reach 68-75 degrees. The bluegill spawn typically begins in April and can continue all the way into summer and late fall. When bluegill spawn is dictated by water temperatures, light penetration, moon phases, and other varying conditions.
Having said that, not all bluegill will move up and spawn at the same time. For example, bluegill at one end of the lake may spawn earlier than the others due to warmer water temperatures as well as other factors.
In this bluegill spawning fishing guide, I’ll share with you more details on when bluegill spawn, key things to look for, and how you can utilize this information to help you catch more bluegill during the spawning season.
The Bluegill Spawn
As water temperatures start to increase from a long winter season, bluegill will feed heavily during the pre-spawn phase as they prepare to head shallow to spawn.
When the conditions are right, bluegill will begin nesting in the spring when water temperatures reach around 65 °F. In general, the bluegill spawn starts in the spring and goes into the summer and even into fall depending on what area of the country they are located.
To help you get a better idea of when bluegill spawn in your area, I have put together a list of when bluegill spawn in popular fishing states.
Keep in mind this chart is more of a general guideline and that the peak of the bluegill spawn is typically in May and June in most states but it can continue all the way until fall, just not as many will spawn.
When Do Bluegill Spawn by State
| State | Water Temperature | Month(s) |
| Alabama | 68 to 75 | April to End of Summer |
| Arkansas | 68 to 75 | May to End of Summer |
| Minnesota | 67 to 80 | May to End of Summer |
| Michigan | 65 to 80 | Late Spring to Early Summer |
| Wisconsin | 67 to 80 | May to August |
| Iowa | 70 to 80 | May to August |
| Florida | 78 to 80 | April to October |
| Georgia | 78 to 80 | May to October |
| Nebraska | 60 to 80 | May to August |
| Kansas | 65 to 80 | May to August |
| Kentucky | 78 to 80 | April to October |
| North Carolina | Around 70 | April to October |
| North Dakota | 65 to 80 | April to August |
| South Dakota | 65 to 80 | April to August |
| Ohio | 68 to 80 | May to August |
| Missouri | Around 70 | Late Spring to Early Summer |
| Texas | Around 70 | April to Early Fall |
| Tennessee | Around 75 | May to August |
(Bluegill peak spawning season is typically May and June in most states)
Where Do Bluegill Spawn
Bluegill will build their nests and spawn in shallow water along grass, cover, and different types of structure. This typically occurs in one to ten feet deep of water. In general, the clearer the water the deeper they will spawn. Big bluegill tend to also spawn deeper as well.
The ideal spawning areas for bluegill will include water with good light penetration to incubate their eggs and areas that are protected from wind and current. Blugill will typically move up to these shallow areas when there is a full or new moon.
Here are some things to look for when searching for bluegill beds:
- Areas that have a good mix of sand and gravel
- Pencil Weeds
- Lily pads are typically a great place
- Weed lines
- Any gravel area
- Overhanging trees
- Stumps
- Wood
- Other types of structure
The male bluegill is responsible for building the nest as well as guarding it until the eggs hatch and fry leave. The will pull up shallow first in search of these key areas and will begin making their nest out of sand and gravel. (source: dwr.virgnia.gov)
The young fish that make it will feed up on plankton, but as they grow their diet will change to insects and larvae. Up to 50% of their diet will end up being midge larvae.
How Many Times of Year Do Bluegill Spawn?
Many anglers often don’t realize how many times bluegill will spawn in the same season. Female bluegills spawn an average of five times over the season. The number of times bluegill spawn is often times related to region and length of the spawning season. (Sources: fisheries.tamu.edu)
What Age Do Bluegill Spawn?
In most cases, once a bluegill becomes two years old they will begin spawning. However, some bluegill start even earlier and can sometimes even spawn as early as their first year of life. (source: in.gov)
Best Baits to Use for Spawning Bluegill
The spawn can be one of the most exciting times of the year to be fishing for bluegill. They become territorial and aggressive as they protect their beds and go through the spawning process.
My favorite way to target bluegill during the spawn is with small moving baits like small swimbaits, spinners, and crankbaits.
Here are some of the great ways to target bluegill during the spawn:
- Crankbaits
- Inline spinners
- Spoons
- Grubs
- Swimbaits
- Small Carolina Rig
- Small Jigs
- Live Bait (worms, grasshoppers, crickets)
- Flies (Ants, hoppers)
- Small Plastics
- Poppers
Bluegill Spawn Fishing Tips & Takeaways
- Bluegill will spawn when water temperatures reach 68 to 80 degrees
- Bluegill spawn in shallow water from anywhere from a foot of the bank to 10ft deep depending on water clarity
- The bluegill spawning season peak is typically May and June in most states (This is the best time to fish)
- Big bluegills typically spawn deeper
- Because bluegill are constantly on the move, its best to use baits and lures that will allow to cover water
- Lunar phases (full and new moon) can play a big role on when bluegill spawn
- Wear polarized fishing sunglasses to see light colored bluegill nests in shallow water
- Male bluegill builds the nest and guard the fry
- Bluegill become aggressive and territorial during the spawn and are easy to catch
- Look for nests in shallow water around cover and structure
Other Bluegill Fishing Resources
- Tips for Fishing for Bluegill
- How to Catch Bluegill
- Bluegills – What do I need?
- Tips on Catching Big Bluegill
Final Thoughts
As we have discussed in this bluegill spawning guide, bluegill will begin spawning in the spring when water temperatures reach 68 degrees and they will typically finish spawning when water temperatures reach 75 degrees. This typically occurs in the early spring all the way until the fall with the peak season being May and June.
The spawn can be an exciting time to target bluegill. This is by far one of the best times of the year to fish for bluegill and makes for some great angling opportunities.
Understanding when bluegill spawn, what signs to look for, and how you can use that to your advantage as an angler is super important. This information will help you catch more bluegill and make you a more efficient and effective angler.