Last month in Egg Hatch Part 1 we introduced you to the importance of understanding and using egg patterns. This month we'll discuss how and where the different fish species spawn.

All of the salmonoids (salmon, steelhead and trout) need clean well oxygenated water and clean gravel for their eggs to survive. In rivers, this is found in riffles and tail-outs. In rivers like the Clackamas, Deschutes and their tributaries they dig their "redds," lay and fertilize their eggs. The female uses her tail to cover the eggs with a layer of gravel to protect them during incubation. These redds can be identified by the clean gravel areas. Anglers should be able to identify these areas so as not to wade through them, thus destroying the fragile eggs. During this spawning process many of the eggs are washed out of the nest and into the waiting mouths of predators. This also occurs during periods of high water.

Trout and Kokanee salmon that live in lakes or reservoirs must ascend a river or creek to spawn. Predator fish sometimes follow these fish upstream in anticipation of the feast. There are some lakes in the Northwest that do not have a spawning river or creek (East Lake in central Oregon comes to mind). These lakes require fish plants to maintain their fisheries. The trout and Kokanee in these lakes do try to spawn, usually over underwater springs or on shallow gravel beaches (with little success). But their eggs are still available to the food chain. While most of us are at least familiar with how salmon and trout spawn, most anglers aren't aware of the spawning habits of other species. Fish like the whitefish and sucker are free spawners. They do not make redds. The females freely eject their eggs and the males rush in fertilizing them. The eggs then just drift with the current until they find a resting spot. These eggs are usually very small, but don't make the mistake thinking they are not important, because they ARE!

Eggs are most readily available from early fall through early summer. During this time they are probably our most reliable hatch for all of the species we fish for.

Egg Hatch Part 3. Next month we'll be talking about when individual species spawn and how to match it.