Will the fish spawn under ice?

[Dinky Dave]

I was reading the thread on "A year ago today!" , and was wondering if for some reason we had a really long winter, would the fish spawn under the ice? Or is warm water needed?
If warm water is needed, how do the species in the icecap regions spawn?

[henckel]

I'm sure egg development and spawning time are a combination of photo period (length of day) and water temperature. As I understand it, it's the water temperature which provides the key to when the actual spawning takes place. Walleyes don't spawn until water temperatures get up into the mid-40s. By the time water temps climb to that range, the ice is off. -- mark

[135 Guy]

Northern Pike will spawn under the ice. If the water stays deep enough in the marshy areas the pike will move into these places and spawn.

[Lake Winnebago]

In fact,
About two weeks ago the burbet, or as they are called on Lake Winnebago the lawyers spawned in frigid conditions and under 20 in. of ice.

But they are a pretty crazy fish to begin with but yes they are ice spawners

[cisco]

Ciscoes (tullibees) spawn under early ice in December and January in Minn and Wis.

[Backwater Eddy]

Pike will if the ice lays around late and the conditions are right.

Backwater Eddy

[Backwater Eddy]

There is a picture of a pre-spawn Burbot that is the new State Record on the front page of www.fishingminnesota.com what a pig!

Backwater Eddy

[Hogger]

Fish spawn based primarliy on the calendar. When the eggs are ready to drop they can only hold on so long. When you stop and think about it, do the fish really know and understand that there is ice on top of the water? Under ideal conditions, the ice is gone, the water is the perfect temperature, and the wind is blowing just right. Seldom do the fish have the opportunity to spawn under perfect conditions. In 97 the ice went out the afternoon before opener, and we had one of the greatest openings ever. Every single female was spawned out. A few of the smaller males still were milking, but the females had been done for some time. I think its still early to worry too much about the ice. With the winters we've had over the last decade, everyone has forgotten what a winter should be. Seems to me this is just about average.