Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Yellow Perch in a small pond - Good or bad?

I am considering introducing a small number of adult-size yellow perch into an existing small pond in SC. Basic reason is to have a more diverse fishery, and secondary as another type of forage for Largemouth Bass (have heard LMB may enjoy a small perch from time to time). Are there any problems with having the YP in a small pond, do they negatively compete or out-reproduce anything...any advantages? This is a pond about 1 1/2 - 2 acres...not very deep (max depth is 8-9 ft)...has a pretty healthy weed base of various lily pads surrounding entire shallow edge. It is not a new pond, and has an established population of LMB, BG, RES, a few channel cats, and even a few chain pickerel.

Usually they don't last in a pond with LMB present..

With LMB present your YP numbers and their impact on your pond should be fairly limited. I would stock YP as large as you can find and use a blocking net to introduce them to your pond.

Not much negative impact of YP on your fishery as I see it. Just don't expect much recruitment of the perch and to maintain their numbers you will likely have to add some adults every year or two. The bass will definitely utilize the small perch as a food source. The perch will also eat a few of the smallest fish to help maintain the balance.

Greg, you may have a hard time sourcing YP in your part of the country. If you do find a source, make sure they are of southern genetics and not YP from areas like the Great Lakes. YP, especially like larger adults, think 10"+ stress and die in warmer waters we get in the south so sourcing YP with southern genes will help reduce this risk...

Thanks for everyone's advice! Yellow Perch are a pretty cool fish, good looking and aggressive for their size. Just wanted to be sure it wouldn't negatively impact the other pre-existing species' natural balance to have a few of them in there. Will keep their introduction to a minimum initially, monitor it for awhile, than add others if needed.