Huntmaster, I assume your goal is for a YP spawn this spring... If so I think it's all about water temps. If YP are in temps 50 degrees or higher they will spawn. So at least in my mind the spawn will be a bit later this year as winter has been more severe than normal. I think the real key is to make sure that you get fish that have been kept in water that's colder than 50 degrees and you would be good.
Not sure if you've been following my thread, but I'm in a very similar stocking situation as you and Bill Cody has recommended that I wait until after spawn to stock my YP in order to time next years spawn with fall stocked SMB. So I really think you would be fine either way. I was a little concerned about the explosion of the YP before the SMB would be able to control the numbers. Hopefully Bill will see this and chime in. I'd really be interested to see his reply as to what the differences may be in stocking YP this early vs. post spawn.
