mthompson - Your YP without predators and and without significant population management will soon overpopulate and average catch size will likely decline over the next couple of years. YP are to a certain extent are cannibalistic but IMO not enough to adequately control their numbers (recruitment) were very good growth occurs on only natural foods. Pellet feeding helps tremendously to keep perch growing when recruitment is high.
Also consider using SMB with or instead of the walleye(WE). SMB will likely reproduce that will result in some recruitmen but not to the extent of LMB. YP are easier to manage with SMB than LMB. If you can get HSB they are also very good to use as predator with YP since the HSB will not reproduce. HSB are easier to catch, often survive better, and easier to manage than WE.
Thanks, I am planning on needing some predators sooner than later...and will use what I find this winter to make that decision for this Spring. We have two WE in a 1/10th acre koi pond and they do very well keeping any koi spawning mopped up....and I can easily catch some from our Est pond before winter ends if I need to get predators in the West pond.
I always recommended SMB/YP back in my pond management days here in WI...did private pond/public lake management for 5 years before I got the position I enjoy now. So, that is definitely on my radar. Nothing beats SMB on a fly rod for me!
Best regards,
MT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1
