Also try this. If you feed pellets often the fish are used to eating at that time of day and will be most active around that time. If targeting YP start with the bait within 6" of the bottom. Water clarity plays a big role in how far YP will rise to take a bait. With cloudier water they will not see the bait until it is within water visibility range.
Matzilla's description of YP habiats is good for YP in larger bodies of water. However in ponds around 0.3 to 1 acre there is not much area for the YP to roam so finding them is not too difficult. Again, water clarity will play a big role in how far the YP can see the bait. My ice fishing experience for YP is they are usually willing to bite if they can see the bait and it is especially true if the YP are common to abundant. YP if possible feed frequently during winter to enhance development of the eggs that will be laid soon after ice out. I have seen YP egg ribbons 2-3 days after the last ice left the pond, but this is not commonly when 1 YP eggs are seen. Usually they wait to release eggs until the water is around 47-50F which is often 2 to 3 weeks after ice out.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/12/18 10:53 AM.
