About 1 month ago I put out branches in the 2-6 foot range.About 1 week ago I put 100 perch 30% female and 70% male in the 7-8" range into my 1 acre pond. I have not seen any ribbons yet, has anyone seen any spawning activity from perch yet?

Iceman

Have you checked your water temp?

Not yet, we recently got some good rain and warmer winds than last weeks tornados. I will check in the morning and afternoon this weekend for temp and post Monday.

Iceman

Don't expect to see YP spawn until the water temp stabilizes at 45F-50F; often closer to 50f. The peak spawn is usually 48F-52F lasting for 8 to 19 days. Day length plays a large role in the annual spawning cycle. Spawn has been reported to continue until the water gets 64-66F. To my knowledge, the spawn of YP is not related to moon phase. I've seen female YP as small as 3.75" with eggs (this fish was probably stunted of unknown age, possibly 2 yrs old). I will report here when I see my first YP eggs. Southern Ohio often has YP eggs Mar 6-12, whereas northern OH sees eggs Mar 19-30.

Thanks for the info, I was down at Fender fish farm picking up minnows and his 4-6 " perch were busting with eggs. I was surprised that small with eggs but lots of this pond stuff is new to me. Thanks again!

Iceman

I have been looking for ribbons here in N.W, Mo.
In late January, I caught a YP that had grown nicely, and it appeared to have lots of eggs, or had just been eating very well.

I started temping my waters in the last week or so.Last weekend around March 1, I had 47* in the shallows at the surface, next to the south bank.
Yesterday, in the shallows, 5 feet of water, at the surface,30' from the bank I had 49.6*.(put my jonboat in yesterday)

No ribbons. I will also report when and if I find any, with water temps also.They have been feeding decent all winter long.
I expect to find them anyday. Going down here in a bit with some minnows and hook.

no Perch spawn here, but 70 degree temps sure brought them to the surface to feed. It was nice to see my babies after the winter. BG joined them, plus one bass that was raised in my fish tank.

I have 3 yellow perch egg ribbons on March 12. Water temp 47.7F. I have never seen perch eggs this early. Earliest that I have seen YP eggs in the past 12 yrs has been Mar 19. Early ice off and mild late winter temps no doubt allowed faster development of the eggs.

Bring on the babies!!

Just love them BC reports. Only covers 12 yrs of keeping records. Hell, I don't even have my kids birthdays documented!

Bill did you happen to take a water surface temp?

Water temp down to 3 ft was 47.7F. Weather forecast for next 6 days is for air temps to be high 60's lot 70's. Warming water should result in more eggs each day. I will keep everyone advised.

Darn Bill, I think I need glasses.....well I have them now I think I need to wear them.

I went and looked for ribbons tonight, but saw none. But since I cant read, as in your post about finding ribbons, you INCLUDED the water temp., They're probably there but I cant see them!

James- YP in Missouri should be spawning by now. With this warmer spring type weather, it is possible that the YP spawn in southern MO is done, over, completed. The YP spawn can last as short as 7-12 days. Sometimes YP will spawn in deeper water and one does not see the eggs. What are the water temps in your pond? When the daffodils are blooming in NW OH the YP are usually done spawning.

Perch can spawn eggs at very young age. Maybe even 2 years old or so. I have caught finger sized perch full of eggs.

Interesting about the daffodils.They are in bloom here.My water temperature yesterday was 51* at the surface. I think the spawn is over with seeing no ribbons.A few days ago, the feeding went to near nothing. I assume that 4 or 5 day period with very little feeding,I think they had their mind on love and not food.Like the flip of a switch, feeding began again and very brisk.

I'm going down in a bit and try catching some, and see if they are void of eggs. I tried Sunday, but it started raining.

I am in the northwest corner of the state. about 40 miles from the Iowa/Nebraska border.

No new egg stands on Wednesday. Water temperature is rising fast and today it was 53.5F at 3' deep. It will be interesting to see how the spawn 'plays out' in this spring heat wave. Air temps are supposed to be in the mid to high 70's and low 80 for the next several days. The main spawn is usually the 1st week of April. Water temps are 2 weeks ahead of normal egg development for these fish. The YP that are eating pellets have swollen bellies that appear to need 5-10 days of further development before egg laying will happen. Interesting feature is the daffodils will need 4-7 days before blooming.

Since I hatch my own yellow perch I can tell you the females will develop eggs as young as age 1. Not sure how fecund the eggs are at age 1 but if it has more to do with the size of the fish I have females in the 10 inch rage at age 1.

My water temps were 58 down to 52 from top to bottom today in my biggest pond. I haven't seen any egg ribbons but I haven't put out any structure as I plan on seining in the next few days when they are at peak in egg development. I get the best prices for the bulkiest and heaviest females for frozen fish sales to taxidermists. Only 14 plus inch perch will be sold.

Good information Bill. It confirms what I found. Water temps hit 60 today at the surface, with an unusual air temp of 83.

I caught a 5-6" perch this afternoon. She clearly still had eggs in her. Maybe my spawn has not begun yet. Still no sign of ribbons.

I've noticed that if YP miss the temperature spawning window they will reabsorb the eggs. Often old larger egg bound female YP will die if they miss the spawn window.

No egg ribbons here yet. I'm hoping they will hold off a few more days as I can't get down to the pond to seine until then.

Girls forget those birthing classes you went to. NO PUSH, NO PUSH!

My pond is 99.9 percent female perch. I wonder if that could buy me time?

With the rapid warming water you better be geting that seining done or you will be getting a bunch of flat bellied females.

I may wait until next year to remove perch. Most of the ones I'm catching on hook and line are under 14 inches and I don't want to sell anything under 14 as I get a lot more money for 14 and up. I sold 109 of my biggest ones to BPS a while back. Kind of wish I hadn't now.

Did you ever hear from Lynch?

Water temp is 61 on the surface down to 53 on the bottom this afternoon. The smallies are getting active now.

Water temp is 58F hear at 3 ft. One new YP egg strand today. The last few years many of my breeder YP are reabsorbing their eggs. I have a lot more large females than I get egg ribbons.

Bill,

I've always collected less egg ribbons than I have females in the pond. I wonder if the lack of males has any effect?

Five more YP egg strands this morning. Water later this afternoon was 60F; 10 degrees above usual beginning spawning temperature for YP.

Sunday evening water temperature 61.5F and 3 more egg strands. Daffodils are blooming. YP spawn should be done for my pond this week. YP are feeding well on the surface at this water temperature. Numerous egg laden fish feeding on floating pellets.

One week later, water temperature 64.5F and 4 more YP egg strands. Daffodils still in bloom.

I have caught numerous male perch in the last 2 days. Heavy milt. I'd say they were part Holstein.

and ohio is looking at a cold snap tonight..

Northern Indiana too.

Water temperature has been down from 64.5 to 54F and now back up to 56.5F. One new YP egg strand since Mar 25.