Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Help with Yellow Perch - small, small, small

Bwilly - I think your 4"-6" YP are the result of the first YP hatch that occured which resulted a real strong year class of YP. My experience is if a small pond has a real strong yr class of YP then they are very easy to catch or are a nuisance as you mention and one can catch little else unless the tackle is adjusted for the larger fish. I think it is likely the strong Yr clsss of 4"-6" perch and this yrs LMB hatch probably consumed practically all of the perch fry from the 2008 hatch.

Are you sure all the LMB survived that were stocked. It sounds to me that all the bass did not survive. I very rarely see a real strong yr class of YP like you describe if the predator population is in correct balance in regards to sizes and numbers.

Have you been removing the 4"-6" YP that you catch or returning them to the pond?
Also how big is the pond and how many and what size bass did you stock?. When the bass fingerlings (1st hatch) this year become more established next year and their parents are a little larger (13"-15") you could start to see a forage fish shortage. I predict you will see some big changes in your fish community over the next 3 yrs.