Several options are available for growing large YP, although it may be difficult maintaining large or trophy YP (14"+) in southern MO (plant zone 6) due to heat stress in summer. Northern MO (plant zone 5) should be okay for raising big YP. The largest YP in my NW OH area (Great Lakes Strain) have survival problems when water temps are in the 90's. A more southern strain of YP might be able to tolerate the warm water when they get to trophy size. As far as I know, little has been done to raise trophy YP in planting zone 7. At this point I think, planting zone 6 could be the southern boundry for the northern strain of YP.
Cecil provided several good possibilities for growing big YP. Not a lot of people are reliably and consistantly doing it yet, so the concept is still in the early stages. One can initially and easily grow some big YP during 1 to 2 YP life spans, but to consistantly maintain a large population of trophy sized YP over an extended period of 10-20 years is a definate challenge.
The other aspect of this is how does one define a "trophy yellow perch pond"? What type of YP fishery does one want? Is it to consistantly (10-20%+ or 60%+) catch YP 12" and larger or to occassionally (1%-5%) catch large YP? Does one want a mixed fishery or is YP the main fish? Determining the goal and achieving the goal are the challenges.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/18/10 01:24 PM.
