AATW - One good thing about yellow perch is they tend to be more active and agile than BG, FHM, and SMB in cold water (39F). There is not much water temperature drop remaining for your pond before the winter, stable, cold, water period sets in at 39F. This should allow the YP to HOPEFULLY reduce some of the number of smallest BG between now and when water gets back into the 50F range. Do you have a wire mesh minnow trap abt $10 ea(NON-vinyl coated and with darkened-painted mesh)? Try setting a trap to catch some of the small 1.5" fish to VERIFY the length and species of the 1.5" fish. Compare the catch in the trap with what you catch in spring of 2007. You should have some of these traps to periodically monitor & manage the relative abundance of small fish that will occur each year in your pond.
I looked at my data and it takes at least a 6" YP and a 5.5" SMB to get a 1.5"-1.7" BG in their mouth. I think YP and SMB tend to "prefer" eating fish that are a size that is less than the maximum size that fits into their mouth. I think 8"-10" YP and 6"-8" SMB will eat a fair number of the 1"-1.5" BG esp if the fathead minnow numbers are low. My experiences show the FHM will be the first preferred food for both the YP and SMB.
More time will provide more information about this story of raising fish in your pond.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 05/11/08 02:30 PM.
