You can manage either way: shiner-WE or shiner-FHM-WE-YP. The YP will not overpopulate if WE numbers are dense say 60-100/ac and YP will be scarce but commonly large. Generally the fewer WE you stock per acre the larger the top end size will tend to be and vice versa. The more you stock the smaller the top end size will be; example 90-120 per ac will result in slower growth and smaller top end size of 18"-20" which are the best eating size for WE - IMO. Fewer WE/ac (30-50) results in fewer walleye catches per angler hour and more abundant average smaller perch (7"-10"). If you want a little more total fish production in the pond, I would feed the shiners and or YP pellets. This will increase the overall carrying capacity of the pond i.e more fish pounds/ac.
Plan to Restock WE regularly based on number harvested each year. Add stock WE of 5"-8" are relatively cheap add-stock sportfish considering the food quality of the final product 16"-24" long.
Adding perch will provide more angling opportunities for especially less experienced anglers and when WE have lockjaw especially during sunny day angling. YP seem to always be willing to take baited hooks, not so true for WE. You could easily grow common perch to the 13" sizes and occasional 14"ers with some pellet feeding and correct number and size of WE/ac. Good written records and annual monitoring of the sizes and numbers of all species will improve the quality of the fishery.
Keep in mind that a 12"+ walleye can easily eat 1000+ small fish per year if it is growing an average annual length increase.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 10/15/13 09:56 PM.
