Question: "Bill...enlighten us please regarding the water temps necessary for YP egg production...49 F right? Is it possible some locations in TN would never hit the necessary temperature profile resulting in no spawn...".
Egg development in for most YP begins in early fall or fall. However, a normal cold or chill period is required for normal yolk formation and to achieve final sexual maturation. The optimum chill period varies for their natural northern to southern range. YP have reportedly been successfully introduced in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. YP in north central US were found to need 185 days of temperatures of 43F or lower. It is likely that YP in more southern latitudes may not need as long or as cold a chill period to develop full maturation. Perch strains vary. More research is needed on this topic. Female YP at 10" long can have as many as 45,000 eggs per fish.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 07/13/14 07:27 PM.
