Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking YP as forage

Bill and Cecil, don't be so hard on the poor guy. So long as he doesn't shoot up any plumbing, I think we will be good.

I will get some pics though!

Cmm

Rainman considers me his adopted mom. He often needs a mother's advice and guidance. Mothers are for good parenting not being the child's best friend.

You won't need anything. Once Rex gets going, there's no stopping him.
Well, on second thought, you might need a chainsaw, if there are any trees in the area.

If that's the case Bill, maybe you should PM me your number in case your baby gets in trouble. Lol

Cmm

Yeah, setter, I have chainsaws. But I am afraid to ask...
Cmm

My moneys on Rex to get those fish in the puddle healthy and happy, regardless of possible property damage that may be incurred!

No doubt,Bill, no doubt! If the rains hold off, we shouldn't have any problems at all. Can't wait to meet the new residents, oh, and Rex too!

Cmm

I felt like you were my second dad at the first Pond Boss convention where we roomed together.

Yes for God's sake cover your pond plumbing!

This should be a picture of the yellow perch Rainman delivered this afternoon! They are BIG, healthy, and, I hope, happy enough to pull a spawn in a few months.
The rain held off, no one got stuck, and all the PVC is in the same condition as it was this morning. We had a nice visit with Rex after the fish were released. What a funny man!

HMMM, maybe I need to resize that and try again...

CMM

Those were some premium stocker yellow perch. Nice fish that are definitely big enough to spawn. How many of those per acre did you add? Did Rex say where he got them??

Those are beauties!

Second try on the YP photo...
Well, now it won't load at all... I am technologically challenged. Trust me, they are beautiful.

Goal for adding these is to establish a breeding population primarily as more forage for the LM. WR for the larger bass (over 15") is averaging around 90% (This is a preliminary number, I haven't completed my spreadsheets for the year and compiled all the data yet). I would like to maintain or increase that. I chose YP because I like the idea of a forage fish that I can also eat on occasion.

Future stocking plans, at least my current thoughts, are to add HSB once I am sure they would not impact the forage enough to lower WR on the LM.

I will try to revisit this thread at least yearly to post WR on LM as well as stomach contents on culled LM to confirm that they will target the YP over the BG.

Thanks to so many of you for advice, offers of help and an overall great place to get info and a laugh. Special thanks to Rex for making the delivery.

CMM

Bill C and Bill D,

I asked for a total of 100 fish in a 4 acre pond. Well, 4 acres at full pool anyway We did not count the fish, but I would bet on more than 100 by at least a few. Yes, Rex did tell me where he got them. My memory is not my best feature. I am quite sure it was North, maybe Wisconsin or Minnesota??? Sheeze, maybe he will see this and chime in.

Yes, they sure were pretty and bigger than I expected. All swam away very nicely with none looking at all stressed. I could not notice extremely distended bellies on any of them, but, 1. I didn't handle each and every fish. 2. I have NO idea how fat a YP should be this far before the spawn. 3. I am not even sure when YP will spawn in MO. I have been told to watch just after the ice goes off, or around Feb, early March.

Lots to learn.

CMM

Please post here if you notice that they are spawning next spring. I'm watching mine in NE Missouri. Hoping they spawn. I've sunk three big cedar trees, thinking that they will work. Those YP look healthy to me.

SetterGuy,

You may be able to hear me whoop all the way over in NE MO if I see strands in the spring, but I will update.
CMM

Put some brushy tree branches at the shoreline extending out to 2ft deep. Look for egg ribbons on the twigs or lying around the brush. The YP may have come from Ohio since I was told Rex was there picking up Perch on Sunday and then delivered perch to CMM in MO on Monday.

I'll do that. Depending on recent rains, my pond fluctuates a few feet, so the cedar trees, which are pretty far from the shoreline, can be submerged a few feet, or just beneath the surface.
Laying them down, right from the bank, makes sure they are at the right depth. Should I use a very dense branch, lime from a cedar, or something with a lot of open space, like a leafless dead branch from a oak?
Thanks

I may need to find out who the snitch is!!!!

Bill, Cimberlee, the YP did come from Steve Hiteman at Shelby Fish Farm. I also got some 12"+ Walleye and YP that Yolkie will be angling for soon.

Loading 2+ ton of Alum and heading to Cisco's in Texas today....


Bill, The original plan was to show up at your place Saturday afternoon and walk in saying..."MOM, I'm Home....Where's dinner??"

Dinner was ready and it got cold and then I fed it to the dog. Dog was very happy you did not show up. Did the walleye come from Shelby too? The friends in the fishery circles talk. Rexxy you driving that new fancy high cost fish truck yet or is it still rusty or still delivering fish in an old wagon?

I add my brush each spring and remove the brush after the spawn. You don't need a lot of brush to get good spawns when the egg ribbon has 8000-30000 eggs. Some will leave brush in all year in deeper water but deep you often can't see if you are getting eggs or not and how many eggs have been laid. I add shoreline brush each spring at ice out to control the number of egg strands that are allowed to hatch. Twiggy brush is best for perch. Some tree species have limbs with more twigs than others. I like small dogwood trees. Some have good luck with artificial Xmas tree branches. Real evergreen branches may also work okay.

Well, Ohio IS north of me where ever they are from, they are lovely. Thanks again Rex.

Good luck with the rest of your travels, I hope "mom" feeds you well.

Cmm

Thanks Bill. This is exactly what I needed.. I'll have branches in at ice out. It's hard to tell how many YP I have. I may "not" want them to spawn. I may have stocked too many, but they've all but disappeared since I caught 30 early this fall. I thought there were 1,200 stocked, but I can't find a single one in a one acre pond. If i do have 1,170 left, maybe I should discourage any spawning activity?

Placing brush and watching for eggs will give a good indication if some are still present. Watch for eggs when surface water is stable at 48F-50F. My YP prefer the east bank but I find eggs on the south and west shores. In some local ponds the YP prefer the north shore. YP in your pond may favor one shoreline. Place a little brush on each directional shoreline to find out which shoreline gets the most egg strands.