Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Placing branches down for YP spawn

Looks like I owe Rex Rainman a HUGE Aplology!!!
I had a few minutes so I came up to the pond this afternoon. I took the time to tie on a 1/16 oz Reef Runner cicada. Gold with a red eye. I tossed it in a few places near where I had caught a few (30) YP late last summer. I caught five in nothing flat..
Yep,, they must still be in there! I don't know if five small YP equates to 1,300 that I thought had died, but it's more than I'd seen in months! Maybe there are 1,300 more in there. Who knows?

Rex, I am a horses a$$ for doubting you. You have my most sincere apologies sir..

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll280...951F39EDD9B.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll280...A023E42C9CD.jpg

This little male left a white trail across my green canoe..
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll280...E210F7D5B83.jpg

Great. It appears you will see at least a few perch egg ribbons soon; maybe after the next warm spell.

Sure hope so.. Quite a relief today. To at least see something.

Should YP egg ribbons be showing up yet in central Indiana?

Any spotted ribbons Setterguy? I just had full ice out today! Will watch temps and get the branches in pronto. Amazing, had floating ice floes yesterday, full ice out this morning and like clockwork, the very first morning of no ice, a female/male mallard duck are swimming around (probably eating the expensive scuds I stocked in there last friday :):)

RAH, what's your water temps?

I do not know my water temp. Should I measure surface temp? What temp signals YP egg laying?

Measure surface temp, and I would also measure 4'-5' water depth if possible.

From Dave Willis:

https://www.sdstate.edu/nrm/outreach/pond/upload/Yellow-Perch-Spawning-Mar-Apr-2007.pdf

Thanks - Looks like about 45 F as a minimum (mid 40s)?

Nice plump healthy lookin YP there.

My surface water temperature quickly increased and reached 50F yesterday after 2 days of 68-70F air temps. I expect YP eggs Friday or Saturday.

If the water is not too muddy, I will start looking.

Bill, in your years of observation, do you see the YP spawn correlating to any moon cycle? Dave Willis also noted photoperiod had an effect too, but didn't elaborate on it.

I know that BG and LMB spawn right around the full moon when the water temps are correct.

""... do you see the YP spawn correlating to any moon cycle?" Never paid much attention to moon phase for YP spawning. YP spawning in my NW OH pond is almost always the last few days of March to the last few egg ribbons near April 10 regardless of the moon cycle. Water temperature for the first egg ribbons laid is 47F to 50F. I think the photoperiod that Dr.Willis referred to was more the day length rather than the moon phase. From my experience the YP eggs are laid mostly during the night or dawn of early morning.

Since BG spawn can occur over an extended period of months the actual egg laying could be more related to the moon phase with the brighter night light from fuller moon periods.

Bill, that's why I asked. I know that the LMB and BG spawns are correlated to the full moon cycle, with water temp also coming into play. I didn't know if YP was the same way. We are now coming off of a new moon, so the full moon will be March 23rd.

I'll be at the pond in about 30 min. We've had a nice long stretch of warm days lately. Also, all the rain I was expecting never materialized. It all went south.
I hope to see and get pics of, some ribbons today.

When I checked my water temp yesterday I found something interesting, at least to me. I have my thermometer set at a 26 inch depth. On the west side of the pond the temp was 52. On the east side it was 47. I noticed the ice went out on the west side first as well. Is it unusual to see that much difference from one side to the other in a little less than .5 acre pond?

Looks like I can start watching for ribbons as well.

If, I say if, my thermometer is right, my water temps are at 58f. I haven't seen any ribbons in westr central MO. Hope I didn't miss them.

Cmm

I guess I've just got a pond that for some reason stays cool. The temp reads 46 about 18' from the bank, 10" deep. Hangs from the dock, on the east side of the pond.
No ribbons, not a lot of movement looking at the water. Not many bites when I tossed out the same little cicada they were hitting last week.
Then around 6:30, I thought I'd throw some optima chow out by hand. Just starting to get dark. It was the most activity I've seen in a year. It could have been the HBG I put in late last summer, or it could have been my 1,100-1,300 YP left over from last April. I have no idea. Pretty fun to watch though. Im used to 90% FHM hitting the feed. Whatever these were, they were hungry.
I'll be back Monday or Tuesday with my grandson. I'm sure hoping we can catch something.

Bill, what direction was the wind? Wind will push surface water to one side of the pond, and cooler water from the depths will upwell behind it. Also, areas of the pond that get the most direct sunlight will warm up faster, especially if there is a dark colored bottom.

Is this a ribbon? I'm sorry if I appear lazy, and haven't looked this up yet, but I thought I'd ask here..

Close up..

Shoo is and good pics. lots of tiny YP gonna make an appearance. A month ago you was worried that there were no more YP, a month from now ya might think there are just way too many.

For best spawning structure for YP egg ribbons the tree branch should have more twigs for the female to hang the ribbon than the sparse twig branch in SetterGuy's picture above. However Bob-O is correct that is an egg ribbon of YP. Notice the water is a little murky so to see more of the egg ribbons the majority of the twigs of the branches should be primarily shallow closer to shore. The perch will readily move up into 6" near the waterline to drape the egg ribbons.

I'm envious Setterguy! Congrats on the pending new additions.

Cmm

I placed 14 different branches around the pond. This was he last one I put in. I wa getting a little desperate in searching out nice branches.
However, this one is the most southerly placed branch. The dam is at the south end. The majority of the branches I placed are around the shallow "north" end. That's also where the feeder is, and where I've caught all the YP.
This was actually the last place I thought they'd choose for a ribbon.
I'll be back up Monday to see if I've got additional ribbons.

I should have moved some additional "better" branches down near where this one that's being used is located, shouldn't I? I'll do that Monday also.

I don't want too many ribbons, so if I find many, many ribbons, I'll pull the rest of the branches.

Thanks
Jeff