Pottsy -- similar to you, we've sure seen yellow grub problems with yellow perch in some of our small impoundments. I assume it's a result of the submergent aquatic plants, and the plentiful snails that accompany the plants. However, we need the plants for the largemouth bass to do well in their reproduction and survival.

Unfortunately, we're just a little too far north for shellcrackers (redear sunfish). I sure would like to use them; they are a dandy pond fish. We used them in some ponds when I was working in Kansas.

Wanting to do something here in South Dakota, I took a little bit of a risk, and introduced pumpkinseeds into a 20-acre pond. Pumpkinseeds are somewhat the shellcracker of the north, as they also eat a lot of snails. However, they are unlike shellcrackers in that pumpkinseeds commonly overpopulate and stunt. We've got both walleyes and largemouth bass as predators, so I'm hoping the pumpkinseeds will be kept in check.

I assume it will take several years to see an effect, and even then it may be hard to tell if the pumpkinseeds helped. However, we thought we should try something. When you've got fillets from 10 to 14 inch yellow perch, and the fillets are full of grubs, it's a little frustrating.

Dave

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From Bob Lusk: Dr. Dave Willis passed away January 13, 2014. He continues to be a key part of our Pond Boss family...and always will be.