Bill Thanks for the update! Glad to hear that we are right on the cusp of seeing eggs. I wonder if the photoperiod controls or water temps? If it is photoperiod then what state you are in shouldn't matter that much, but where you are in your timezone would matter.

If it is water temps then the southern states should be a week or two ahead. It looks like water temp has to do with it.

I still have 4" thick ice but softening edges. Do perch lay eggs under the ice???

Xraytrapper, great news that you have ribbons too! Let us know how your SFS are doing. I'm trying to get some set up in my pond and would love to know how to gauge success. So far I have not been able to establish FHM, too many hungry YP and not enough cover for the FHM. Hoping somehow the SFS can make it. They are very fast and strong swimmers compared to FHM.