Ed,
I'm not convinced it is genetic superiority. In my opinion it's a matter of getting a fish that had plenty to eat (feed trained) from the get go to reach maximum growing potential. If a fish is behind in growth from the beginning it will always be below it's maximum size potential.
These fish were fed from the time they started to feed to the time I got them at only 2 years of age at about 9 inches. I.e. a typical wild perch the age of this fish at four to five years of age would be only about 8 inches in length.
I know one individual that is getting even faster growth in indoor tanks (RAS) by feeding them and keeping them at optimum growing temps year around. He can get them to 9 inches in one year.
Additonally the pond I have these perch in is very fertile with a typical seehci dish reading in summer of 12 to 18 inches due to the phytoplankton bloom. If I could intensely feed these perch without the bass crowding them away from the feed, I believe I could get even better growth and ultimate size.
For those of you who are not that familiar with yellow perch, be aware that part of this fish's girth is due to an egg mass that can account for 20 percent of a perch's body weight just for spawning.
