Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Eating Yellow Perch

1. How small a YP do you bother to filet?
2. Do you think pellet-fed, pond-raised YP have less flavor than "wild" YP?

9" to 12". Over 12" are brood stock under 9" are released to grow further or be lunch for bigger predators.

Don't feed so can't answer the last question.

I have fileted 7" YP. I prefer 8"-12". Dwight has a good plan - " 9" to 12". Over 12" are brood stock under 9" are released to grow further or be lunch for bigger predators."

My experience is the YP over 12" have larger pin bones that more quickly dull the point of the filet knife. Thus I tend to release those over 12" for the jumbo and trophy categories. Several of the locals with mainly YP dominant ponds harvest just the 12" and larger YP; returning those smaller 8"-10" to be 12" next year.

I thought more than two members would be eating YP, but I did get two expert slot limit opinions. This year I actually have large enough numbers of Perch, an impressive percentage of which are 11" - 14" (with one lurker I have only seen a foot or so down, that looks to be notably larger than that), that I plan on taking out some to eat. Normally they are just a bonus catch amid all the BGxRES.

Thank you to Dr. Perca and the Baron of Bremer Pond.

My plan is to eat YP out of my pond if they are able to successfully procreate. I didn't see any ribbons this year, but I didn't put out any structure that was visible. The structure I thought they would use was a bit too deep for me to see after the heavy rains and my pond was full. Hopefully I'll see some offspring this year. I'm impressed by your sizes Theo ! I bet a 14" YP is a blast to reel in. After one year I've gotten some YP up to 10.5" and those already excite me!

I have only filleted and eaten wild YP from when we fish at my uncle's place in Canada.

Those fish are exceedingly tasty! (That is why I eventually want them in my Kansas pond.)

We mostly do catch and release up there, but do have one or two huge family fish fries of WE and YP on most trips. I have cleaned some very small YP on those days when the little kids didn't catch any big ones - but still wanted to make their contribution to the meal. And yes, even the little YP are a tasty morsel.

Fear not. I placed several branches around the perimeter of my YP pond for a few years, and never saw any ribbons. But they have (always, I believe) pulled off successful spawns which must be using the structure out in the middle of the pond, none of which can be seen from shore (or at all, under normal Secchi readings of 2 feet or so).

Hello.




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Growing up fishing Erie, 7" was our bare minimum keeping size if it was a slower day. On the good days, I'd like to second Dr. Bill's 8-12", though perch over 12" in the Western Basin of Erie were a rarity.

In my experience with walleye, the bigger they are, the greater the "fishy" taste, although butterflying helps with walleye. I've not had experience eating pond raised perch (will compare this fall when I cull a few), but years ago I had a rural barber (I mention this for when we get to the feed part) that raised perch in tanks to then fillet out and eat. He said they tasted horrible. That being said, I would bet money that he was likely feeding dog food as he was very rural and this was years (20+) ago. Furthermore, who knows the quality of water he was maintaining. I would speculate, using a high quality, high protein feed, and having favorable water quality would only enhance the table experience my barber had.

For flavor of wild YP and pond rised pellet fed YP one would have to eat both types at the same meal for a good taste test. It could be done by freezing one of both types then cooking both at the same time. Enjoy. I have not been able to detect a taste difference between the two. Style of cooking may be a difference????.

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Breakfast of champions!

Hopefully you scaled them guys first