I've yet to observe a perch ribbon in my pond this spring. The first couple springs after stocking it made me nervous not seeing what I thought I should be seeing, but it has become obvious that they're using offshore cover to do their thing.
Greg, not sure what all elements you have in your pond but you'd be surprised at where they will string out a ribbon.. I pulled a Z-trap today and not only was it covered in ribbons, many were inside the trap. I had about 40 males actually "IN" the trap. I noticed about 18-20 more ribbons today in other places too. something was right about last night for sure. What amazes me is how I went from not seeing any ribbons to having ribbons everywhere. I'm sure ribbons are there, you just need to find "where" that is.. I can come whisper to them if needed..
Wow! That is great! I for one will be interested in your progress.
I have mildly considered adding YP to one of my ponds once I found out they would live in our waters. Just wasn't sure if they would add to my enjoyment or to my list of pond problems to solve. Not sure if they would be a good addition or just additional management problems.
snrub, I delivered some YP to a guy east of Asbury about 2-1/2 yrs ago and stocked in a 1.5ac pond with LMB, BG and CC along with a few BCP. They sure haven't wrecked his pond. WR on LMB actually went up and he sure enjoys eating them.
I have mildly considered adding YP to one of my ponds once I found out they would live in our waters. Just wasn't sure if they would add to my enjoyment or to my list of pond problems to solve. Not sure if they would be a good addition or just additional management problems.
I think you could have excellent results with some pellet-trained YP in your small forage pond.
I don't think you guys are big fish eaters(?), but YP are VERY tasty.
If you get on his list, I think you can buy some feed-trained from Kenny. He could also probably tell you the exact number that would prosper in your forage pond.
After they reach the correct size, you can harvest as many as you like, and then move a few to your other ponds as a bonus fish.
If in the forage pond and they spawned, they would end up in the main pond. The overflow directly dumps into the main pond. Kind of purposely designed that way so anything I stocked in the forage pond hopefully some of the fry will end up in the main pond.
The pond I would more likely try them in would be my SMB/RES/HSB pond across the creek.
One thing I am concerned about is that a high water event could cause the YP fry to end up in the main creek a quarter mile away. Not sure if they would be considered an invasive species or if they are native or at least accepted to be in Kansas waters.
I don't want to put something in my pond that would cause problems elsewhere. So far everything in my ponds, with the exception of HSB which don't reproduce, is native or common to the area.
snrub, I delivered some YP to a guy east of Asbury about 2-1/2 yrs ago and stocked in a 1.5ac pond with LMB, BG and CC along with a few BCP. They sure haven't wrecked his pond. WR on LMB actually went up and he sure enjoys eating them.
One thing I am concerned about is that a high water event could cause the YP fry to end up in the main creek a quarter mile away. Not sure if they would be considered an invasive species or if they are native or at least accepted to be in Kansas waters.
I don't want to put something in my pond that would cause problems elsewhere. So far everything in my ponds, with the exception of HSB which don't reproduce, is native or common to the area.
D'oh moment on my part. I thought your surface runoff went through the sediment pond and then split to the main pond and forage pond. If all the water goes through the forage pond, then you will eventually get YP into the main pond. And on your setup, anything in the main pond will eventually get into the creek.
Good thing I didn't suggest stocking piranhas - with zebra mussels as their food source!
Snrub - See this for a little more info about YP in Kansas
Kansas state rod and reel angler record. YELLOW PERCH 1.05 Lbs 14 inches Rod & Reel w/worm Coffey County Farm Pond 05/07/00 Walker Trimble, Burlington
With good habitat and plenty of FOOD you should be able to easily grow perch to 15" in Kansas. Standard weight for a 15" yellow perch is 1.96 lbs and when full of eggs she will weigh close to 2.25 lbs.
Snrub - See this for a little more info about YP in Kansas
Kansas state rod and reel angler record. YELLOW PERCH 1.05 Lbs 14 inches Rod & Reel w/worm Coffey County Farm Pond 05/07/00 Walker Trimble, Burlington
With good habitat and plenty of FOOD you should be able to easily grow perch to 15" in Kansas. Standard weight for a 15" yellow perch is 1.96 lbs and when full of eggs she will weigh close to 2.25 lbs.
My eggs are already in my small pond and I will put 2 spots to attract the larvae.
2 days ago I saw the eggs moving, but this morning there was 4 inches of snow.
With the cold here I find it difficult to make a nice Bloom, the eggs almost always hatch and there is no Zooplankton.
Thats why I was raising infusoria and Paramecia Caudatum in 5 gallon bucket.
This is why if the chicken egg work it will be less work.
The raft with the Paddy rice is for fun, I also have a pot with eggs and snails to have infusoria as soon as the eggs hach in the cleanest water possible.
Glad to hear that you are being such a good "momma" to your new babies.
I do enjoy reading about all of your creative ways to push back against nature when it sends you foul conditions that oppose your pond management goals!
Greg, not sure what all elements you have in your pond but you'd be surprised at where they will string out a ribbon.. I pulled a Z-trap today and not only was it covered in ribbons, many were inside the trap.
When I pulled my B-trap yesterday it contained a couple dozen bullfrog tadpoles, a male YP ~8", a female YP ~10", and an egg ribbon that looked impossibly huge to have come out of the female that was in the trap.
I have had YP choose to wriggle into the 4" circle opening on my chinese minnow traps and leave egg in there rather than anywhere else in the pond.
I'm wondering based on finding males and females going through some effort to get inside the traps if they might be more of a cavity spawner than the folklore has suggested? I wonder if their instinct is to get into some type of cover whether that be under a brush pile or any other suitable cavity. I know the small lake by my house has some self-sustaining perch in it but neighbors do not see perch ribbons. There is bulrush and lilypads in this quite eutrophic lake so maybe the females are leaving the eggs in the brushy areas or scrubby bulrush stalks and not by the more manicured lawn edges?
It is amazing to see massive egg ribbons and wonder how that fit in the belly cavity anyway?