Boondoggle those are nice looking YP. Through the years I’ve seen the same things CC described. Ribbons laid in the oak leaves right next to branches. I’ve always thought that the low recruitment was due partially to my large golden shiner population. The golden shiners can sure out populate YP. I wonder if my SMB reduce my YP numbers? I would have thought they’d hit the golden shiners more than the YP though.
Seven grandkids will be up there this coming weekend. We will get a fish population survey done over three days of fishing.
This pic is from several years ago. I didn’t realize we were taking female YP at the time. I thought I had an infinite number of YP, as my original stocking was 1,150 in our 1 ac pond. Then 200 more were added in case of poor survival.

Better days..
[Linked Image from hosting.photobucket.com]

9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023