Evaluation of Largemouth Bass-Yellow Perch Communities in Small South Dakota Impoundments

Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and yellow perch Perca flavescens were sampled in eight small (0.9–27.9 hectares) South Dakota impoundments to evaluate community dynamics and determine whether the yellow perch can be used as a panfish for small-pond management. Largemouth bass catch per hour of electrofishing (CPUE) was positively correlated (r = 0.81, P = 0.02) with yellow perch proportional stock density (PSD = percentage of stock-length fish that are also quality length). Largemouth bass PSD was inversely correlated with yellow perch PSD (r = −0.82, P = 0.01). Mean relative weight (Wr= 100 × individual fish weight/standard weight) of yellow perch was inversely correlated (r = −0.71, P = 0.05) with relative stock density of preferred-length (RSD-P) largemouth bass (RSD-P = percentage of stock-length fish that are also preferred length). Yellow perch growth was inversely correlated with largemouth bass size structure. The highest correlation occurred between mean back-calculated length of yellow perch at age 4 and largemouth bass PSD (r = −0.95, P = 0.01). These relationships are similar to those found in largemouth bass-bluegill Lepomis macrochirus communities throughout the midwestem USA. Consequently, similar management strategies can be used for largemouth bass-yellow perch communities and largemouth bass-bluegill communities.