Where's Da Perchies???

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Article in the Outdoors section of the Tribune this morning asking what we all would like to know..."Where are the perch?"[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It mentions the dieoffs and the cyclic nature of those tasty morsels. No answers, but it reinforces the question.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_3309982"]LINK TO PERCH ARTICLE[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Also a brief writeup on [/#0000ff][#0000ff][url "http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_3309990"]POLICING THE POACHERS[/url][/#0000ff]
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[utfishguy31]

It makes you wonder what the DWR really knows about the perch problem of late..It makes no sense to me why they keep the limit on them so high when the population crashes like that from year to year.There are more and more people who are keeping perch than ever before so they need to regulate it alot closer than in past years.But then agian they alwas learn there lesson after the fact..Maybe they might wise up when the only lake you can catch perch will be fish lake unitl it gets hit hard.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Regulations on perch (and most other species) seems to be more REACTIVE than proactive. Whether it is because of budget limitations (usually) or simple lack of concern for a non-trout species (common), changes in the proclamation are usually a year or two behind the actual need for change.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In fairness to DWR, it is virtually impossible to predict dieoffs, droughts, overharvest or any of the other factors that have impacted the perch populations. One year we are all whooping and hollering about the great perch populations, without a bit of concern for "what if???". Then, when something happens to our favorite fishin' hole we point the finger of blame at DWR. Not fair.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We still have a long ice season ahead. I personally hope that the perch are just playing hard to find. However, based upon input from several knowledgeable sources, I tend to be pessimistic as to the potential for a good perch year like we had last year. Hope I'm wrong.[/#0000ff]
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[utfishguy31]

TD,

I have to disagree with you on the DWR..They can always change the regs when they want to.Especialy in case of emergancys with the fisherys that need to be closed for whatever reasons.They do have the power to act and they know whats going on becasue they do gill net studys enough to know the populations.Not to beat a dead horse but the BERRY is a prime example..They never had tight regs on that lake until a few yrs ago when they realized the CHUB problem was getting bad agian.My bet they will not worry about it until its to late,like there past history of managing utah waters.
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[UintaIce]

I know that one of the reasons for the high limits on perch is that they are such prolific reproducers. Any one female can lay upwards of 20,000 eggs.
But you're right: when the populations crash, it takes a long time to recover. Just look at Pineview! Who knows if/when we'll ever get back there for winter fishing. Yuba has had to have major renovations to get back to a decent fishery, and even with the help, perch the way Yuba produced in the past is uncertain.
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[utfishguy31]

Another example that supports my point is didn't the DWR increase the limit on Lake X last year even though they new they had a big crash?? Correct me if I am wrong....[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]The limit of 50 perch has been in effect for about 3 years, beginning when the perch were so numerous that you could not avoid them. The big die-off/crash happened in the spring of 2005, long after the proclamations had been printed. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You are right in that DWR can implement emergency regulations IF THEY WANT TO. But, with pesty non-trout species there is seldom any real motivation to take drastic measures to preserve them. The perch were a bucket biologist thing in Jordanelle, anyway, so I would not expect too much anxiety on the part of DWR.[/#0000ff]
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[utfishguy31]

I stand corrected on Lake X..And you make a good point about the managment Lake X concering the perch.I still STRONGLY belive that the DWR needs new blood (upper managment) and get away from the "OLD " managment ideals of the past.More and more people are turning to warm species than the spotted slimmers,manage it evenly both ways.[]
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[doggonefishin]

A few random thoughts on this subject;

1. Although it did suffer a die-off this spring, I had available, on my trips, good perch action at Jordanelle from July on. I would conclude some of my bassin trips with a few perch for the fryer and had little difficulty finding them. I expect the same this winter once it freezes.

2. Tube Dude is right on the money about the die-offs. The DWR has no control over these phenomena and cannot be blamed for them. It is funny that intense pressure, 50 fish limits, and what not don't seem to have much effect on the numbers, but Ma nature sure does, and quickly.

3. The 50 fish limit does not seem to be needed anymore on X and Pineview. Perch are now so popular here as a game and food fish that I do favor stricter bag limits on them. Look at the angst about this problem right now. It sure wasn't like this when I was a kid and every one threw them up on the bank or in the trash at DC.

4. Remember in the summer of 2004 when everyone was bellyaching about the fact that there were "too many" perch at Jordanelle and that "something" had to be done? You have your wish on many of our perch lakes. Do you like it? I feel our yellow friends deserve more respect than they get sometimes.

5. I pray that Rockport will be good.[angelic]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Looks like we're more or less on the same page. I would like to make a comment on your #1. That is that the 90/10 rule applies twice these days for perch. First, 90% of the fish are in only 10% of the water. Second, 90% of the fish will be caught by only 10% of the fishermen.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Roughly translated (from TubeDude-ese), you can't catch 'em where they ain't. But, once you find them, you can score some fish. Perch still bite, if you find them. It is the finding them that gets trickier when there are not as many. Good fishermen, with good electronics, have an advantage. All others have to play "chuck and chance it". When the perch were everywhere, almost anybody and everybody had a good shot at loading up. Today you have to work a lot harder for a few perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was also around when perch were tossed up into the rocks, or else their gills were ripped out before releasing them "unharmed". I grew up catching and eating perch near my uncle's house near Roberts Idaho. I have always had an appreciation for them and was bewildered when I moved to Utah and saw how little respect they got. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Boy, has that changed. Now we devote a whole lot of time, money, energy and anxiety to those tasty little morsels.[/#0000ff]
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[BassAckward]

I Pry that rockperch is still ok. It sure will be a let down for my boys if it is. They really injoyed catching them last year. As for the Dwr they better start understanding that not all of us what to catch trout!
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[JLW]

HEY BASSACKWARD
I AM WITH YOU. I WILL BE THERE TOMORROW AND FIND THE PERCH. I CAN`T BELIEVE THERE ALL GONE. I SAY WE PUT A BOUNTY ON FINDING THEM. I HOPE THE ICE IS THICK ENOUGH TO GO WEREVER YOU WANT. GOOD LUCK
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[Out4Trout]

[cool]Hey JLW, good luck at the rock tomorrow. Hope you find the perchies. Since you are going a day before BassAckward and me, if you don't report on the board (in order to avoid a city right where you found them) could you send BassAckward or myself a little pm to let us know how you did (even if you have bad luck). Thanks and good luck tomorrow! Hope you slay 'em, but save a few for us![]
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