yuba perch

[Therapist]

Doug Saguci, with the DWR did a study years ago on perch spawning in Deer Creek. He found that they were staging and sometimes already spawning UNDER the ice. Perch also spawn on vegetation, usually floating. The eggs stick to the surface of the stick or what ever. So water level does not effect the spawn, however, since a great many of our waters do not have extensive vegetation in them, the cover for the fry is critical. That is usually found in the shallower parts of the lake and as the water is drawn down in the later summer for irrigation, drinking, and keeping my BO from becoming to offensive on a daily basis, that becomes the critical issue. Yuba does have a great deal of vegetation up in the southeast arm, but as the water is drawn down, that goes dry and they are forced into the deeper parts of the pond where they become forage for each other, walleye, northerns, kitty cats, and carp. Another part of Doug's study was to see if they could get the perch at Deer Creek to spawn on mats, then transfer the eggs to Yuba. Much of his work and that of Charlie Thompson, who was the Central Region Biologist was stopped by the Big Wigs in SLC who wanted them to focus on Strawberry. I hope that as Drew is able to get his projects off the ground, he will be able to do more with habitat renewal on all of our Warm Water fisheries.

By the way Zman1, don't let these guys get under your skin, most of them are pretty harmless for the most part.