11-16-2013, 12:52 PM
[#0000FF]Perch populations have never been very great on Willard. They have been in there since there have been perch in Pineview. But the lake is not the deep, cold, clear habitat in which perch do best. Of course, neither is Utah Lake but it also kicks out a surprising number of perch.
Related to walleye numbers? Possibly. Netting surveys and walleye post-mortems have revealed that perch are a surprisingly significant part of the walleye menu. I think walleyes are genetically programed to eat perch wherever the two species live together. Thus it would be reasonable to expect that a decline in the predator species would see a corresponding increase in the prey species.
Speaking of predator-prey relationships, I am attaching a couple of pics of something I found in one of the three perch I caught...a baby channel cat. I noticed a good sized bump in the stomach of the perch and then I grasped it I got a surprise...a stuck finger. That little kitty had fully developed sharp spines. Surprised the bigger fish still swallowed it. Had to chortle at the role reversal. Big cats eat lots of small perch. Interesting to see the perch trying to get even.
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Related to walleye numbers? Possibly. Netting surveys and walleye post-mortems have revealed that perch are a surprisingly significant part of the walleye menu. I think walleyes are genetically programed to eat perch wherever the two species live together. Thus it would be reasonable to expect that a decline in the predator species would see a corresponding increase in the prey species.
Speaking of predator-prey relationships, I am attaching a couple of pics of something I found in one of the three perch I caught...a baby channel cat. I noticed a good sized bump in the stomach of the perch and then I grasped it I got a surprise...a stuck finger. That little kitty had fully developed sharp spines. Surprised the bigger fish still swallowed it. Had to chortle at the role reversal. Big cats eat lots of small perch. Interesting to see the perch trying to get even.
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