So I am planning on going to the tourney Saturday, weather permitting. But my real question is what to do with all the perch. I will likely keep some for myself but if the group of 3 of us all leave with a grip of perch, we will have way more than any of us will use. I hate to just dispose of them so I'm wondering if there is anyone who isn't going who would want me to drop off some perch for their using or if anyone knows if there are shelters that take drop offs?
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If you plan on feeding a dog, do the dog a favor and cut off the fins/head to remove all the spines.
Other options: fertilize the wife's flower beds, save for bait
but even those little perch if you gut, head, and scale them then cook them whole and eat off the bone they are amazing!
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Last year the DWR had a couple of barrels and disposed of unwanted fish for you.
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[quote Dawgden] I hate to just dispose of them ...[/quote]
this is a problem the DWR has always had with anglers. In some circumstances, biologists are able to change anglers habits and convince them of the good that comes from harvest fish. Think about Lake Powell and the stripers -- after numerous years of pleading, anglers have finally caught on to what the DWR has preached all along: keep everything you catch (stripers).
Biologists have begged anglers for years to harvest more fish from the Provo. They've begged anglers to harvest pike in Yuba. Regulations are in place to allow a generous harvest of brook trout on the Boulder Mountain. Now we have tournaments and regulations in place to help remove perch from Fish Lake.
Do the lake a favor and don't let any perch go!
I know that the original poster's concern was not keeping and killing perch, but rather concern of just throwing them away and allowing them to go to waste. Other people gave some suggestions on potential use. I just want to say that tossing perch from Fish Lake in the dumpster is not a waste! It is VERY beneficial to the success of that lake. Don't let guilt trick you into thinking it is a waste to toss those fish!
Good luck at the tournament. I hope every last one of those perch gets caught!!
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First, if taken proper care of, you CAN freeze fish for later. I hear a lot about freezer waste, and it doesn't HAVE to happen. Even whole or gutted can freeze well if you don't want to filet. It can be done, and there is no reason they should go bad in the freezer even over a full year. It's good to gain the filleting and storage skills.
But, I'd take some if you really want. I can't afford to buy fish often, so I target panfish, and it's been a poor year for perch. Could use some to prep for bait, too. PM me if you do well. Good luck.
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Hi Dawgden, My name is Zack and I'm heading up there for the tourney too this weekend. You can drop whatever you don't keep to me after the tournament is over with. You can PM me at 8016087931 with any question. [reply]
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[/reply]Nice to meet you on this awesome site.
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I would take some I live in Santaquin I would use them for bait let me know and I can meet you at the maverick right off the freeway I'll bring a bucket [fishin]
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This is a great question, Dawgden. We are encouraging anglers to keep as many perch as possible. Donating the fish is a great idea, but be aware that there are guidelines for donating protected wildlife (perch are still considered protected, even though they have been added to the wasting list at Fish Lake). Consult the Utah Fishing guidebook (
http://wildlife.utah.gov/utah-fishing-guidebook.html) for the procedure.
If you don't want to take all your perch home, the best thing to do is puncture the air bladder - easily done with a quick stab with your knife - and drop it back in the water. Make sure you wait until the fish is already dead. This keeps all the nutrients in the lake, rather than sending them to the dump.
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