02-03-2023, 08:55 PM
One of the members on the Premium board reported catching a 13" (female) perch through the ice at Willard. Unlike all of the big fat females we caught before and right after first iceup, this one was slender...as if it had already spawned. The question was raised as to the spawning schedule for perch in Willard. I thought the answers might be of interest to all BFT members so I am posting here.
From my past experience and studies I have understood that (like walleyes) perch spawn when water temps reach about 45 degrees. But they have been known to spawn even under the ice on some lakes...with water temps still below that mark. As a general rule, they spawn anytime from March through April...with some having been observed to still have eggs in early May.
I sent off an email to Chris Penne (DWR) asking if they had done any studies on perch patterns on Willard. Here is his reply:
Good question, Pat. We haven't conducted any studies on the timing of spawning perch at Willard. That said, we occasionally observe skeins of perch eggs on the gill nets we are emptying towards the end of the walleye spawn, which is usually around mid to late April.
Chris
From my past experience and studies I have understood that (like walleyes) perch spawn when water temps reach about 45 degrees. But they have been known to spawn even under the ice on some lakes...with water temps still below that mark. As a general rule, they spawn anytime from March through April...with some having been observed to still have eggs in early May.
I sent off an email to Chris Penne (DWR) asking if they had done any studies on perch patterns on Willard. Here is his reply:
Good question, Pat. We haven't conducted any studies on the timing of spawning perch at Willard. That said, we occasionally observe skeins of perch eggs on the gill nets we are emptying towards the end of the walleye spawn, which is usually around mid to late April.
Chris