Rockport Perch..Good and Bad

[MrShane]

I had a bunch of my students anglers out there. The amount of perch being caught and harvested was insane. Insane enough I actually am concerned about an over harvest if the bite stays like this. I took home 15. Plenty for my little crew still at home and when I processed them mostly females. We actually caught a large number of bigger ones. +11inches. In our two tents well over 150 were caught. Turned back if they did not show air bladders. 28 ft. East side away from people. Not the normal locations but I don't think it really mattered as I had students by the dam with families who probably harvested over 300 between all the poles.

Over harvest is impossible at RP, especially since cover is so slim there.
High, sustained through early summer, water levels is what we need there.
Big spawn to feed the Perch in there could make RP epic next year.
Think ‘unlimited harvest’ of Perch at Cascade for terrific results!

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Hit RP on ice for the first time this season, and has been said in other reports, it is HOT for perch right now, and likely will be as long as we can get on the ice...MW Scott shared my shelter this frigid A.M..Monday, Trump Inauguration Day...easily done, cuz 1 pole was all you could concentrate on with the bite being so fast..Our fish finders must have been on different frequencies, cuz we each used our own by our holes, and there was no "interference" on either, other than the multiple perch marks..Average fish size (at least as of now) could be the problem for now, and maybe future, because of this (as of now) high quantity of perch...we knew there was a very successful spawn the last couple years, because of good water, and trolling during open water season showed huge clouds of (suspect) perch...Perch fillets are a treat..maybe takes awhile to 'clean' a bunch, especially in the 8 to 9" range, but worth it when you treat yourself, family, or friends to a perch fry you can easily do, that would rival a "Friday Nite Fish Fry" back in a Bar in Wisconsin....right now we should be taking advantage of this resource, try to reduce some of the numbers here at RP, respect the fish and fishery, clean up the ice after yourself....and bring home the perch...see you on the ice...Guluk...

Good seeing you guys out there. The fast action was great for the boys I had out with me, only wish the fish where a little bigger. As I mentioned out on the ice I think Rockport could benefit from the addition of Tiger Muskie.

A few Musky could not hurt, IF we protect them from Spearos!
The thing Perch really need most in our fake lakes (reservoirs) is a constant food source.
Poor things eat really good the last two springs due to good reservoir levels and even if we fill RP this year if we don’t have a good spawn the poor little devils will starve and stunt next year.