04-03-2004, 02:08 AM
[cool][blue][size 1]Mantua has always been a "football". It gets kicked first one way and then another. DWR keeps trying to get it balanced and then the bucket bozos give them some extra help.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]The lake has been managed for trout, but it is a good lake for bass and bluegills too. The trout do not do well in the warm waters of summer. Still, trout and bass can live together without impacting each other too greatly.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once perch are introduced into the equation, however, all bets are off. Perch compete with trout on every level...and bass too. They eat the food that the fry of other species need to reach independence. And they feed heavily on the eggs and young of those other fishies too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I am one of those who like to catch big perch, but only from waters established for them and where they are part of the regular ecosystem. It is a shame when they are illegally dumped into a water where they so effectively alter the balance.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]What can be done about it? Rotenone. Will it be done? Not likely, in the near future. Only when fisheries biologists observe that all of the bass, bluegill and trout have been replaced by undersized and stunted perch will there be any corrective measures. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Then, once the lake is killed off (again) it will be restocked and the cycle will start over. In another ten years the perch will be back and there you go again.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]What is the solution? Don't ask me. I'm just a frustrated fisherman too.[/size][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][size 1]The lake has been managed for trout, but it is a good lake for bass and bluegills too. The trout do not do well in the warm waters of summer. Still, trout and bass can live together without impacting each other too greatly.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Once perch are introduced into the equation, however, all bets are off. Perch compete with trout on every level...and bass too. They eat the food that the fry of other species need to reach independence. And they feed heavily on the eggs and young of those other fishies too.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I am one of those who like to catch big perch, but only from waters established for them and where they are part of the regular ecosystem. It is a shame when they are illegally dumped into a water where they so effectively alter the balance.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]What can be done about it? Rotenone. Will it be done? Not likely, in the near future. Only when fisheries biologists observe that all of the bass, bluegill and trout have been replaced by undersized and stunted perch will there be any corrective measures. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Then, once the lake is killed off (again) it will be restocked and the cycle will start over. In another ten years the perch will be back and there you go again.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]What is the solution? Don't ask me. I'm just a frustrated fisherman too.[/size][/#0000ff]
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