02-05-2012, 05:04 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Like all other members of the perch/walleye family, females are larger than males at the same age...and males never get as large as the largest females.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like you observed, a high percentage of the fish you catch under the ice will be gravid females. This has been true of almost every winter I have experienced on all perch ponds I have fished. Only a rare 7 or 8 inch keeper has had "male juice" inside, rather than eggs. I am sure the males get bigger but since I rarely keep smaller ones...except for cut bait...I have probably thrown back a bunch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]However, as you also observed, some of the fairly small perch are also pregnant females...indicating that they either start spawning at an early age or that they are stunted. I think it is the former...with perch becoming sexually mature at about 2-3 years of age...with variations by gender and nutrition. See [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perca_flavescens"]WIKIPIDIA[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In Utah, the first year produces perchlets less than 2" long. They are usually abundant and provide a primary food source for all predators. The second year will see them reaching from 3" to 4". After that they seem to grow about 2" per year if there is good forage and a long enough growing season. Maximum age for the Utah perch seems to be no more than about 6 or 7 years but has been recorded up to 11 years in other areas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I do not think the male perch travel in bachelor parties. I think they are mixed in with the larger females...as well as the smaller younger fish. Catching them is a matter of using smaller lures and baits...and you will notice more if you keep more of the dinks you catch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On the other hand, the big fat mama perch are in the final stages of pregnancy and will spawn about April. When the eggs in their tummies fill them up so full that they cannot eat larger meals they slow way down in their feeding. They eat smaller bites and do not bite as aggressively...much tougher to catch. But sometimes they will take a whack at a bigger action lure out of anger or curiousity...the old reaction bite. However, unless they actually grab the hook and you are quick on the hookset you will only be left to guess as to what that hard hit was all about.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like you observed, a high percentage of the fish you catch under the ice will be gravid females. This has been true of almost every winter I have experienced on all perch ponds I have fished. Only a rare 7 or 8 inch keeper has had "male juice" inside, rather than eggs. I am sure the males get bigger but since I rarely keep smaller ones...except for cut bait...I have probably thrown back a bunch.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]However, as you also observed, some of the fairly small perch are also pregnant females...indicating that they either start spawning at an early age or that they are stunted. I think it is the former...with perch becoming sexually mature at about 2-3 years of age...with variations by gender and nutrition. See [url "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perca_flavescens"]WIKIPIDIA[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In Utah, the first year produces perchlets less than 2" long. They are usually abundant and provide a primary food source for all predators. The second year will see them reaching from 3" to 4". After that they seem to grow about 2" per year if there is good forage and a long enough growing season. Maximum age for the Utah perch seems to be no more than about 6 or 7 years but has been recorded up to 11 years in other areas.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I do not think the male perch travel in bachelor parties. I think they are mixed in with the larger females...as well as the smaller younger fish. Catching them is a matter of using smaller lures and baits...and you will notice more if you keep more of the dinks you catch.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]On the other hand, the big fat mama perch are in the final stages of pregnancy and will spawn about April. When the eggs in their tummies fill them up so full that they cannot eat larger meals they slow way down in their feeding. They eat smaller bites and do not bite as aggressively...much tougher to catch. But sometimes they will take a whack at a bigger action lure out of anger or curiousity...the old reaction bite. However, unless they actually grab the hook and you are quick on the hookset you will only be left to guess as to what that hard hit was all about.[/#0000ff]
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