Yuba?

[Kevin_VanDam]

I know the perch fishing was red hot at Yuba a few years ago but how is it this year? I'd like to go if there is a chance of getting some nice fish.
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[CROSSINEYES]

going to check it out tuesday. will report if we see them. but we are going to chase pike and walleyes.[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Perch fishing has been poor for the last two years at Yuba. The big fish we caught during the winter of 2007 - 2008 pretty much disappeared after spawning and there are are not many of other year classes showing up for anglers yet. That lake goes in cycles and is currently in a down cycle for perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Have heard of a few folks catching small numbers both around Oasis and in the rising waters near Painted Rocks. But can't verify. Heresay.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have sent an email to Jeff, the park manager, asking for info about ice conditions, road conditions, fishing reports, etc. Will post the answers when he responds. He has been very good at keeping us informed when asked.[/#0000ff]
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[Kevin_VanDam]

Thanks for the the great info TD! So there is a chance of getting into a few big perch, they are just few are far between. What's your theory on why there was such a big die off? Old age, low water, or heavy predation?

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]As most Yuba fans have come to understand, this lake is very cyclical...boom and bust. Part of that is because of the weather patterns that fill the lake some years and empty it other years. Increased demand from downstream water users also has a big impact.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That is probably one of the single biggest influences on perch abundance. Perch need vegetation in which to spawn and for protection for the young. Yuba has no weed beds or other natural vegetation. The best it can offer spawning perchies is the weeds that grow along the exposed shoreline during low water periods. So the lake has to be full to flood that vegetation in time for the perch to use it for spawning and nursery cover.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Another factor in the perch population is that they are not a long-lived fish. They seldom live more than about 5-6 years and often less. They usually only spawn a couple of times before dying and the average large female produces somewhat over 20,000 eggs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Carp, on the other hand, live many years and large females can lay over a million eggs each year. They usually eat mostly vegetation but in Yuba there is not enough green stuff for them so they have become largely piscivorous...fish eating. They are major predators on baby perchlings. They have doubtless contributed to the current low numbers of surviving perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good numbers of large perch we experienced a couple of years ago were the result of a good high water spawn in the past...and enough young surviving to become big spawners. Since then the year classes have been neither as abundant or as large. It is all a combination of available food and predation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are those who blame anglers for wiping out the perch. Fish feathers. Fishermen do harvest a few of the fish but only a drop in the bucket compared to the decimation by carp, walleye, pike and even larger perch eating smaller perch. I have read statements by fisheries biologists in several states that assert that there has never been a perch fishery destroyed by angling pressure. It is always a combination of other "natural" factors that has the greatest effects on perch population.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news is that Yuba CAN come back after a couple of good years of successful spawning and recruitment. I really miss the good ol' days of having the bottom paved with 13 to 15 inch perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In answer to your question. Yes, there is definitely a chance of scoring some big perch. However, in years of low population you often have to really move a lot and cover a lot of water to find the isolated small schools of perch...and fish that will bite. Finding them is not always a guarantee that you can catch them.[/#0000ff]
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[2fishon]

I fished the Oasis side on Saturday. 4-5" of good clear ice. There were three other groups of people. I talked to one that never had a bite. He talked to one of the other groups that never had a bite. I fished for 2 hours without a bite. [:/]
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