11-25-2020, 10:15 PM
It is no secret (any more) that there are some dandy perch in Willard...and that they move into several areas on the east side of the lake in November...and that they can be caught. But the past two years the situation has started to get out of hand...for the perch. Lots more anglers...even through the week (thanks, Covid). And many of the more successful anglers are keeping all that they catch. A full live well is the measure of a good trip.
I accept at least part of the blame for increasing the attention on these perch. But I also assume some responsibility for trying to get them some relief. They either need more compassion and conservation on the part of the anglers or restrictive rules imposed by DWR...or both.
Perch have never been numerous enough in Willard to constitute a real "fishery". A few perch washed downstream from Pineview in years past and established a small population. But because baby perch are favored menu items for wipers, walleye and catfish there were seldom enough survivors to build the base numbers. However, when wiper and walleye numbers took a dive, more perch survived...and thrived. The result was some porky perch showing up for anyone who was still fishing Willard in November.
Until last year, I saw few other anglers while out tubing around in the late fall. Last year I was dodging boats inside the marina and outside. And a lot more perch jerkers were joining the growing gang of regulars. It continued into the ice fishing season. A lot of big perch left Willard permanently last year.
I have not had a "good" perch trip yet this year. In year's past, I considered 10-12 nice perch a good trip...enough for a good family fish fry. I haven't caught that many yet this year...on all trips combined. But I know of several tricked out boaters...with sophisticated electronics...that have been successful in searching out and harvesting the scattered remaining perch. And there have been reports of full live wells.
My most recent trip...on Tuesday this week...told the tale. Instead of my vehicle being the only one in the north marina parking lot it had at least a half dozen boat trailers for company. And the area I planned to fish was regularly occupied by several boats. I finished my day with one perch and two catfish.
I have put together the attached writeup to send to Chris Penne...at DWR. I am awaiting his response and will share it when I get it.
Lest there be any misunderstanding, this is not a crybaby thing just because I can't catch some perch. I have a real concern that perch will become an afterthought on Willard...once again. No real biggie in the greater scheme of things...and I probably won't be around to fish them much in the future. I just hate to see a good thing ruined due to lack of concern.
I accept at least part of the blame for increasing the attention on these perch. But I also assume some responsibility for trying to get them some relief. They either need more compassion and conservation on the part of the anglers or restrictive rules imposed by DWR...or both.
Perch have never been numerous enough in Willard to constitute a real "fishery". A few perch washed downstream from Pineview in years past and established a small population. But because baby perch are favored menu items for wipers, walleye and catfish there were seldom enough survivors to build the base numbers. However, when wiper and walleye numbers took a dive, more perch survived...and thrived. The result was some porky perch showing up for anyone who was still fishing Willard in November.
Until last year, I saw few other anglers while out tubing around in the late fall. Last year I was dodging boats inside the marina and outside. And a lot more perch jerkers were joining the growing gang of regulars. It continued into the ice fishing season. A lot of big perch left Willard permanently last year.
I have not had a "good" perch trip yet this year. In year's past, I considered 10-12 nice perch a good trip...enough for a good family fish fry. I haven't caught that many yet this year...on all trips combined. But I know of several tricked out boaters...with sophisticated electronics...that have been successful in searching out and harvesting the scattered remaining perch. And there have been reports of full live wells.
My most recent trip...on Tuesday this week...told the tale. Instead of my vehicle being the only one in the north marina parking lot it had at least a half dozen boat trailers for company. And the area I planned to fish was regularly occupied by several boats. I finished my day with one perch and two catfish.
I have put together the attached writeup to send to Chris Penne...at DWR. I am awaiting his response and will share it when I get it.
Lest there be any misunderstanding, this is not a crybaby thing just because I can't catch some perch. I have a real concern that perch will become an afterthought on Willard...once again. No real biggie in the greater scheme of things...and I probably won't be around to fish them much in the future. I just hate to see a good thing ruined due to lack of concern.