Utah Perchology

[TubeDude]

I respect Pat's opinion, but this time I think the perch equation is a bit more complex.  With limited weed growth to protect the fry in the developing months, with every mouth looking to have perch for dinner (Walleye and Smallmouth Bass, their natural predators, and Wipers and Channel Cats added into the equation) they have very little chance to overpopulate, or for that matter sustain themselves.  In many ways it is like Starvation.

Now, can fishermen tip the scales?  In theory, yes, but in practice, I doubt it.  

 Still, consider Deer Creek.  That is a pretty well balanced fishery, but the perch are not what they use to be in the early 80's. 

Great contribution.  Thanks for playing.

I don't claim to be a biologist.  But my personal observations are that the perch population in Willard expands in inverse proportion to the population of wipers and walleyes.  The more hungry predator mouths, the fewer small perch survive to "toadhood".  But in a relatively small population of perch...such as that in Willard...heavy angler harvest can put a dent in it.

Back in the days when Yuba was struggling to return to "normal"...after the big drought ending in 2004...I read a study conducted by fisheries biologists in some state.  (Can't remember where)  The big takeaway I got from it was that walleyes alone accounted for many times more total poundage of perch than that harvested by anglers.  So, as you pointed out, having a balanced predator-prey situation is better overall for keeping a healthy population of larger perch.

Again, a personal opinion, but I think smallmouth introduction was the biggest factor in the perch downturn in Deer Creek.  Until smallies took over feed (crawdads and perch) and habitat from the low but stable population of largemouths, perch were still plentiful and healthy.  The walleyes ate them, but not enough to reduce their numbers by much.  But when the smallies started spawning their young of the previous year...about 5-6 inches...would form small "wolf packs" after the baby perch hatched each year.  The smallies would herd schools of 1" perchlets into corners and then take turns raiding and eating them until they were gone.  As a float tuber I witnessed this process many times...watching thousands of baby perch disappear from the lake before ever having a chance to get bigger. 

And then the larger smallies ate larger perch.    After they mopped up the formerly abundant crawdads around the rocky areas of the lake, they started in on small perch.  One of the best lures for smallies is a perch finish Rapala.  And most of the smallies you catch over about 10" will have perch in their innards.  And, just as in Jordanelle, I have had multiple occasions when one or more smallies were following or attacking small perch I reeled .  Smallies remove far more perch from any water than all anglers combined.