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TubeDude · 09-28-2006, 12:30 PM

[cool][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][#0000ff]TubeBabe and I hit Yuba yesterday. Launched our tubes from the main ramp about 7:30. Air temp 35, water temp 59. Clear skies and light breeze that eventually stopped completely and the lake became glass for most of the day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We started fishing the gravel shoreline west toward the dam. I was throwing 3" swimbaits in several colors and perch colored long crankbaits, trying for pike. She was mainly throwing spinners for trout. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Neither of us caught any trout...all day...but we did catch perch. Boy howdy did we catch perch. We couldn't find anyplace around the lake that they were not abundant. Nor could we find any lure they would not hit. There were few casts we made in less than 15 feet of water that did not result in either a perch, a double on perch or at least several hits on the retrieve.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the attached pics, I am including closeups of several perch I got on a variety of different lures. I kept fishing for pike, with plastics and hardbaits, and for trout, using spinners. But, other than one "bite-off" from a pike, neither of us had any action on any fish other than perch.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]There were only a few very small trout smacking the surface. No larger ones and none that wanted to dine on our spinners. After the first hour or so, TubeBabe went with the flow. She gave up on fishing for the no-show trout and rigged a tandem tube jig rig for perch. The rest of the day it was constant singles and doubles for her.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I fished all along the dam and over to the south side shoreline, where the exposed rocky rubble goes down into the lake. The lake has dropped about 20 feet from high water. There was about a foot of water under the bridge and my favorite structure on the south side was mostly out of water. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That didn't bother the perch. Everytime I cast a lure to the shore it was promptly smacked. For awhile, I put away my larger stuff and threw some small jigs at those aggressive perch. Caught a grundle, but average was from 7" to 9". Also caught a few about 5"-6". [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Saw lots of smaller ones in some spots, but no fathead minnows. It would seem that the baby perch are becoming the food base for the bigger perch. Some of the larger ones I caught spit up perch minnows as I brought them to the tube.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]About 11 AM, TubeBabe and I agreed (by walkie talkie) that we should probably take out and go over to Painted Rocks, just to see if there was something besides perch to catch. She began to work back along the shoreline, from where she had been fishing by the bridge. I took a straight line from the south shoreline toward the ramp. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]As I kicked out into deeper water I was amazed at what I saw on sonar. From 51 feet to the deepest spot I saw (57 feet) fish were stacked over the bottom. The average depth for most of the way across was about 53 feet, and there were fish from the bottom up to about 40 feet almost the entire kick back to the other side. I guessed that they were probably trout and big perch, waiting for the water to cool a few more degrees before heading back to the surface and the shoreline. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Since I had neglected to screw any downriggers to my tube, I did not work the deep fish. Instead, I threw out a spinner and maintained a moderate kick rate to troll across the lake while eating my sandwich. Stupid perch wouldn't give me any peace out there in deep water either. Caught a couple of perch almost on top in over 50 feet of water. A couple of the boats trolling for trout had the same complaint. They had not caught any trout but had caught lots of perch.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Ate a couple of slices of cold pizza back at the car and we headed for Painted Rocks. The lake was still glass and there was not another soul in sight when we got there. Lovely. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Hit the water from the gravel beach just after 1 PM and fished until about 4. The water temp was the same 63 we had left behind at the dam. No surface action here either, except for some tiny trout. Birds were diving on them in several spots.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe went west to the island and I went east, along the gravel beach, again throwing large plastics and hardbaits next to visible stickups, still trying for a pike. Still couldn't get my lures through the aggressive perch, so I gave up and started fishing just for perch...hoping some other misguided fish might take my offerings. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]TubeBabe and I were talking on the walkie talkie and she reported finding huge schools of nice sized perch around the island, taking quite a few in the 10 inch range. During one stretch she caught at least 40 or 50 doubles, with both fish being good sized.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once I began focusing on perch, I caught a grundle too, but only a few doubles on my tandem rig. But, I had several sessions in which I was dropping straight down and lifting one or two perch back up at the rate of several per minute.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I caught both my smallest and my largest perch late in the day. The smallest was barely 5" and the largest I got to the tube was just over 11". I did have a couple of larger ones that did the standard open-mouth "perch shake" at the top of the water and gave me my jig back so that I wouldn't have to handle them and add to my "perch rash" on my hands.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I mentioned that several of the perch spit up small perch fry. One of the surprises of the day was when I grasped an average 9 incher and a minnow head popped out of its mouth. Only this minnow was a small trout. Apparently there has been a recent plant of trout fingerlings. The birds were having a great time with them...grebes, gulls and pelicans...and apparently the perch were finding them acceptable too. I am attaching two pics (TROUT DINNER) showing the ingested troutling.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I usually don't get hung up on fish counts. We have no way of knowing how many perch we actually caught, but our best estimates are that I probably caught over 150 and TubeBabe probably caught at least a hundred more. She fished them for fun on her light rod and was constantly into them. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That means that between us we conservatively caught over 400 perch. I think it is safe to say that the perch population of Yuba is well established. We fished hundreds of yards of shoreline, at both ends of the lake, and we found hordes of perch everywhere we went. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Now, if the water cools down to about 50-55, maybe the trout will come out to play again. It will be interesting to see if the perch have decimated the fathead minnows to the point that they impact the growth rate of the rainbows. All of the big bows last year were stuffed with fatheads. This year we can't find any concentrations of the minnows so we will have to see whether the trout have found them...or an acceptable substitute.[/#0000ff] [/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][#ff0000]PS. For those who do not live in Utah, and who do not know about Yuba, there is a current restriction about keeping perch. The lake is two years into a recovery program after it was drained for repairs on the dam. All fish were released.[/#ff0000]

[/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][size 1]Attachments:[/size][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18763;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] TUBEBABE AT WORK.JPG [/#333366][/url](229 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18764;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] DA BRIDGE.JPG [/#333366][/url](218 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18765;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] EXPOSED STRUCTURE.JPG [/#333366][/url](156 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18766;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] DA ISLAND(S).JPG [/#333366][/url](151 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18767;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] PAINTED ROCKS.JPG [/#333366][/url](146 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18768;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] BITTY PERCH.JPG [/#333366][/url](129 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18769;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] AVERAGE.JPG [/#333366][/url](83.9 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18770;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] PORKY 11.JPG [/#333366][/url](110 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18771;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] 3 INCH SWIMBAIT.JPG [/#333366][/url](88.9 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18772;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] 3 INCH TROUT PLASTIC.JPG [/#333366][/url](83.0 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18773;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] PERCH PLASTIC.JPG [/#333366][/url](141 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18774;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] PERCH CRANK.JPG [/#333366][/url](136 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18775;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] LITTLE DOUBLE.JPG [/#333366][/url](120 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18776;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] CHARTREUSE SPINNER.JPG [/#333366][/url](156 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18777;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] TROUT SPINNER.JPG [/#333366][/url](127 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18778;"] [Image: image.gif]

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[#333366] TROUT DINNER.JPG [/#333366][/url](184 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18780;"] [Image: image.gif]

[#333366] TROUT DINNER 2.JPG [/#333366][/url](144 KB) [/size][/black][/font] [font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=18781;"] [Image: image.gif]

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[#333366] DEEP TROUT.JPG [/#333366][/url](156 KB) [/size][/black][/font]
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zonker · 09-29-2006, 04:21 AM

Wow! A Perchathon!

It would seem that with that many aggressive perch and no bag allowed they would soon overpopulate the place and eat everything else out of house and home. (Maybe that's why I'm not a biologist.)

Great pics. Great report. Those would have been some yummy eating.

z~
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TubeDude · 09-29-2006, 10:12 AM

[cool][#0000ff]A big part of the reason we went to Yuba was to conduct some "creel census" figures of our own. I am spearheading a move to get the 2007 regulations changed to open Yuba to keeping some perch. It was not slated until 2008. I am up against politics, beuracracy, special interest groups (walleye club) and plain ignorance in trying to git 'er done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Virtually nobody who opposes opening the lake has even fished it or has other first hand information on it. They are going strictly by old studies (pre reclamation) and current emotions (protect the poor perch). In the meantime, the perch population has exploded and they are quickly consuming all of their available groceries. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Historically, the lake goes through cycles of boom and bust. Part of that is water levels, during periods of plenty and drought. The other part is the predator-prey balance. Right now there is still not a large enough population of walleye or northern pike to slow the rapid increase in perch, and the perch are going to overpopulate, stunt and/or crash again, before they can ever get a balance. There needs to be some angler harvest.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In years past, Yuba has produced huge fat perch up to 16 inches and two pounds. That is what everybody wants again, but they will be doomed if they do not maintain a food balance, or if they are allowed to go over the top of the cycle and begin stunting before ever reaching their maximum attainable size.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fun stuff in a desert state...one that is still run mostly by troutaholics.[/#0000ff]
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Fishhound · 09-29-2006, 12:24 PM

[black][size 3]Hey TD,

Good on you ! Yummy perch - too bad we can't keep any from there yet. Last time I was there(last fall) there were lots'o tiny perchettes. At that time, I thought it was potentially a good sign for the larger predatory fish populations. But, you bring up the other side of the equation here that should be addressed - that being; the prey and the predators are primarily feeding on the same food - and, the prey have a significant numeric advantage that allows them to out-compete the predators for the food base. Something's gonna give.

Has the DWR done any kind of creel surveys or species population density studies there at Yuba(Sevier River dam impoundment) that have been published or made public yet ?

I'm a lttle Confused

(as usual) as to why the trout-centic types around these parts would want the perchies overpopulating and out competeing thier prefered species. Also, why would the Walleye club folks want the perch to overrun that pond - little perch sized walleyes need to eat too.

Good luck with the RAC folks - tell them they should fill that puddle with catfish - great big ones.[/size][/black]
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TubeDude · 09-29-2006, 10:08 PM

[cool][#0000ff]Where are you going to be about 9 AM on Thursday the 5th of October. I need anglers to show up with me at the DWR board meeting, to argue for the change. Just because RAC voted for it is only the beginning.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been nettings done earlier in the year and there was another one done today. They prove that the lake is full of perch and not many walleye. But, the political machine resists making a change because the proposal was not submitted early enough in the year. It is a case of can't vs won't.[/#0000ff]
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Fishhound · 09-30-2006, 11:43 AM

[black][size 3]Hey TD,[/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]I might be able to lend some immoral support to that effort on Thursday. I may be out of town for a few days, but, even so, I should be back by then.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 3]Where is the meeting going to be held ? [/size][/black]
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TubeDude · 09-30-2006, 11:48 AM

[cool][#0000ff]That would be great if you could make it. In fact, we will pick you up if you like. PM me if you want a ride.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am attaching a Word doc of the agenda but here is the address:[/#0000ff] [center]Utah Wildlife Board Meeting[/center] [center]Thursday, October 5, 2006 – 9:00 A.M.[/center] [center]DNR Auditorium, 1594 W. N. Temple, SLC, Utah[/center]
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