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Matt,
In reference to perch growth rates in Cascade, I caught 3 tagged fish this spring. One had only been released about 2 months prior to harvest, and showed basically no growth or just a fraction of an inch.
For one, I can't find the paperwork that fish and game sent me on the fish, but it was basically tagged at 9 inches 4 years ago and havested this year at 13-13.5 inches.
Here's the 3rd one. It was tagged on May 14, 2009 at 10.14 inches. I caught it on June 10, 2013 and it was ~14-14.5 inches. The open leatherman in the photo is exactly 8 inches, so you can take your best guess on the size from there. All 3 fish would indicate the same thing. A growth rate of about 1 inch, give or take a few tenths, per year.
See attached photos for full proof.
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That might be accurate from 9-14 inches, 1" per year, but what is the growth rate from 1-9 inches, perch grow fast period, there is all kinds of data too prove that, so ill go with the study's and say 7 years old for a 14" perch, also growth has a lot too do with a particular Perches diet, I would bet it only takes a perch 3-4 years too get too 10", I believe there growth may slow from years 4-7/8,
Matt
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Show me your data. I'd love to see it.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but I have a hard time finding good data on growth rates for smaller perch. I do see studies on ages that indicate about 11 or so years is how old they typically can get, but beyond that you have to know big words to be able to understand what they are saying.
If they grew 2 inches per year up to about 9 inches, and then slowed down to about 1 inch per year, and then they only live to 10-14 years (which is what I'm seeing), then that would explain why we have a lot of 13-15 inch fish, but that they don't seem to get much bigger. 2 inches per year up to 9 would be 4.5 years, then 1 inch per year after that would put a 15 inch perch at about 10.5 years old.
My guess is they do grow fast at smaller sizes. Probably more like egg to 4 inches in the first 1 to 1.5 years, then probably about 2 inches per year for a couple years, then they slow down to about 1 inch per year. Obviously, it is not linear.......
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I rest my case......
Thanks.
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If you want I know for sure how old your fish are, pick out the otoliths (inner ear bones) and count the rings. One ring = one year just like on trees. I do it all the time, it's not hard once you learn how to dig them out...
If you want a real precise age you can sand down or cross section the otolith and count the rings under a microscope, but you can get pretty accurate readings by just counting the rings without any sanding or cutting - though a magnifying glass will likely be helpful.
You can also do the same thing with scales too, but the rings are not as easy to make out as they are on otoliths.
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I still believe that a 14-14.5 inch perch is only 8 years old, now a 15 might be 10... that's my belief until i'm proven wrong.... sound good Neil? are you headed for the elk woods..... oh and by the way i'm sure he knows i'm just busting his marbles.....
Matt
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[quote iliketofish]LOL [laugh] That would work i suppose... but i have another idea. Now hear me out - How bout you let me come with you and I'll catch my own 15 incher then I'll pull out the otoliths out and give them to you [:p] [laugh][/quote]
I like this idea.
And while you two are scrutinizing the fish's ear, I'll don my stealthy hamburglar costume and take the fish! [sly]
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