Yellow Perch - what's going on?

[fishhawk2700]

Lake Erie walleye quotas up but ‘devastating’ drop for yellow perch | Windsor Star

Perch numbers are down, and remember, commercial boats don't need these fish to "bite". They will Take every LB of fish they are allowed to take. If the numbers are down, they just have to fish more. If allowed they will fish until there is nothing left. It has happened before, it will happen again.

[West Basin]

The main point to remember here is Lake Erie is a dynamic system, like all environments. There is no “normal,” only short and long term trends.

The theory is the spiny water fleas are eating enough of the other algae-eating zooplankton to at least partially account for the increased late summer algae blooms. The huge/large population of the spiny water flea provides an easy and plentiful food source for Yellow Perch. As long as that food source is readily available, the perch will take advantage of it, almost exclusively. So yes, the system seems to be altered. One thing effects another and on down the line. All other factors also play a role; higher water levels, water temperatures and other water parameters, a high walleye population, etc.

Commercial fishing is highly regulated and monitored. There is little chance it is a significant factor in any of this.

The researches and monitors will continue to study this and figure out what’s going on. Meanwhile we fisherfolks will do what we often do – adapt.

[fishhawk2700]

The main point to remember here is Lake Erie is a dynamic system, like all environments. There is no “normal,” only short and long term trends.

The theory is the spiny water fleas are eating enough of the other algae-eating zooplankton to at least partially account for the increased late summer algae blooms. The huge/large population of the spiny water flea provides an easy and plentiful food source for Yellow Perch. As long as that food source is readily available, the perch will take advantage of it, almost exclusively. So yes, the system seems to be altered. One thing effects another and on down the line. All other factors also play a role; higher water levels, water temperatures and other water parameters, a high walleye population, etc.

Commercial fishing is highly regulated and monitored. There is little chance it is a significant factor in any of this.

The researches and monitors will continue to study this and figure out what’s going on. Meanwhile we fisherfolks will do what we often do – adapt.

IMO if you think commercial fishing has little impact on fish numbers, your paycheck must come from that industry. Sport fishing lake wide, and the limited commercial fishing on the US side or the lake has little impact on numbers. The Canadian commercial fleet is a different story. You are correct in the fact that there are many factors involved with fish numbers from year to year, but I think you're missing my point. Once Quotas are set, those fish will be caught. If in following years if recruitment is poor, or any other problem pops up that is damaging to the fishery, its to late those fish are gone.

What makes me curious is the OH dnr says perch numbers are up, but the Canadian fisheries people cut the Canadian quotas by 32%. The Canadians don't give anything up without hard facts.

[hammerhead]

thousands of these worthless birds dont help.

YouTube

[faithwalker]

thousands of these worthless birds dont help.

YouTube

there needs to be a hunting of the evasive bird they are a feeding machine.....they should be controlled.....I hear nothing on this matter much.....

[Southern OH Percid angler]

Remember when zebra mussels were going to wreck everything and lead to the death of the great lakes. The main thing is not to panic and let this work out. if there's a major problem it'll eventually show it's self. I agree it's highly unlikely commercial nets are to blame. They are watched like a hawk. The spiny water fleas will go through a population explosion then die down to a norm or go away. It'll take a few years but it'll happen. That's how invasive species go.

[Jameson46]

Fyi: my buddy and I were out off Lorain last Friday and quickly pulled our limit of nice walleye using perch pattern spoons.

[PDS]

Any way we can use the spiny water flea as bait or use it to our advantage? I know they’re tiny, but maybe make a dough with them in it (think Berkeley power dough), or something like that?Sometimes gotta match the hatch and go with what nature gives you....

[hammerhead]

they will be gone if the water ever cools down

[fishhawk2700]

they will be gone if the water ever cools down

Cooler water might not help. Ever fished for salmon. Colder water tends to hold more fleas. Might want to check and see what the preferred water temp is for swf's.