IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Idaho => Ice Fishing Idaho => Topic started by: badger132 on Jan 28, 2016, 04:36 PM
-
When I fished Cascade years ago, there seemed to be a distribution of sizes as you would expect: Many small ones, and less quantity as they got larger. There were a lot of perch in the 8-12 inch range, and none I remember as large as those caught the last few years. (The lake biologist says these large fish are 8-10 years old.)
Even 3 years ago, you would catch plenty of fish to throw back (under 6 inches) and sometimes had to use a bigger bait just to keep from wasting too much time with them.
This year, I have not caught very many perch (not the buckets I hear some talk about) but they are almost all over 12 inches and mostly females. Others report the same kind of fishing- a slow bite, but large fish.
Is this representative of what others are seeing? Does this mean something about the fishery? Cascade is certainly a unique perch fishery, and I sure hope it can keep producing oversized perch.
-
This year being the first time the wife and I have ever fished Cascade we really enjoyed the several days we spent on the ice and had fun catching some nice perch. Being a non resident now I don't have much say in this but I think the state should set a limit on the perch say 10 or 12 a day per angler. I'm not a biologist but I should think that would help the population some. I talked to several anglers while we were there that said they have seen buckets full of big perch come out of there in the spring and early summer, mostly spawners I would imagine.
-
Last I heard there is no shortage of perch. In fact, the abundance of perch will eventually lead to smaller sizes.
-
While I think it's up to the angler to put some of those big spawners back I agree with SilverBullet perch can overpopulate and stunt out pretty quick! Right now if it ain't broke don't fix it!
-
If I remember right, IDFG surveyed the lake not too long ago and it was mentioned the perch population is extremely high and that there are signs that the fish size could get smaller over the next few years due to the abundance. I'll see if I can find the article. I know last summer I caught lots of fish of all age groups. I think it just depends where you're fishing and what you run into on a given day.
-
https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/media/viewNewsRelease.cfm?newsID=7969
Here's a link that gives some insight into the perch fishery.
-
Right now if it ain't broke don't fix it!
Really ??? so we shouldn't think about the future of one of the greatest perch fishery's in the USA right now?
Matt
-
I talked to the biologist a few weeks ago, and he admitted that they did not know why Cascade became so exceptional after the poisoning. He said if he know how to force a fishery like that to happen, he would get rich going all over the country doing. it. I keep hoping that this is a new normal, but unless anyone can come up with a reason otherwise, it seems like it should drift back to the old 1990s normal over time.
Not my wish, but my guess.
If there were ideas to maximize the time we keep this fishery in its current state, I would support it. If there were a way to get rid of the slush we have dealt with this year, I would be up for that as well.
:tipup:
-
I think about it all the time! I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with it as of now I mean you see those big spawners being pulled out and kept but their perch and they have tendency to overpopulate! I've seen all age classes being caught and people seem positive about what their seeing! I fished it in the early 90's when there were a lot of little ones and probably to many so when they talk about limits right now and I just don't think it's time or ever! The fisherman are keeping them in check and it been a good deal for everyone! When you see thousands of perch starving for air like I saw up there in the 90's along the banks now that's a different story, I am a huge supporter of perch, crappie, walleye etc. and I'd like to see more it'd be great if we had about 5 more Cascades and the department has done a lot of work up there and if they see something they'll make changes cause I know they want to keep it going strong.
-
If you think about it they got a large amount of perch from Phillips lake in Oregon, and Cascade fishing turned excellent.
-
That is true but the perch population was wiped out so they had to get em from somewhere!
-
Really ??? so we shouldn't think about the future of one of the greatest perch fishery's in the USA right now?
Matt
I think that is exactly what most folks on here are doing. If you don't want to believe the report from IFG you can get an idea of the population for yourself by cruising around the lake and watching your sonar in the fall. I have had some exceptional days, catching many of those 13-15" fish in the fall, all the while watching my sonar indicate schools of fish probably in the 1000's. I for one would vote against any limits on perch on Cascade.
-
I personally think that it would take much more fishing pressure than it gets now to put a dent in the population. That doesn't mean I think people should just keep to keep, if you're going to use them, use them, if not let them go.
-
My fishing experience at cascade has only been the last 5 ice seasons so my knowledge is limited. But I did notice this year that the overall size was as large as the last two years with larger fish not as abundant as the last to years. But the big fish were BIG compared to 2 years ago. I've always thought that at some point the balance of fish size in Cascade will tip, it's the natural course of things, just think of Devils lake or some other perch destinations, some years they're great some years they're not. Cascade is a truly amazing fishery and there is a reason we drove 30 hours one way to fish it ;).
I will say that every year we get a pretty healthy size distribution hook and line from the southern and northern lake basins for whatever reason. I think these areas might have a higher zooplankton population? Maybe water conditions age-0 perch really like? Not too sure but it does seem like the distribution is more consistent in these areas to a typical warm water fishery.
I'd be more worried about the copepods (lice) on all the trout over 20" we caught this year, that is what concerns me more. Although I'm a "Spiny-ray" guy I do really battling those bruisers from time to time and it would be a shame to have their body condition compromised by the parasites.
-
Hope you guys start finding some smaller fish. Only catching a single age class is not a good sign. Hopefully the next generation of jumbos are just hiding out somewhere getting big.
-
Hope you guys start finding some smaller fish. Only catching a single age class is not a good sign. Hopefully the next generation of jumbos are just hiding out somewhere getting big.
Don't worry. There are plenty of fish in all age classes.
IMO, the best way to ensure that the perch jumbo's keep coming is for lots of people to fish the lake hard and keep every perch they catch. I've been of that opinion for many years. Under population = large fish, but lower numbers. Over population = smaller fish, but higher numbers. Seems like about the only ones who agree with me are the fish and game cops.
(Now I guess I'll just sit back and wait for the hate messages. ;D Oh. No I won't. I'm going fishing instead.)
-
There are some but I think most people would agree with that!
-
Hmmmm. I kinda thought you'd be one of the ones to disagree.
Question. What do you do with the ones that are too small to eat?
-
If I could get a good bunch of 7-8 inchers I'd be happy with that! How about you?
-
7-8 inchers are eaters. Actually, I prefer to eat the 8-12 inchers over the 14-16 inchers. I prefer to catch the 14+ inchers, but I'll eat those too.
You avoided my question. What do you do with the ones that are too small to eat?
-
Well I've kept some 4 inchers scaled them and gutted them instead of filleting them and fried them whole and they were very good!
-
Still avoiding the question.......
As would I.........
-
What do you want me to say? Eggs? I said I kept 4 inchers
-
We threw back all of our little ones when we were out there last weekend. This is the law, there is no interpretation other than perch are listed as a gamefish per IFG and it's clearly stated that it's against the law to waste game fish, I. E. Leaving them on the ice - "wanton waste". Either keep em to eat (whatever sizes you desire) or put em back. 15" perch are a 4" perch at some point in their life, correct?
-
This is true! I've never left a perch on the ice in my life! My preferred range is 7-8 inchers I kept some 4 inchers scaled em and fried em up and they were good nobody ever said anything about leaving them on the ice that topics already been discussed a they shut it down just as fast!
-
I usually throw back the little ones anyway to I wasn't at the reservoir I was fishing in the river there below the dam and decided to keep a few to eat!
-
I'm talking in general, not at anyone specific. We see it here in the Midwest with little bluegills. I've seen it multiple times over the years on Cascade so I figured I'd throw my .02$ in on it. Keep what you want to eat, put the rest back. Simple stuff. This was my 5th year of fishing Cascade and it's in fine shape, every bit as good as it was back then. It's not broken.
-
As somebody else said, the slush could go away and everyone would be happy. You know it's bad when mountain sleds get buried! :o
-
Agree!
-
I got family in Dallas SD spent a lot of time back there! Pretty windy though
-
Always windy here ;-)
-
We threw back all of our little ones when we were out there last weekend. This is the law, there is no interpretation other than perch are listed as a gamefish per IFG and it's clearly stated that it's against the law to waste game fish, I. E. Leaving them on the ice - "wanton waste". Either keep em to eat (whatever sizes you desire) or put em back. 15" perch are a 4" perch at some point in their life, correct?
You've made bold statements there. Please prove your point. I've read the regs thoroughly many times I don't know where you got most of the stuff you are quoting. It is true there is a statement about waste. It is short and clear: Waste of Game Fish: It is illegal to waste game fish.
I've personally NEVER wasted a game fish under the definitions I can find doing a quick web search. Fish and Game does not define what they mean by waste, so I don't know where you get most of your statements.
You throw your little ones back. That's cool. I do not.
NTP apparently refused to answer the question.
-
you didn't hear! slush is gone! seriously froze up after the rain on saturday knocked down all the snow
-
just to add the nail to the coffin of this thread:
After a sportsman has harvested a fish, the law requires that no portion of the flesh usually eaten by humans can be left, either through carelessness or neglect, to go needlessly to waste.
-
Woodland, I heard a report from today that the slush monster is still alive and well?
H&H - for the purpose of debate, how would perch left on the ice not be "waste"? I don't have an axe to grind with anyone, just making an observation is all.
-
No need for this thread to get locked or zapped, as long as everyone keeps it civil and no pointed fingers, we should just have a healthy, friendly debate. We all have opinions and sometimes they differ. That's ok.
-
Woodland, I heard a report from today that the slush monster is still alive and well?
H&H - for the purpose of debate, how would perch left on the ice not be "waste"? I don't have an axe to grind with anyone, just making an observation is all.
According to all the definitions I've seen that might apply, it comes down to purpose. Whether someone has a purpose or not would determine if it was waste or not. If done with purpose, it would not be waste.
For the sake of this exact thread, one possible purpose might be to assist in keeping populations low. I suppose if someone wanted to leave a pile of them on the ice for the purpose of contributing to keeping the population down, then I guess they could argue they had purpose. I can, however, think of many better purposes to "keep them" than to just abandon them of the ice. Cat food, bait, garden fertilizer. I'm sure I could think of a few more.
My guess is that whoever left them probably intended to pick them up and bring them home in a different bucket and then got in a hurry to leave and forgot? Just a guess.
I'm jumped thru your hoop. Are you going to prove your point that they have to be eaten? Or are you going to avoid as well.
-
just to add the nail to the coffin of this thread:
After a sportsman has harvested a fish, the law requires that no portion of the flesh usually eaten by humans can be left, either through carelessness or neglect, to go needlessly to waste.
Show me, please.
-
Ok, fair. I would counter that with this question. What evidence do you have that's shows that we *need* to keep the population down by eradicating little ones? Have you not seen some of the fish coming out this year?
-
Ok, fair. I would counter that with this question. What evidence do you have that's shows that we *need* to keep the population down by eradicating little ones? Have you not seen some of the fish coming out this year?
I'll gladly answer if you stop changing the subject and answer my question.
-
I think that this pretty much answers all questions I had.
* Wasteful destruction of wildlife:
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH12SECT36-1202.htm (https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH12SECT36-1202.htm)
(a) Waste. Through carelessness, neglect or otherwise, to allow or cause the waste of edible portions of any game animal, except for mountain lion, black bear or gray wolf. "Edible portions" are defined as follows:
.
.
.
3. Game fish. Fillets of fish, hind legs of bullfrogs and tails of crayfish;
(b) Destruction -- Mutilation. Capture or kill any game animal and detach or remove from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, horns or tusks and leave the edible portions to waste, except mountain lion, black bear or gray wolf.
(e) For purposes of this section, the term "game animal" shall mean game birds, big game animals, upland game animals and game fish.
* Unlawful killing, possession or waste
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH14SECT36-1404.htm
(7. Any other game bird, game fish or furbearer, fifty dollars ($50.00) per animal killed, possessed or wasted.)
* What are Game FIsh:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=85
Maybe someday they'll decree Perch an 'Undesirable' fish like the Pike Minnow, but I doubt it. So until then...
PROTECTION OF FISH:
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH9SECT36-903.htm
-
Nice research natebert. Thank you!
From one of the attachments:
36-1404. UNLAWFUL KILLING, POSSESSION OR WASTE OF WILD ANIMALS, BIRDS AND FISH -- REIMBURSABLE DAMAGES -- SCHEDULE -- ASSESSMENT BY MAGISTRATES -- INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS -- DEFAULT JUDGMENTS -- DISPOSITION OF MONEYS. (a) In addition to the penalties provided for violating any of the provisions of title 36, Idaho Code, any person who pleads guilty, is found guilty of or is convicted of the illegal killing or the illegal possession or illegal waste of game animals or birds or fish shall reimburse the state for each animal so killed or possessed or wasted as follows:
7. Any other game bird, game fish or furbearer, fifty dollars ($50.00) per animal killed, possessed or wasted.
To clarify perch as a game fish per page 47 of the current reg book:
Game Fish: Brook, brown, bull, cutthroat, golden, lake
(Mackinaw), rainbow (including steelhead), splake and
Sunapee trout; trout hybrids; Chinook, coho, Atlantic, and
kokanee (blueback) salmon; grayling; whitefish; cisco;
crappie; perch; bass; catfish; bullhead; sunfish; sturgeon;
northern pike; tiger muskie; walleye and sauger; and burbot
(Ling). Bullfrogs and crayfish are also defined as game fish.
-
Yeah but I don't understand how a 5 gallon bucket of 3-4 inch perch is any different than a cooler full of chinook salmon if I kept them I plan to eat them so that might answer your guestion now to what your saying take that same bucket of perch and tell the game warden your gonna feed them to your cats and see what he says!
-
I think that this pretty much answers all questions I had.
* Wasteful destruction of wildlife:
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH12SECT36-1202.htm (https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH12SECT36-1202.htm)
(a) Waste. Through carelessness, neglect or otherwise, to allow or cause the waste of edible portions of any game animal, except for mountain lion, black bear or gray wolf. "Edible portions" are defined as follows:
.
.
.
3. Game fish. Fillets of fish, hind legs of bullfrogs and tails of crayfish;
(b) Destruction -- Mutilation. Capture or kill any game animal and detach or remove from the carcass only the head, hide, antlers, horns or tusks and leave the edible portions to waste, except mountain lion, black bear or gray wolf.
(e) For purposes of this section, the term "game animal" shall mean game birds, big game animals, upland game animals and game fish.
* Unlawful killing, possession or waste
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH14SECT36-1404.htm (https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH14SECT36-1404.htm)
(7. Any other game bird, game fish or furbearer, fifty dollars ($50.00) per animal killed, possessed or wasted.)
* What are Game FIsh:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=85 (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=85)
Maybe someday they'll decree Perch an 'Undesirable' fish like the Pike Minnow, but I doubt it. So until then...
PROTECTION OF FISH:
https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH9SECT36-903.htm (https://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title36/T36CH9SECT36-903.htm)
Thank you. I am corrected. I will repent and stop feeding my little baby perch to the cat.
Under the definition in the code, I would bet that ALMOST ALL of you are ALSO GUILTY. As I read that, if you've used cut bait, and it has fallen off your hook, or if you discarded it instead of bringing it home and eating it, then you are guilty too.
Anyone gonna stop doing that?
-
Aren't cats on the menu in some places too? :)
-
Aren't cats on the menu in some places too? :)
Not on mine. If you want, you can eat mine.
-
Coming from a state where ice fishing is 1000% more popular than in Idaho, I see our perch raped and decimated in a matter of weeks or months. Waters the size of Cascade cleaned out in one season. Perch out here have meaning. They are respected, and people come from all over the country to fish for them. Entire towns in our perch belt rely on the income from visiting perch anglers. It saddens and angers me to see some people take such callous disregard for a great sport fish, treat them like trash - all for no proven scientific reason.
Rant over.
Andy
-
Thank you. I am corrected. I will repent and stop feeding my little baby perch to the cat.
Under the definition in the code, I would bet that ALMOST ALL of you are ALSO GUILTY. As I read that, if you've used cut bait, and it has fallen off your hook, or if you discarded it instead of bringing it home and eating it, then you are guilty too.
Anyone gonna stop doing that?
When I was about 10, my grandfather was ticketed right in front of me for 2 of these violations (chumming and cut-bait).
I still remember him saying that it was the most expensive price per lb of fish we never ate (fish & equipment was confiscated on the spot).
-
i never understood the use of cut bait.
-
Woodland - I agree. :)
-
HnH,
You made a good point about intent dictating whether an action is waste. i just dont think fish and game would be so philosophical.
-
I was doing more thinking about that code too. Who defines "edible". I know many people who've traveled the world and say it is common in several other countries to eat the eyes, heart, and brains of fish.
Are you eating the eyes, heart, and brains? If not, you better watch out...........
-
I was doing more thinking about that code too. Who defines "edible". I know many people who've traveled the world and say it is common in several other countries to eat the eyes, heart, and brains of fish.
Are you eating the eyes, heart, and brains? If not, you better watch out...........
I think in the first world at least, we will be safe ;D
-
What evidence do you have that's shows that we *need* to keep the population down by eradicating little ones? Have you not seen some of the fish coming out this year?
Okay, SDHF.
I'll answer your questions now.
First question: None. I have no evidence, but I'd prefer to err on the side of lower population over a high one.
Second question: I've seen one or two.
Edit: Evidence.......... I guess I just have fish and games own statement that they expect it to over populate any year now. I don't think I quoted them correctly as to the exact statement that was in a recent article, but that is what I took from it. I've also been told that verbally by fish cops I've talked to.
-
:tipup:
-
:tipup:
Edited my previous post, thought you might find it pertinent.
-
I've seen that as well - in print even.
What I'll say is that I had a conversation with Dale in McCall (the biologist) back in 2012 when I first fished Cascade. He said he thought those bigger fish were on their way out and Cascade would turn into what it was during the days of old. Well, 4 years later and It's still kicking out good numbers of really big fish along with a lot of up and coming big ones. I don't know if anyone knows what the future holds, but what I do know is that Cascade is a gem in its current state. Bottom line is that we should all be out enjoying it because like all good things, they don't last forever...
-
Agreed.
-
So who is leaving fish on .............GOTCHA !! All i know is there are no perch up here in Alaska and i miss Cascade every Saturday and Sunday 😡😡
-
If you read everyone's comments we all want the same thing with a few differences here and there and I like having discussions like this it's great lot of us are working during the week and thinking about fishing so this is as close as we can get till the weekend and it was civil I thought!
-
Im surprised it went 3 pages i figured a page and a half it was headed for the ditch..
-
Me to! I figured it'd be gone you guys are good people it's fun to have a little discussion once in a while! I gotta ask you again! You meet Sarah Palin yet? Ha Ha
-
If you read everyone's comments we all want the same thing with a few differences here and there and I like having discussions like this it's great lot of us are working during the week and thinking about fishing so this is as close as we can get till the weekend and it was civil I thought!
+1 to all of this
I want to catch a 20", 6lb perch and not have to paint stripes on a carp to do it!
Though I too fear a Cascade where it's filled with growth stunted 6-7' perch. I wonder if we can get a ID F&G biologist to cough up thoughts/plans on that topic. (Do they have any plans if it were to happen?)
-
You would think they have some kind of plan B if it starts to get to stunted but I'm not really sure! I hope you do catch a 6 pound perch that'd be way cool! You also gave me a good idea next time my buddy falls asleep in his shanty I'll put a carp painted up like a perch on his rod and then start yelling he's getting a bite and have him reel that in! Ha Ha
-
Ok.
I've held my tongue long enough...
Lake Cascade is amazing, plain and simple. It is a majestic place that few get to experience, ask the In-Depth guys. It really is, there are few places in this world, even fewer in the lower 48 that offer this kind of beautiful scenery and amazing fishing. Frankly, in my limited experience there is nothing compared to this on hard-water.
But lets not get ahead of ourselves, Lake Cascade is amazing in producing a consistent 12-13" Yellow Perch population, but it consistently puts out the Idaho state record, which for Idaho is a huge perch! But for the lower 48 states it is big, a pig of a perch, but not jaw dropping. The reason Cascade is on the map right now is because it has been talked about for this reason. Not because of the size will break anything other than a STATE record. Even though it was a world record, it was a tip-up world record which is a record that normally pan-fisherman from across the lower 48 just don't do. It is impressive, and I am really happy for Tia, when I've met her a few times, she is a typical young lady with a great love for being in the outdoors with her father which is admirable for both her and her father.
I'm not trying to say that these are small perch, they're not, I love Lake Cascade, I love the city of Cascade, I really do. The people, the place, everything about this fishery is amazing. But to estimate that this lake will produce anything over 4lbs is slightly ridiculous to me. I think this year has taught us a thing or two. Cascade is a typical lake of the Inland Northwest, it is anchored by zooplankton, that is why it is managed as a trophy trout fishery, is this bad? No, I don't think so, it produces quality rainbow trout every trip (less so now then previously) but it does produce good trout. But...here's the big but...Trophy perch fisheries have secondary or tertiary forage, ie. minnows. Western lakes, especially western reservoirs do not, large perch don't get massive without a suitable forage to get them that way. Many of you will argue that Cascade Perch are ferociously cannibalistic, and yes they are, but they are that way because there is no middle ground minnow in the system to subsidize those larger fish past the 3 lb weight.
Do I think that Lake Cascade will produce a fish close to 3 lbs, of course, but will it produce a monster to break the midwest hold, I doubt it very much.
Will this stop me from coming out to Cascade every few years, of course not. The people I've met, the friendships I've made will undoubtedly last a life time, will my affinity for Idaho ever go away...I highly doubt it, you folks live in the most amazing place on earth, I can't say it any better than a buddy of mine from the upper mid-west said when I first moved out to Idaho, "You sir, you're in god's country now". There is more to Lake Cascade then just large perch, I implore every one that has this in their backyard to enjoy it and take it all in. It's not just the size or the number of Yellow Perch that's important, it's where and how you catch them.
-
Well said! I'm not out to catch records so if your right and 2 pounders is all it'll ever produce you won't find many people that are going to complain about that!
-
We might never get huge perch like back east but how many big elk and mule deer does Wisconsin have?😜
-
You guys make me find the coolest stuff out there. (I'd never thought about bigger perch, my 6lb comment was more of a joke about the carp we have out here.)
But here are some interesting numbers:
https://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/fishrecords.cfm?order=weight&sortorder=desc&ID=39
I wonder if there is a more up-to-date place to look up this info...
-
You guys make me find the coolest stuff out there. (I'd never thought about bigger perch, my 6lb comment was more of a joke about the carp we have out here.)
But here are some interesting numbers:
https://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/fishrecords.cfm?order=weight&sortorder=desc&ID=39
I wonder if there is a more up-to-date place to look up this info...
That's a reality check for sure. Just go out and have fun and fish. That reservoir is huge, I can't believe people think they are really making that big of an impact on it...not during winter anyways.
-
You guys make me find the coolest stuff out there. (I'd never thought about bigger perch, my 6lb comment was more of a joke about the carp we have out here.)
But here are some interesting numbers:
https://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/fishrecords.cfm?order=weight&sortorder=desc&ID=39
I wonder if there is a more up-to-date place to look up this info...
That's interesting.. The last 3+ lb perch recorded was over 30 years ago. I'd say Cascade is doing quite well right now with the sizes still being caught with regularity.
-
So we all know how popular perch fishing is from Cascade so here's a quick question! Take for example lost valley reservoir that has a bunch of stunted fish! What if you put a couple thousand 8-10 inch perch and they preyed on all those stunters all the while being available for the fisherman all the while growing! Ok so I know that they will also breed and again stunt out again but I figure it'd take a few years while still fisherman catching them and then when it finally does happen again just repeat the process! I think this might work but I don't know for sure! Sounds good in theory!
-
Well said Elliot!!!! I can only imagine what it would be like if they had some shiners or smelt to eat.
-
So we all know how popular perch fishing is from Cascade so here's a quick question! Take for example lost valley reservoir that has a bunch of stunted fish! What if you put a couple thousand 8-10 inch perch and they preyed on all those stunters all the while being available for the fisherman all the while growing! Ok so I know that they will also breed and again stunt out again but I figure it'd take a few years while still fisherman catching them and then when it finally does happen again just repeat the process! I think this might work but I don't know for sure! Sounds good in theory!
I'm pretty sure that if that would work, then fish and game would've done it already. But perhaps not.
Personally, I've been wondering why they don't put a few Tiger Muskies, Tiger Trout, or even Small Mouth Bass in there and then not allow harvest on those species until the perch are under control. Seems like it would've been fairly cheap to at least give it a try before spending all that money to poison. If you have to poison later, then do it, but it wouldn't cost any more to do it later than it does to do it now...........
-
That would also work! Don't eradicate the perch capitalize on them and find a balance
-
They got the majority of the squawfish out of Cascade and that made a huge difference now they just need to try and get the carp out of lake Lowell and put some perch back in there! If their worried about money just let me use one of those boats with the electric probes and a dump truck and we could put a dent in the population!
-
And I'm very confident that sportsmen would be more than willing to volunteer the man power, too. I've suggested sportsmen as the manpower for fish and game projects to game officers before and they pretty much blew me off. We could be a very powerful force if they'd let us contribute more. Under direction and permits, of course.
-
You have to find the right person in the right position willing to consider a project like this! I'm sure there would be no shortage of volunteers
-
I need to hook up with some of y'all for a trip up there. I've only ice fished it twice and would like to learn more about it.