day on canyon ferry

[BobberdownMT]

went out to hole in the wall on canyon ferry today lookin for perch and walleye caught 3 trout couldnt find a perch anywhere drilled holes all over threw everything at them

[bquick]

went out to hole in the wall on canyon ferry today lookin for perch and walleye caught 3 trout couldnt find a perch anywhere drilled holes all over threw everything at them

Sounds like the same thing for the last 12 years...  CF is a mess.  I still go every now and then, but is it sad that they can keep their lakes fishable everywhere else in the state except for the Bozeman to Helena Area.  Used to have on of the best perch fisheries you could imagine.  I even have proof, although I always end up eating the evidence!  lol

[IceCreeper]

yEP NO FISH THERE,GO SOMEWHERE ELSE...

[mtman000]

thats right icecreeper, no perch there this year, not even worth fishing, lol

[nic]

im with you guys it sucks. ..just looked at a friends  pic of a...only 15 1/4" fat pig perch(off CF)above a 15" 'eye...and that walleye looked small!!...gotta find 'em!!! cant show up and order them... get your ass out there and youll catch them...ive been too busy landing big pike to chase perch

[bquick]

im with you guys it sucks. ..just looked at a friends  pic of a...only 15 1/4" fat pig perch(off CF)above a 15" 'eye...and that walleye looked small!!...gotta find 'em!!! cant show up and order them... get your ass out there and youll catch them...ive been too busy landing big pike to chase perch

It is like anything... location, location, location.  But how many of you fished CF every winter while growing up?  I fished it back just over 20 years ago and all the way up to current day.  The location used to be, "anywhere on the lake".  And of your six rods that you are allowed only one, or two if you felt the need for punishment, was neccessary for an easy 5 gal bucket of keeper perch.  I too have pictures that would make your eyes pop and one pic is only 12 years old!  The fishery is still alive in spots but it is absolutely nothing compared to what it used to be.  It's sad really.

[RobG]

I was doing good out there for two days and then I got skunked two in a row. I thought it was the fish, but then I fished next to a three perch veterans who had about 30 fish between them. I didn't catch a thing while those guys pulled them in with dead sticked rods. Location for sure, but you need some Karma too.

It must have been something else in the "old days."

rg

[Neptune]

Here is the rub...there are all those guys out there that wanted Walleye in that lake, and guess what Walleye love to eat...PERCH!   If you look at the FWP creel survey/netting report since they put Walley in there, you will see the direct correlation to Perch population decline!  Walleyes Unlimited has been putting those bunches of dead Christmas Trees for 10 or 12 years now.  This is to give small fish, both Perch and Walleye a place to hide from the toothy guys.

I personally could care less about Walleye...but I do enjoy the Perch through the ice....

[bigskygal1]

Did you know there's also bass AND bluegill in Canyon Ferry?  Have had two different people I know catch both last summer.

[wallinuts]

Neptune you may want to check a few more facts before you throw out that statement.   How long have walleye been in Canyon Ferry?  The perch fishing was phenominal back in the early 90's and late 90's and walleye have been there a hell of alot longer than that.  Do you suppose trout eat perch.  No don't tell me they do!! how about the ten thousand pelicans and coromorants on canyon ferry all summer pounding all the fish species.  What about the millions of carp in the lake do they possibly have something to do with the perch population, or better yet how about the greedy fisherman that have all but ruined the best walleye/perch lake in the state of montana.  You can only keep so many of the spawning stock of a fish species before you start seeing an effect.  I am not saying that the walleye population didn't have an effect on the perch in canyon ferry, but there are many more reasons that attribute to the decline of the fish in the lake.  #1 predator of canyon ferry perch and wallye are GREEDY FISHERMAN and they are the same ones that complain how bad it is now.

[RobG]

Neptune you may want to check a few more facts before you throw out that statement.   

Wallinuts, I couldn't help but notice that Neptune's statement was based on measured data, which is as close to facts as you can get. Your statements, on the other hand, seem to be pure speculation and are conspicuously devoid of references to facts. Furthermore, the perch are such prolific spawners that if it were angler harvest there would be an abundance of little fish so your conclusion doesn't even pass the smell test.

rg

[wallinuts]

Very first statement.  When do you think walleye were in the lake.  Everyone tends to forget this fact and blame everything on the evil walleye.  I could start throwing out lots of facts but why don't you look at the netting surveys on this lake in trout VS. walleye during the walleye spawn.  As far as measured data Neptunes statement is a little skewed by the original facts.  I know from past experience most of you don't understand how walleye got into canyon ferry.  All everyone wants to do is bash them.

[RobG]

Very first statement.  When do you think walleye were in the lake.  Everyone tends to forget this fact and blame everything on the evil walleye.  I could start throwing out lots of facts but why don't you look at the netting surveys on this lake in trout VS. walleye during the walleye spawn.  As far as measured data Neptunes statement is a little skewed by the original facts.  I know from past experience most of you don't understand how walleye got into canyon ferry.  All everyone wants to do is bash them.

You are the one who is making the argument, supposedly based on knowledge. Why don't you point us all to these facts?

[wallinuts]

Try searching for it.  I'm not gonna go into depth on the issue, been down this road too many times before.  I guess I should just let it go when everyone wants to blame the walleye for the demise of canyon ferry.  If you truly want to know look it up for yourself!!!!!!

[RobG]

FWIW, here is an article I found from FWP that indicates there is a crystal clear correlation between the surge in walleye and the drop in perch. And trout too. http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/HTML/articles/2010/CanyonFerry.htm

I'm not against opposing viewpoints backed by some sort of reputable references.

rg

[wallinuts]

Good artilcle.  Remember this was written by the same bioligist who netted and killed huge numbers of walleye on the south end of canyon ferry.  like I said I do not dispute the fact that walleye can attribute to the decline but they are not the only problem.  Does it say in this article how the fish and game had to start stocking the trout on the north end of canyon ferry during the middle of the night due to the pelicans wiping out most of the fry as they hit the water.  No didnt see that.  This will be my last reply to this post as I have better things to be doing besides arguing about a lake that if managed correctly could have been the premier multispecies fisheries anyone of us could have ever fished.  Good luck on the water and hopefully everyone will find some fish.

[RobG]

wallinuts... I tried to look up the facts as you suggested. Based my search I have to conclude that Neptune's comment about the walleye causing the perch decline was spot on.

I'm open to other facts and viewpoints backed by logic, but you are going to have to lead me to them since I don't see them.

[BackCountry Kyle]

Thanks for doing some leg work on the subject, rg. Good article... I think the last sentence sums it up. But I'm not going to tell any of you what that sentence reads! If you want to know, you'll have to click on the link rg provided yourself!!! I'm not sure what can be done to help the perch numbers, (because they are down, no matter how well some guys do sometimes) but its not like people aren't trying.

[bsharp]

i agree with kyle fwp is trying with the limited funding and resources they have. we all have our opinions on how lakes should be managed and not everyones is the same. fwp tries to manage for what the general population of anglers wants.

[IceCreeper]

,,,Perch are all dead and the walley are evil...dont fish there..

[PerchAssault]

And the Lake trout are the  reason why the bull trout are "gone" from Flathead lake...Oh no I didn't Oh yes I did!!!

[RobG]

And the Lake trout are the  reason why the bull trout are "gone" from Flathead lake...Oh no I didn't Oh yes I did!!!

Actually they are gone in anticipation of the arrival of the walleye.

[TheGreenHornet]

In my opinion i think it's better now than before.  I'd much rather catch 10 big perch than 50 little guys.  Plus now you can get some decent walleye and the trout don't come to hard either.  The perch numbers may be down but the size is up.  Most seasoned fisherman would prefer size over quantity.  I think it's a good mix the way it is.

[nic]

yaa..it still sucks them damn 'eyes wrecked everything.... ..............?.....go fishing boys..

[PerchAssault]

Actually they are gone in anticipation of the arrival of the walleye.

And the smallees are leading the way

[bquick]

In my opinion i think it's better now than before.  I'd much rather catch 10 big perch than 50 little guys.  Plus now you can get some decent walleye and the trout don't come to hard either.  The perch numbers may be down but the size is up.  Most seasoned fisherman would prefer size over quantity.  I think it's a good mix the way it is.

I don't know how much I agree with that seeing as I have a photo from 12 years ago with 8 perch out of my bucket full that would have won any derby for the last decade on CF. I do agree however that being able to pull multiple species through the ice is a lot more enjoyable though.

[lundin-loading]

Management of the upper Missouri reservoirs is always a controversial topic, without a doubt there are some serious predators in canyon ferry, it can't be denied that walleye feed on perch, but so do rainbows, brown trout, ling, and northern pike, all of which are present in Canyon ferry. But all of these species coexist in the rest of the Missouri river system, think about the difference between canyon ferry and fort peck, only thing I can figure is structure, the shore weeds for spawning etc etc, I feel like canyon ferry's kind of a desert. This topic has potential to and very often does get very heated, join walleye unlimited if you think you know how to fix it.

[bquick]

Management of the upper Missouri reservoirs is always a controversial topic, without a doubt there are some serious predators in canyon ferry, it can't be denied that walleye feed on perch, but so do rainbows, brown trout, ling, and northern pike, all of which are present in Canyon ferry. But all of these species coexist in the rest of the Missouri river system, think about the difference between canyon ferry and fort peck, only thing I can figure is structure, the shore weeds for spawning etc etc, I feel like canyon ferry's kind of a desert. This topic has potential to and very often does get very heated, join walleye unlimited if you think you know how to fix it.

You hit the preverbial nail on the head!!!  Dropping some Christmas trees to the bottom isn't gonna do a thing either. It's a nice thought and gesture but those little trees break down too fast and there is too much silt moving through that system that covers them. We need to sink some real structure!  I love walleye unlimited, RMEF, and all the other good causes but the government is still in the way and they don't listen very well. ;-)

[Neptune]

The great thing about natural systems if that if left alone(which we don't' like to do) or managed consistently(this is attempted) they will balance themselves.  As humans we focus on immediate change and these systems expand and contract on timelines that don't exactly meet our immediate needs!

My prior comment was made solely based on the idea that most of the elements in that system have been constant for many many years i.e. the presence of rainbows, brown, carp, perch, pelicans, cormorants, etc.  Walleye are the new kids on the block and they have upset the apple cart if you will.  This will all balance out over time if the system is maintained consistently.  Now this may not result in the best Walleye or Perch fishing as a result, but once we mess with the system there's no going back.

It really comes down to the fact that we don't know squat about just how much these systems are going to react to the changes we keep making, and for that there is a price...and we all get to pay for admission!

[mt.perchman]

just some fish news !!!!!! hammered the perch on sunday the 4 th thank you dead sea !!!!thank you for the limit !!!! see ya friday !!!!!!