chautauqua lake perch

[times two]

Headed over to Long Point on Chautauqua Lake today with my son and my brother

looking to do some perch fishing. There were 3-4 people fishing off the docks as

we launched, and saw them land a couple as we got ready. Always a good sign!

From about 11-2, we landed about 130 perch. 50% probably were less than

8 inches, but we did end up with some in the 10-11 inch range.

My son even landed 4 at the dock as we pulled boat out.

Panfish worms, set 3-4 feet below the float in 10-15 fow.

John

[jimski2]

Chautauqua Lake has an abundance of perch. Last year with ten kids we landed 500 perch keepers in six hours through the ice. They were all cleaned and eaten. The problem with too many perch is they consume too much of the forage and the successful recruitment of good class years of walleye, bass and muskys fails to happen. Do not fear taking too many of these perch as their numbers go down, the surviving perch will get larger and the biomass will remain the same or better. Releasing the smaller fish only hurts the diversity of the fishery.

[times two]

My son loves perch....but I'm thinking...then I have to clean them!!

Weather permitting, I think we'll get back over there this weekend; and

the I'm off Tuesday for my annual tributary roam with my pal Capt.

Bud (Alibi). Hopefully that takes me back to the Black North for lunch!!

John