03-02-2007, 11:49 AM
[cool][#0000ff]There is no single attributable factor. Every lake is different. Water fluctuations and basic fertility of the lake is a biggie. Perch need vegetation to spawn successfully and the baby perch need lots of zooplankton and other small invertebrates to feed on until they are large enough to become predators of the fry of other species.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Deer Creek used to be full of perch. Even after the walleye got more prolific. But, once the smallmouth got a good toehold, the perch numbers declined. Young smallmouth suck up lots of baby perch when the water drops low enough that they can't hide in the weeds at the upper end of the lake. And, during low water years there is not much of a successful spawn at all. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When Jordanelle came on line, it also trapped a lot of the nutrients that would normally wash down into Deer Creek. That has an effect on the fertility and the abundance of zooplankton. Young fish of all species have a tougher time making a living. The perch population in DC has never been large since Jordanelle filled.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My guess is that the aquatic weed beds in Starvation are a key factor in the health of the perch population. Weeds provide spawning habitat, sheltered nurseries for the fry and also a base for lots of invertebrate growth. Food and shelter. After that they must compete with the wallies and smallies for food and space. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Since walleyes can and do feed on perch several inches in size, they have benefitted from the explosion of perch. Before the perch came on strong, the walleyes stunted once the chub population crashed. Smallmouth do not eat larger perch, but eat a lot of the young of the year, helping to "cull the herd" before they get big enough to compete for larger food.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Right now, Starvation is kicking out some great perch fishing and the walleyes are getting bigger too. A lot of Utah anglers are predicting that this lake will have a boom and bust cycle like we have experienced at Yuba, where the walleye explode and wipe out the perch and then everything crashes. I hope it remains more stable because the spawning conditions for the perch are not so dependent upon water levels. There is no aquatic vegetation in Yuba and they can't spawn well in low water years.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Those are just my observations. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. I doubt that Deer Creek will ever have a big perch population again. I hope that Starvation establishes a balance that allows us to catch plenty of both perch and walleyes. It would also be nice if the smallmouth could get some size on them. You'd think that will all the crawdads in Starvation that the smallies would do better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Deer Creek used to be full of perch. Even after the walleye got more prolific. But, once the smallmouth got a good toehold, the perch numbers declined. Young smallmouth suck up lots of baby perch when the water drops low enough that they can't hide in the weeds at the upper end of the lake. And, during low water years there is not much of a successful spawn at all. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When Jordanelle came on line, it also trapped a lot of the nutrients that would normally wash down into Deer Creek. That has an effect on the fertility and the abundance of zooplankton. Young fish of all species have a tougher time making a living. The perch population in DC has never been large since Jordanelle filled.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]My guess is that the aquatic weed beds in Starvation are a key factor in the health of the perch population. Weeds provide spawning habitat, sheltered nurseries for the fry and also a base for lots of invertebrate growth. Food and shelter. After that they must compete with the wallies and smallies for food and space. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Since walleyes can and do feed on perch several inches in size, they have benefitted from the explosion of perch. Before the perch came on strong, the walleyes stunted once the chub population crashed. Smallmouth do not eat larger perch, but eat a lot of the young of the year, helping to "cull the herd" before they get big enough to compete for larger food.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Right now, Starvation is kicking out some great perch fishing and the walleyes are getting bigger too. A lot of Utah anglers are predicting that this lake will have a boom and bust cycle like we have experienced at Yuba, where the walleye explode and wipe out the perch and then everything crashes. I hope it remains more stable because the spawning conditions for the perch are not so dependent upon water levels. There is no aquatic vegetation in Yuba and they can't spawn well in low water years.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Those are just my observations. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. I doubt that Deer Creek will ever have a big perch population again. I hope that Starvation establishes a balance that allows us to catch plenty of both perch and walleyes. It would also be nice if the smallmouth could get some size on them. You'd think that will all the crawdads in Starvation that the smallies would do better.[/#0000ff]
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