11-08-2008, 11:29 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I have not had the opportunity to scour the bottom of Yuba in full diving gear, counting noses on the walleye population. However, based on experience with several boom-bust cycles in that lake...and a little basic knowledge of the species...I can make some guesses.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]First, I suspect that there REALLY ARE lots of walleyes in Yuba...but well-fed walleyes. Historically, walleyes with lots of natural food are very tough to catch on artificials...or even on dead natural bait. Now, if we could use live perch minnows....[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Second, with the heavy competition in the food chain from the piscivorous (minnow eating) carp population the perch to predator balance will tip even faster during this downward cycle. Once the number of predators exceeds the capacity of the perch to spawn enough food to sustain the entire food chain, CRASHO!!!.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As in times past, anglers will suddenly start catching large numbers of walleyes. A lot of the walleyes will appear thin...because they have been running out of small perch to eat. That is when they become easier targets for fishermen.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The water level in Yuba is the lowest I have seen it since it was drained in '03 and started refilling in '04. If we do not get a mega-winter, to have the lake full by perch spawning time, there will be no shoreline vegetation for the perch to spawn and the bust cycle will be upon us.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The reports and advice from DWR are valid and on target. There are plenty of walleyes in Yuba and it is a good idea to TRY to keep them thinned out. They are the primary cause of virtually every bust over the years...that and poor spawning caused by drought conditions. That is a deadly combination in Yuba. No perch spawn and too many walleyes. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]At one time there was a survey conducted by University of Utah (I think) in which it was proposed that walleye removed over ten times the biomass of perch from Yuba as anglers did...even during periods of heavy angler harvest. That survey did not even factor in the current condition of the massive carp population that has also been feasting on perch...from eggs to fry to subadults. I almost suspect that carp eat more young perch than the adult perch and walleye combined. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just my opinions. But I have had a lot of discussions with fellow perch jerkers over the past year or so and that seems to be a consensus opinion. However, we are pretty much forced to accept the "management" of DWR so we are much better at knowing the history than predicting the future.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]First, I suspect that there REALLY ARE lots of walleyes in Yuba...but well-fed walleyes. Historically, walleyes with lots of natural food are very tough to catch on artificials...or even on dead natural bait. Now, if we could use live perch minnows....[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Second, with the heavy competition in the food chain from the piscivorous (minnow eating) carp population the perch to predator balance will tip even faster during this downward cycle. Once the number of predators exceeds the capacity of the perch to spawn enough food to sustain the entire food chain, CRASHO!!!.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As in times past, anglers will suddenly start catching large numbers of walleyes. A lot of the walleyes will appear thin...because they have been running out of small perch to eat. That is when they become easier targets for fishermen.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The water level in Yuba is the lowest I have seen it since it was drained in '03 and started refilling in '04. If we do not get a mega-winter, to have the lake full by perch spawning time, there will be no shoreline vegetation for the perch to spawn and the bust cycle will be upon us.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The reports and advice from DWR are valid and on target. There are plenty of walleyes in Yuba and it is a good idea to TRY to keep them thinned out. They are the primary cause of virtually every bust over the years...that and poor spawning caused by drought conditions. That is a deadly combination in Yuba. No perch spawn and too many walleyes. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]At one time there was a survey conducted by University of Utah (I think) in which it was proposed that walleye removed over ten times the biomass of perch from Yuba as anglers did...even during periods of heavy angler harvest. That survey did not even factor in the current condition of the massive carp population that has also been feasting on perch...from eggs to fry to subadults. I almost suspect that carp eat more young perch than the adult perch and walleye combined. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Just my opinions. But I have had a lot of discussions with fellow perch jerkers over the past year or so and that seems to be a consensus opinion. However, we are pretty much forced to accept the "management" of DWR so we are much better at knowing the history than predicting the future.[/#0000ff]
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