Man that’s a bunch of nice looking perch. This conversation also reminds me of my Canadian fishing trip to Lac Seul. Walleye are so plentiful they consider the yellow perch a throw back fish lol.I consider perch and walleye to be about equal. If I don't look at the fillet and just eat it it's impossible to tell which it is. We go to Devils Lake in North Dakota every year right after New Years. We go on guided trips in Snow Bears perch/walleye fishing. Fish through the ice are the best. I stop fishing after the 4th of July or so. Besides I usually bring enough home from North Dakota to last until the next trip out there.
I don't fish just to fish like many do around here. Catch and release is a good practice but a DNR officer told me recently that up to 30% of fish released will most likely die.
A pic from our last trip. One days catch.
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Reminds me of a fishing outting with my fam on Lake Erie (caandian side). We chartered a boat. Captain offered to clean the fish for 35 cents each. We caught about 120 perch ..took him and his wife a few hours to clean. Can't say he looked happy when we picked up the fillets.That picture was for four of us. The guide, myself and a couple buddies. We had another group of four who brought in just as many. Two of my sons one of their buddies and a guide. I would not want to know the cost per pound for those fish considering the cost to go out there, hiring the guides and the Snow Bears and lodging, eating, drinking etc! Nope don't even want to bust out the calculator on that one.
It's a 4 night 3 days of fishing trip but the amount of fun we all have can't be measured. That's where the real value is. The best part of that pic? We didn't have to clean a one of them. The guides take care of that. They cleaned that pile of fish in about 30 minutes.
Smelt are actually an invasive species, hence why there is little/no protection for them. My Dad used to have a smelt net in the garage when I was little and would hit the spring run near Duluth,, not that I remember...I remember back when I was young you had to shuffle your feet while netting them, so you didn't crush any. They were that thick going upstream. The last time I went smelting. I caught more mud puppies then smelt. It has gotten so bad. Now there is a 25 fish day limit. Trout and salmon are ruining the population. It will never recover. NY. Among other great lake areas. Are more interested in tourism for the trout and salmon fishing.
I know. Strange that now they want to protect them. In NY. There is a 25 smelt a day limit.Smelt are actually an invasive species
Good point. The only time I complaint about pheasants is when I used to hunt them. A miss them!It could be they think the population is “under control” and no longer a threat to native species. Perhaps native fish and birds have also finally found them tasty and are naturally keeping them in check. Gotta figure most critters were invasive at one time.... No one ever seems to complain about all these damn invasive pheasants! ;)
Whoops, this was supposed to be a quote replying to Steve H
LOL---I know what you mean. I usually used a 24" barrel, and had to shoot quick.Good point. The only time I complaint about pheasants is when I used to hunt them. A miss them!
Hey Retired Spook, I'm a retired spook too!Yellow Perch = best tasting freshwater fish on Earth.