By Louie Stout

More Good News for Lake Michigan Perch Anglers

Last week we told you about the great yellow perch fishing that Lake Michigan anglers have been experiencing during this summer’s hot weather.

It’s been one of the best years as far as quantity and quality. Lake and wind conditions have been ideal for holding fish close to the southern shore, creating one of the longest stretches of good perch fishing the big lake has produced in years.

Preliminary results of an ongoing Indiana DNR research project hints that we could anticipate stable perch fishing in the years to come.

That study, which continues into September and formerly was conducted by Ball State, has been turning up some impressive numbers.

Back in May, the DNR set large gill nets near shore to assess numbers of adult perch utilizing spawning grounds. And, during June and July, DNR officials have been running a wider range of net mess sizes to further assess the population of all perch.

In August they will trawl at night for young fish and in September set micro mess gill nets to determine the success of this year’s spawn.

The good news is that the spring netting project produced five times the average number of spawning perch as previous spring assessments that have been conducted for decades.

For example, last year the DNR netted 29 perch – the highest number since 2010. This year they collected a whopping 151!

In addition, the recently completed June/July survey of adults on the southern shore was 50 percent higher than the all-time average.

Keep in mind conditions have been great which could influence the numbers.

“But another big factor is the 2015 year class is (sexually) maturing and that’s something to be optimistic about,” said Indiana Biologist Ben Dickinson said. “That was a giant year class – second largest we’ve recorded in at least 30 years.”

Those perch are the 7 to 9 inchers that many anglers are catching this summer.

In other words, that giant 2015 year class was ready to make babies this spring – babies that should insure a promising future for perch anglers.

But there is a caveat. The timing of perch spawns impacts whether it is a boom or bust.

“The probable outcome of a successful spawn depends on the timing of a plankton bloom that occurs when the eggs are hatching,” explained Dickinson. “The tiny perch fry need plankton to eat and survive, otherwise they starve and die off.”

As the perch grow they will feed on other, more abundant forage. Until then, they need those tiny organisms to flourish.

Of course, the 2015 year class isn’t the only one contributing to the fishery on the south end of the lake.

Dickinson said 2009 produced a good year class and accounts for most of the 12- to 15-inch perch some lucky anglers are catching. There’s a smattering of other year classes – classes that produced some perch but not many – in the mix as well.

Perch can live up to 14 years in Lake Michigan. Most grow about an inch a year and slower as they age, although Dickinson said the 2015 class seems to be growing a bit faster.

“When we examined the stomach contents of some of the fish we trapped, we found them loaded with gobies,” he said. “And one of the perch had a big alewife sticking out of its mouth. All of the fish appeared very healthy.”

The perch fishery is important because it gives small boat anglers a chance to utilize the lake and the fabulous table fare that the lake perch provide. There isn’t a more tasty fish swimming in the big lake.

Let’s hope the September net project produces copious amounts of small perch – a sign that this year’s spawn was a huge success and gives hope for a brighter future.