Perch Limits in South Dakota

[Bob Jensen]

South Dakota recently changed the perch limits in a couple of the lakes in northeast South Dakota. The daily limit in now ten(10) perch, while the possession limit is fifty(50).

Some anglers have expressed dismay at this change and say they won't return to South Dakota for a ten(10) perch limit. That is unfortunate: They are going to miss out on some very good fishing!

I have fished in this area of South Dakota several times over the past couple of years, and have been in on some tremendous bites. One day with my buddy Les Rowland catching walleyes on Waubay will be a wonderful memory forever.

However, I have seen plenty of abuses of the resource. When the fish go on a bite, you can't believe the double-dipping of daily limits. There have been some small lakes and sloughs that have been virtually destroyed by over-harvest.

The number of boats and ice-shelters on the lakes in the various seasons is truly amazng at times. Most of these folks were experiencing fishing action like they had never experienced before, and many of them seemed to think that it would go on forever, regardless of how many fish they took.

Others just wanted to get their share of fish before someone else caught them. Very shortsighted and selfish thinking!

Anyway, progressive anglers realize that regulations of this sort will need to be implemented in other areas if we are to maintain quality fisheries. Some will say that the fish are going to die anyway due to life-cycles or potential freeze-outs. That's an excuse to continue irresponsible harvest.

I say congratulations to the Northeast corner of South Dakota for progressive thinking. And, while you're doing the right thing with the perch, how about protecting the smallmouth and walleyes in that area also.

Please feel free to post your thoughts on regulation changes here.

Best Fishes,

Bob Jensen

[eyewinder1@hotmail.com]

One of my concerns (I'm a Nebraskan who fishes the Glacial Lakes two or three times a year) is this: if you think you saw double-dipping with a 25-fish bag limit, can you say triple- or quadruple-dip (when the limit is 10)?

I'm totally in favor of more restrictive limits when the resource is in jeopardy. . .but habitual violators are only kept in line by the threat of (visible) enforcement!

[Mike]

The limit change involves more than a couple of lakes. The change covers several counties in the NE Section of South Dakota. Check the regs. before you fish.

Visible enforcement can be as close as the party fishing next to you. We all have access to the TIPS (Turn In Poachers)Hotline 1-800-592-5522. To protect the resource use TIPs.

Fun and Fellowship.

[Skis]

I don't think the regs have changed on those counties, yet. I think it is being proposed at this month's meeting. In my readings, it would go into effect before the end of the year. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[IAranger]

I did hear the perch bite was excellent and big ones too !
It is sad that a few jerks ruin things for everybody. I think a little foresight by resort owners could help also, they know some people are taking over their limits. The Big picture is if they would turn these scumbags in then the lakes would continue to be productive fisheries and they would reap the benefits of good business for a long time to come.

I know those who take more than their limits are only a few and the owners that tolerate this are few also and I meant no offense to those who obey the laws !

my 2 cents

[Dutchman]

The overharvesting abuse has many anglers and resort owners angery. On last weeks "Danny O" fishing report Jean Benike reports that persons where leaving 5 gallon pails of perch and other species in her fish cleaning house on Enemy Swim. There have been other reports of quanities of perch uncleaned and dumped into road ditches. I have (and I'm not alone) been reporting any one I see overharvesting any specie of game fish. This is not the only problem, people are catching fish legally and not cleaning them. Why???? They don't know how to or just to lazy, I don't know. These persons need to be educated in catch and release and that wanton waste of game is a crime, and how overharvesting will negatively effect a fishery. Maybe it's time to instill a overall wildlife education along with or included with hunter education for our young beginning outdoors persons. After all it's their outdoor future we all need to defend......

" Fishing is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope "

[Backwater Eddy]

Reduced limits are only part of the package of a successful long range management plan for a fishery. Education is as key a tool as enforcement for implementing a management goal.

First educate to the needs of the fishery to maintain a healthy balance of representative age groups for procreation of the species and harvest by anglers. This plan must be closely followed by enforcement to maintain the standard set as this has proven the best way to maintain the fishery into the future for all anglers. Once anglers see the benefits of controlled harvest they usually fall in line fairly quickly as there trips to the lake become more productive and far less hit and miss.

A case example that I am familiar with may best illustrate my point. A fine example is the Red River and especially the lower Red River in Canada. In the past the US and Canadian Red was not regulated to control the harvest of either numbers or sizes of channel catfish. A drastic depletion was seen on the system of numbers and trophy class fish. Regulations were set on creel take and size limitations on adult fish coupled with a great deal of public relations and education on their fishery. The fishery since has rebounded and looks better then ever with it widely excepted as the best channel catfish fishery in the world today, in numbers of fish, true trophy class fish, and overall representative year class's.

Economically these regulations have been a boom not a bust for the baitshops, restaurants, hotels, and resorts associated with the fisheries. Improved overall quantify, quality, and longevity of the fishing resource makes for good business for all concerned. Mean while anglers can rely on a fishery that will not crash from over harvest every 5-10 years. A Win-Win scenario for everyone in my book.

Angler practices of over harvest in the past guaranteed lots of teary eyed story's about the good old days, we were the ones producing the cycle of depletion, far more then mother nature.

I truly hope that the days of he who gets there first gets the most are fading away for good.



Backwater Eddy......><, ,>

[reddog]

I beleive that the rules in place now, are temporary, and will go back to normal when the heavy bite is over. There has not been a hot perch bite on Waubay for a couple years, but these ten inch fish just didnt all of the sudden come out of no where, they have been in there for several years, and are just biting now. Perch will cannibalize themselves, and will decimate several year classes while doing so, till they eventually die out. I beleive that 25 is an OK number, its just that it shouldnt take longer to load and unload your boat than it does to catch your limit, that is where the problem lies. It is too good, and people will take advantage of that fact. If there was a catch and release only on Waybay, how many perch would die just from that. How many perch could 4 guys in a boat catch and release if they stayed out there for 7 hours, and what would the death toll be then?? I dont know, these are just things to think about. Perch need to be harvested, just not at the rate that is occuring on Waybay, and some of the other waters up there like last winter. I think they were approaching 120-125000 per week at peak harvest on Waubay, and this was only an estimate.

I feel sorry for the resort owners up there, but I am glad they(SDF&G) put a halt to the harvest, even if it is only temporary. Some of the mentality is that if the license is going to cost X amount of dollars, them Im ##### well going to get my monies worth. This is pure bull. Heck, If they sold a $150 dollar license that entitled you to 100 perch per day, and 6 walleyes, I can guarantee that some would buy it, just because it would allow them to kill more fish, and fulfill their ego trip. $50 licenses are not that big of a deal in these days of 45K trucks and 30K boats. And it certainly not a reason to justify taking all you can get. What happened to just fishing for the heck of it?

I wish I just had time to go fishing anymore!

[Eyez]

I don't think you'll see these regulations changed. If managed properly, every lake in this part of SD has the potential to pump out huge perch, it's the overharvest that hurts them. Pelican lake was a trememdous perch fishery long before the high water period, and it always will be, if managed properly. Waubay, bitter, thompson, all of them could be world class perch fisheries, so long as the fish are protected. 10 fish is more than enough, unless we're talking about the 7 inch perch that you see most places outside of SD. All of the 10 inch fish that you're seeing in Waubay were there last winter and the winter before, but they were all 5-7 inches. I had days over the last 2 winters when I caught a hundred or more 6-7 inch perch from waubay. Have you ever sat around and cleaned 25 big perch? It takes forever, and most times, even 10 big perch is 2 or 3 times as much meat as you'd get from four 16 inch walleyes. I've been saying for 2 years now that we didn't need a 25 perch limit, and I think it's the best thing that SDGF&P has done to protect fish since the slot limit on Waubay.



Eyez

[Backwater Eddy]

Ata Boy EYEZ!!!

[Tim/Iowa]

When I first heard about the change in limits from 25 to 10 it kind of upset me but once you set back and look whats good for the Perch and the lake, I think they did the right thing. I am one that travels 7-8 hrs to enjoy fishing at the Glacial Lake area. Sure I see people taking more than their limits and keeping small Walleyes but I try to worry about myself. I would not ever think about keeping more than my limit and do try to go by the laws. I believe you can not get enough boats on the water of Waubay to ever change the out come of that lake. I haven't been there but I hear about the amount of ice fishing that goes on there, This is my own feeling and and tell me if I'm wrong but I feel ice fishing will distroy a lake faster than normal boat fishing. Another thing is why would you need or want more than 50 Perch in your freezer at one time is way beyond way of thinking. you ask have I caght more than my limit in a day, sure but I make sure I ony keep my 25 or 10 now and enjoy some catch and release. Why would anyone want to risk your boat and truck for being over and I think that's what they should more of is keep ones boat for being over the limits. Maybe that would slow it down a little

[Tom B]

I think the thing that is hard for some is that they have not caught 10-12 inch perch. Big perch on Mille Lacs has been a going thing for a couple of years. The limit is now 25, and I have found that 25 good-sized perch will provide 3-4 meals for my family of 4.

Not to be critical of John Gillespie, but watch what size perch he keeps when he goes ice-fishing. Lots of 6-7 inch fish and that is what most folks are used to, pretty hard to make a meal of 10, 6-7 inch perch.

Managing perch is critical, as on most lakes, perch are the main forage for walleyes, northerns and other predators. Perch need to be abundant for everything else, not just the two-legged predator.

Tom B