Effect of warmer water on Perch
 

Hi,

Is there any effect?

Don

When it gets really warm and the water heats up it is not good for any fish you release. I once heard heard it put like this (and it made sense to me), picture running a race in a very warm day, then right after you are done and are spent, you go into a sauna to recoup. And I think this a good mental picture of what the fish (any fish) goes through.

I seen some interesting videos about bass competitions and how water temp has a huge increase on fish mortality rates, it was very interesting. I also find that if you plan to fish to do a catch and cook that once it gets to warm the fish do not taste good, the meat gets soft and almost muddy. So either way if you are a catch and release it is harsh on the fish and its recovery, and if you are fishing and plan to eat it, I find it is not the best.

Anyways my 2 cents.

I’ve observed that as the water warms the perch move into the shallows and bite fast and furious. They become aggressive feeders, often stalking prey underneath the weed canopy but always look up the snatch a meal and dart back down.

In larger schools they swarm and rise and fall as fod try to evade them. They are an unstoppable force eating everything.

Perch like the shallow warming water in late May and June.

Back when perch were thicker in the parkland lakes I'd catch and keep perch by wading and spot fishing them in the warm shallows all summer long. Think of the thousands of kids over decades grew up catching perch from docks all summer long. Perch like docks for shade and structure during summer in 2 to 6 feet where lakes are typically quite warm. Perch flesh stays quite firm even caught in warm water. Sight fishing for specific perch you don't catch non target small perch often.

Out of the species we have here in Alberta, perch are found in other places, and warmer waters further south compared to other species and tolerate warmer water much better than out other species.

I'd say they are the species I'd be least concerned as the water temp warms.

Yup

Page 7

https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/337848.pdf

They prefer 17-25 degree water.

Stressed over 26.

Lethal over 32.

Thanx all for the help.
If it quits raining I’m gonna kill some.

Don

Rain quit, headed to Struble and I searched high and low.
Two perch both outta water depths over 15’. None in shallows that I could find.
Not worth keeping 4” perch.

Don