Cross Lake update

fishunter · #1 02-12-2012, 11:06 AM

I was there yesterday and it was very slow. Only caught 1 perch. The ice was cracking like crazy, all day. I wonder if that is safe ?

Also noticed more stress cracks

drake · #2 02-12-2012, 11:13 AM

lol....if you only caught one i think you may have been doing something wrong. Last time i was there we (6 of us) caught 324.

Kurt505 · #3 02-12-2012, 11:16 AM

Ice cracking = good ice, Ice not cracking = rotten ice, time to re think driving out.

Paul C · #4 02-12-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishunter

I was there yesterday and it was very slow. Only caught 1 perch. The ice was cracking like crazy, all day. I wonder if that is safe ?

Also noticed more stress cracks

Those perch are on the move there. Changing you techinques and fishing closer to the bottom you will catch the bigger ones. I have seen guys limit out in a couple of hours there. More around and try other areas.

fishunter · #5 02-12-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C

Those perch are on the move there. Changing you techinques and fishing closer to the bottom you will catch the bigger ones. I have seen guys limit out in a couple of hours there. More around and try other areas.

I have limited out there a few times this year. Just last weekend we were off the ice by noon. It was just slow today

Kevwood · #6 02-12-2012, 11:27 PM

febr.jpgtook my 3 year old out today for a couple hours...it was a little slower than the last time we were out, but she still managed to catch enough for supper...lots of little 3-4 inchers nibbling...

topgun2269 · #7 02-13-2012, 09:39 AM

I dont think so...... good one!!!!!

Jamie Black R/T · #8 02-13-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topgun2269

I dont think so...... good one!!!!!

thats pretty believable actually.

i went out to nakamun yesterday to kill a few hours....couple guys came over to the tent to complain about the slow bit...they hadnt caught a fish in a couple hours....i was there for 3 hours and landed 60 some perch...some guys just have it

fishslayer420 · #9 02-13-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topgun2269

I dont think so...... good one!!!!!

caught over 300 this yr in 5 hrs between 3 ppl...... its totally believable

Paul C · #10 02-13-2012, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevwood

Attachment 47252took my 3 year old out today for a couple hours...it was a little slower than the last time we were out, but she still managed to catch enough for supper...lots of little 3-4 inchers nibbling...

Good photo of your daughter perching.

thefloormat · #11 02-13-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drake

lol....if you only caught one i think you may have been doing something wrong. Last time i was there we (6 of us) caught 324.

totally believe it, did about 150 out of nakamun with 3 guys in 6 hours. Heading out to cross this long weekend myself, Hope to limit out really early and get home sooner than later, long drive up there for a day.

thefloormat · #12 02-13-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie Black R/T

thats pretty believable actually.

i went out to nakamun yesterday to kill a few hours....couple guys came over to the tent to complain about the slow bit...they hadnt caught a fish in a couple hours....i was there for 3 hours and landed 60 some perch...some guys just have it

the last 2 times Ive been there, we have asked guys on the way out how they did, we always get answers of slow and only a few fish. Everyone seems shocked when I tell them we have 30 keepers in the truck.

Jamie Black R/T · #13 02-13-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefloormat

the last 2 times Ive been there, we have asked guys on the way out how they did, we always get answers of slow and only a few fish. Everyone seems shocked when I tell them we have 30 keepers in the truck.

yep you can slam perch almost all day in that lake right now....i help everyone i can that cares to ask.

"keeper" is a relative term however

King Midas · #14 02-13-2012, 06:17 PM

Both Cross and Nakamun sound like a lot of 8''-10'' perch, with consistent action all day. So which lake is better?

Kevwood · #15 02-13-2012, 06:47 PM

I hit cross in early Jan with 3 of my buddies...I caught 101 perch, bud1 caught 54, bud2 caught 36 and bud4 caught 16...that's 207 perch and we brought home 51 perch that were 9"-11" or a 24.6% "keeper" rate. (3.5hrs of fishing)

Hit the lake again at the end of Jan with my dad and daughter, we caught 146 perch and kept 22 that were 9"-11" or a 15% "keeper" rate ( 4 hrs of fishing)

Went out with my dad, daughter and brother in law on Sunday...4 of us caught 64 perch in 3 hrs of fishing and only 3 of them were 9"-11" or a 4.7% "keeper" rate. We ended up bringing home 9 other perch that were around 8" in length and had a delicious fry...

Based on my 3 trips the lake is getting fished out or I should say the bigger ones are getting scarce...the last trip out I caught 5 or 6 perch that were less than 4" in length and the previous 2 trips the smallest was probably 6"...Hope this helps.

Geezle · #16 02-13-2012, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevwood

Attachment 47252took my 3 year old out today for a couple hours...it was a little slower than the last time we were out, but she still managed to catch enough for supper...lots of little 3-4 inchers nibbling...

Great pic

HunterDave · #17 02-13-2012, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Midas

Both Cross and Nakamun sound like a lot of 8''-10'' perch, with consistent action all day. So which lake is better?

I went out to Nakamun last week and only caught small ones. Kevwood has a similar story about Cross. I'm thinking that it's harder to catch anything of any size now..........but they're still fun!

Jamie Black R/T · #18 02-14-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Midas

Both Cross and Nakamun sound like a lot of 8''-10'' perch, with consistent action all day. So which lake is better?

Average size at nakamun is more realistically 4-6" with an 8" being rare.

im thinking about setting up a shack to sell 2" bladed fillet knives out there...could be a good seller with all the bucket loads of goldfish guys take outta there lol

CamoDerrick · #19 02-14-2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

im thinking about setting up a shack to sell 2" bladed fillet knives out there...could be a good seller with all the bucket loads of goldfish guys take outta there lol

Awesome

phillcollins · #20 02-14-2012, 09:39 AM

would any one mind sharing another great perch lake ,
me and my 100 buddies wanna limit out in 2 hours though,
hoping to bring 1500 keepers ... and ruin the lake.
Please post location, coordinates, depth and type of bait you usually use,
the ice is getting thinner as we speak, we wanna hit hard and make sure there is not a single perch left after this long weekend....

this forum is great, I am hoping for some good info .

Uncle Phillie.

Kurt505 · #21 02-14-2012, 11:13 AM

This forum is funny, I post a pic of some nice perch, then some guy starts cryin and whining that I didn't post where it was. Then you get people cryin and whining because people post where they catch fish.

Sometimes I wish people would put their big boy pants on before logging on, but then I realize it takes all kinds to make the world go round.

drake · #22 02-14-2012, 11:40 AM

Bring your buckets boys!! there are still limits of 12"ers to be had......take while you can (AKA the "Alberta Way", AKA "ALberta Advantage", AKA "Rape and Pilage")

Kevwood · #23 02-14-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillcollins

would any one mind sharing another great perch lake ,
me and my 100 buddies wanna limit out in 2 hours though,
hoping to bring 1500 keepers ... and ruin the lake.
Please post location, coordinates, depth and type of bait you usually use,
the ice is getting thinner as we speak, we wanna hit hard and make sure there is not a single perch left after this long weekend....

this forum is great, I am hoping for some good info .

Uncle Phillie.

Who is to blame for lakes being fished out? SRD? Fishermen? The man upstairs for making them bite?

I don't blame everyone and their dog hitting cross, perch are fun to catch and mighty tasty...I have been there three times this year and taken my limit 2 of the 3, so I guess I am to blame? I find it a great lake to get kids hooked on fishing, but my kids happen to love eating perch as well...I'm not gonna head out to a lake where I will catch maybe 1 or 2 fish all day which will probably turn off my kids from going fishing all together. Sure I can spend $100 on gas to get there and back C&R all the fish I catch and then stop at the grocery store on the way home and buy some fish for supper? Maybe limits need to be dropped again 30-15-10?
The lake will take some time to come back, a lot of the breeding stock has been taken this winter, but it will come back...Cross is a shallow lake, if it winterkilled last year there would have been a few years before anyone was out fishing it...which may be the situation for the next couple with the #'s that have been pulled there this winter...I have my lakes that I will hit for big Perch and Pike like everyone else, but I hit cross to get my girls interested in the outdoors instead of video games...and for the "guaranteed" excitement and tasty supper.....Sorry, My Bad...

drake · #24 02-15-2012, 01:23 PM

bump....

linemanpete · #25 02-15-2012, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevwood

The lake will take some time to come back, a lot of the breeding stock has been taken this winter, but it will come back...

Disagree.... Take the big guys out and the little ones will breed. They breed their "small" genes and in combination with high fishing pressure we end up with a stunted perch lake.... AGAIN...

My take at least.

Paul C · #26 02-15-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linemanpete

Disagree.... Take the big guys out and the little ones will breed. They breed their "small" genes and in combination with high fishing pressure we end up with a stunted perch lake.... AGAIN...

My take at least.

What facts do you have that supports your comments ?

phillcollins · #27 02-15-2012, 03:18 PM

can I get another update please..., this one is a bit stale,
are they still biting ? are there still any keepers ?... whos going there this weekend, we should all get out there together alll the forum mamebers ,
let's all limit out maybe put together a crate and send some frozen perch to Africa !!!! I just want everyone to know that ths is the best perch lake in Alberta , just ask anyone..., if someone needs directions to get there do not hesitate to PM me and I will hook you up with some tasty perch coordinates...

the tip for today is "Let's take it ALL"

Kevwood · #28 02-15-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linemanpete

Disagree.... Take the big guys out and the little ones will breed. They breed their "small" genes and in combination with high fishing pressure we end up with a stunted perch lake.... AGAIN...

My take at least.

I'm no fish biologist, but I thought "stunted" perch lakes came from overcrowding of perch? I could be wrong or there could be a lot of reasons for a lake too stall...and overfishing could be one of them. I think perch take 2 or 3 years before they are able to breed, do they have "genes"? If the 3" perch are breeding then ya they probably have smaller eggs and in turn smaller fish. But will they not grow to normal size? I thought the older the fish the bigger it is? I agree that the #'s that are coming out of there are insane and it probably is not that great of a thing for the lake. I have fished cross for some nice pike over the last 10 years and have always seen a lot of perch down there, but nothing bigger than 4"...all of a sudden the lake is on fire...? I fished it twice for perch last year and it was slow at best...what is your solution to the issue?

Kim473 · #29 02-15-2012, 08:55 PM

I think it is a good thing to thin the perch out some what. Fewer fish means more food for them, in turn they get bigger. This lake is getting over fished tho. I have been there twice this year but no more. There are other lakes to take some eaters out of too. I probly wont go back there next year as you wont be able to get a six incher out of there. I am gonna make a poll thread as to how many times people have been there. Just curious.

linemanpete · #30 02-15-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C

What facts do you have that supports your comments ?

When there is sustained overfishing, changes in species composition and biodiversity can occur with progressive reduction of large, long-lived, and high value predator species and the increase in small, short-lived, and lower value pelagic and demersal prey species, a process described*as 'fishing down the food chain'. Important macroscopic changes have been observed in many ecosystems such as the North Sea, Yellow Sea, North Atlantic (e.g. George's Bank and Barents Sea), Gulf of Thailand, and southeastern Australia. Intensive fishing can also*reduce genetic diversity of wild populations (e.g. rapidly depressing the proportion of fast growing and late spawning individuals) and changes*in species composition or dominance can also be provoked through competition for food between fisheries and marine apical predators.
http://www.fao.org/fishery/topic/12273/en