Thank you everyone for responding on the Perch topic I brought up...especially the DNR side of this Ben: really always appreciate all you bring to the table for us folks and the biological side of this debate. And Southshore, you are spot-on about the "BS" stuff going around when you talk to people at the dock and social media especially that say they release those deepwater perch just fine. Bottom line is, those fish don't survive from those depths, and I'd be all for something being done to enforce and protect our fishery.
And I get it: nobody wants more laws/rules/government in everything we do in life, especially fishing. I know nobody will go for shutting a season down, but I'm all for protecting those big spawners out there with all those eggs somehow. It wasn't long ago that Waukegan had a deep water spring perch fishery like we have, and they beat that up really good up there to where I believe it's now virtually all dried up. And I do sound like a hypocrite here, as I'm just as guilty: I go fish these same areas and contribute to the harvest: I'm not sitting at home preaching don't do it. I'm only concerned given how valuable that resource has become, as there's guys coming from all over and multiple states to target that deep water perch fishery, and that's a lot of pressure. But hey, they are safe for now with this arctic blast: welcome to cabin fever!
The following user(s) said Thank You: Lickety-Split, StormJunkie, LWL
The South End provides useful resources and discussion forums for those that fish The South End of Lake Michigan for Salmon, Steelhead, Perch, and Bass as well as elsewhere in the Region and Chicago area.