Perch, Yellow Lake Kantelljuhwhar

Photo: 

Species:

Location: 
Rideau River, Ottawa-Careleton RM, Ontario, Canada
Date Caught: 
Saturday, April 29, 1972
Notes: 
Fantastic numbers of Yellow Perch used to spawn just below the railroad bridge on the Rideau River on the campus of Carleton University in Ottawa. They're all gone now. We used to go there in late April and early May to fish for perch before the pickerel (Walleye) season opened.

Comments

Eli's picture

That is 100% true. I used to fish for them there in April around 15 years ago. Lots of large fish. Saddly that spot has been depleted by greed.

Eli

 

 

Lake Kantelljuhwhar's picture

It's very strange.  I fished the Rideau River between the Bronson Bridge and Hogg's Back intensively in the early 1970s, and just returned for a few visits in the last couple of years - incredible changes.  The water is now very clear whereas it used to be murky green and aquatic vegetation is much more abundant, with zebra mussel debris everywhere.

Yellow Perch, Rock Bass and Northern Pike seem to have disappeared.  Walleye have either disappeared or are inactive during the day due to the clear water (that has resulted from Zebra Mussels), either way I have not seen or hooked any in the areas where they used to be easy to get.  The Muskellunge fishing is now fantastic though, and Smallmouth Bass are still present although not as abundant as in the old days.

Eli's picture

All of those species are present in that stretch still. Fished there through the ice several times two winters ago and all of those fish made an appearance; however, the average size for perch is pure shit and that spring spawning run you mentioned is no longer in existance.  

Eli