Sportsman club to stock Yellow Perch in Lake Arbutus.

Oct 27, 2008

The Hatfield Sportsman's club plans to stock 10,000 Perch fingerlings (3" to 5" in length)  into the lake in
the near future. A water temperature of 50 degrees is idea for the stocking.
The current water temperature is 56 degrees..  The Sportsman's club is asking for anglers to avoid fishing for Perch and to practice catch and release of them until they are established in Lake Arbutus. This could take up to 4 years. The Lake Arbutus Association supports this project and asks its members to avoid fishing for Perch and to release any Perch that you may catch for the next 4 years. 

It is hoped the release of these fish will improve fishing in the lake. It is believed that Perch being bottom feeders may devourer carp eggs which are laid on the bottom of the lake.  Reducing the carp population will improve other fish populations. What a great idea!!!!!!!

Yellow Perch

Common Name: Yellow Perch

Scientific name: Perca flavescens (Perca means "dusky"; flavescens means "becoming gold colored")

Illustration of a Yellow Perch by Virgil Beck.

Distribution: The yellow perch occurs in all three drainage basins in Wisconsin (Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, and Lake Superior), in all of the state's boundary waters, and in Lakes Michigan and Superior. Because the yellow perch is a glacial lakes species, it is widely distributed except in the unglaciated region of southwestern Wisconsin.

Spawning: Spawning normally occurs shortly after ice-out in April or early May at water temperatures of 45 - 52º F. Yellow perch spawning closely follows that of walleyes and often coincides with that of suckers. Yellow perch are random spawners, and do not construct nests, nor do they guard their eggs and their young.