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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Perch a year-round attraction

A yellow perch weighing 2.6 pounds and measuring 16 inches long ties the Idaho state record set in 1976. The fish was caught on Feb. 11, 2012, in Lake Cascade by Bob Shindelar of Meridian, Idaho. New statewide fishing rules meansome lakes are open year-round. For hungry perch anglers, that means the Little Pend Oreille Chain of Lakes (Leo, Heritage, Thomas, Gillette and Sherry) are open for business. (COURTESY PHOTO / COURTESY PHOTO)
By Eli Francovich elif@spokesman.com(509) 459-5508

New statewide fishing rules meansome lakes are open year-round. For hungry perch anglers, that means the Little Pend Oreille Chain of Lakes (Leo, Heritage, Thomas, Gillette and Sherry) are open for business.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fish biologist Brian Walker said those lakes offer “unending opportunity for 6- to 8-inch” perch this winter.

“The scenery helps to make up for the small fish, as does the ability to get a good meal from the Beaver Lodge following a hard day of fishing,” Walker said in an email.

Walker pointed perch anglers to Curlew Lake, which has illegally introduced yellow perch in “huge numbers.” Perch there are between 8 and 12 inches, although Walker predicts that population will stunt soon.

“Sadly, it’s kind of a ‘get-while-the-getting-is-good’ situation, as Curlew Lake is nearing its tipping point, if it hasn’t already crested and begun to stunt,” he said.