Can perch thrive in fast flowing rivers

[cannibalspinners]

I live in Scotland , All rivers up here are moderate to very fast flowing

My question is , Can Perch , Roach , Pike etc , thrive in fast flow rivers

or do they need deeper slow moving water

 

I would like to hear you guys

tell what species are in your rivers

and how fast a flow they have

 

Also how do large floods effect perch in the rivers

can they withstand the strong flow

or are they washed downstream

to calmer waters

Thanks

[Tigger]

All three can certainly survive in fast flowing rivers, but must spend some time in the slower parts. I've caught perch, roach and pike in switi'sh glides (not shallow rapids !). I know they survive some very deep fast flowing floods in my local rivers ok.

[wunnus]

Flow does not seem to be a problem from my experience but availability of silverfish is.

 

Upland streams carry a lower weight of biomass and that relates to the number of predators that they can carry.

hence alot of the upland fish rely on extra input to the system from flies etc.

[davedave]

_{On my local river the perch get caught in the faster stretches and never in the slower stretches, still haven't worked out why! Very peculiar}

[lutra]

All three can certainly survive in fast flowing rivers, but must spend some time in the slower parts. I've caught perch, roach and pike in switi'sh glides (not shallow rapids !). I know they survive some very deep fast flowing floods in my local rivers ok.

Not perch or pike, but I've had a few bags of summer roach in 2 feet of water that was so fast I was fighting to stand in it.

[lutra]

Flow does not seem to be a problem from my experience but availability of silverfish is.

 

Upland streams carry a lower weight of biomass and that relates to the number of predators that they can carry.

hence alot of the upland fish rely on extra input to the system from flies etc.

I've caught perch in a few upland streams that to my knowledge don't have much in the way of silvers in them.

 

I think if you count minnows as silvers there will be a lot less.

 

Maybe if Dave (vagabond) reads this, he can tell me what some of the upland weald streams that I've caught perch from have in them. I don't think there is much in the way of silvers in them.

[Tigger]

Not perch or pike, but I've had a few bags of summer roach in 2 feet of water that was so fast I was fighting to stand in it.

 

 

Yeah Brian i've had roach in pretty strong flows of water but i've had quite a few perch and pike also. I don't mean rapids but quite strong flowing water of 18inch to a couple of foot and more. I've also had bream and carp in those conditions...oh and rudd.

[Phone]

All,

 

I'd be curious what "survive" much less "thrive" means in this context. Thrive, I'd say no, it is not their natural habitat. Thrive means to grow or develop vigorously Survive, maybe for a while but not as healthy, happy, unaffected fish. It simply isn't their place in nature.

 

Phone

 

Edit: (I didn't mean to ignore Tigger's comment on "survive". I think we are saying the same in essence.)

Edited May 6, 2013 by Phone

[Andy_1984]

Yes they most certainly can, ive seen some of the best looking perch from The Leven, Balloch which is strong and fast most times as im sure you know.

 

Also seen one cracker of a pike take a swipe at a lure, only seen its tail like a "Middle finger" but it was one hell of a tail.