Many longtime anglers believe the lake’s walleye population has declined noticeably over the past six years, even as largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing has remained consistently strong. At the same time, white perch — and to a lesser extent white bass — have become an increasingly common catch. Winter ice anglers, in particular, tell stories of sorting through schools of white perch just to find a few keeper crappies or walleyes. White bass approaching two pounds have also become common enough to turn heads.

Is there a connection?

No one knows for certain. The NYSDEC has not identified white perch or white bass as the cause of changing walleye numbers, and fisheries are complex systems with many factors influencing fish populations. Still, local anglers have developed their own theory that abundant white perch may be competing with young walleyes for food or affecting recruitment.

Rather than simply complain about it, one local guide decided to do something fun. Captain Mike Sperry, musky guide and owner of Chautauqua Reel Outdoors at Ashville Bay Marina, has organized what may be Western New York’s first White Perch Tournament — a contest with conservation in mind.

Photo by Forrest Fisher Last year on Nov. 23, Yongfeng Tian of Brooklyn reeled in a 3-pound, 4-ounce white perch from Cross River Reservoir in Westchester County, to set the New York State record. Locally, a 2-pound white perch is considered a good catch.

On Saturday, July 25, anglers can fish anywhere on Chautauqua Lake from 6 a.m. until noon, then bring their catch to Chautauqua Reel Outdoors for a 1 p.m. weigh-in. Entry is $20, while kids 12 and under fish free. Each angler may weigh up to 25 white perch, with no minimum size requirement. If participation is strong, another tournament may follow in August.

There is currently no daily bag or size limit for white perch or white bass in western New York, making this event an opportunity to harvest a species many anglers already believe has become overly abundant.

Better yet, white perch are excellent table fare. Their mild, flaky white meat fries beautifully, while larger white bass also make outstanding fish fries. Conservation has rarely tasted so good.

If you’re planning to fish, keep it simple. Small live minnows or pieces of nightcrawler suspended beneath a slip float are dependable producers. Vertical jigging with small lead-head jigs tipped with soft plastics, spikes or minnows also work well around weed edges, docks, deeper basin areas and schools located on electronics. Once you find one white perch, chances are there are dozens more nearby.

Whether or not removing white perch ultimately benefits the walleye fishery remains to be seen. That’s a question science will continue to explore. One thing is certain: anglers who care about Chautauqua Lake want to see healthy populations of every prized gamefish, from muskies and bass to crappies and walleyes.

Sometimes the best ideas don’t begin in a laboratory or a government office. Sometimes they begin in a bait shop, over a cup of coffee, with people who spend hundreds of days each year on the water. Like these guys.

This tournament won’t solve every fisheries question. But it may start an important conversation — and perhaps even become a new tradition that benefits both anglers and fishery managers alike. If nothing else, you’ll probably head home with enough fresh fillets for a memorable fish fry. One last thought. Should the tournament include white bass too? Hmmm.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoor Calendar:

July 16-19: Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout, www.walleyeshootout.com; Chairman Don Ruppert, 716-435-4137; donaldjruppert1970@outlook.com.

July 18: Saturday 50s Trap Shoot, Celeron Rod/Gun Club, 210 Livingston Avenue, Celeron, registration 9 a.m.-10 a.m.; Info: Jerry Martin: 814-688-9209.

July 18: 716 KAYAK Bass Trail, Red House/Quaker Lakes, 5:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $30 entry, visit Tourney X online to register.

July 18-19: Sodus Pro-Am Salmon Team Tourney, Lake Ontario, Wayne County, visit www.sodusproam.com to register/details.

July 19: Fly Fishing 101 Class, $25 adults, $20 kids, The Hairy Trout, 3891 Seneca St., West Seneca, NY, 716-575-5037.

July 19: Ellington Rod and Gun, “Don’t Know Partner Trap League,” 1045 Hagerdon Hill Rd., Ellington; Info: 716-287-3987.