CJ and others,
Here's what my friend in Michigan, Doug Seibert, via email had to say about CJ's query about the Michigan state record perch:
To me, there are some serious unanswered questions about the MI record perch. The record book give it's weight and length....no girth. After extensive research I can say with some certainty that the fish was never photographed or mounted.
Where it was weighed is unknown. I did personally interview the CO (93 yrs old at that time) who was at the lake when the fish was brought in. The officer identified it as a yellow perch and measured it right then and there. Following our interview the officer signed a witnessed affidavit that the fish was a yellow perch and he meaured it. That was needed to change the name of the fisherman, because the DNR record had the name of a different guy. It took me 2 years to uncover that.
Questions I will always have. 1) Why no mount or at least a photo? 2) Why no write-up in any newspaper or magazine. After all, a 21" perch is like a 40" bass or an 18" bluegill.
3) How could a 21" perch ONLY weigh 3 lbs 12 oz? That smacks of WALLEYE. 4) Where was the perch weighed for official entry? 5) Why doesn't the DNR have any entry papers/records of the catch? 1947 was hardly the "dark age" of media.
A 21" perch is so much larger than ANY recorded perch anywhere else in the USA it's just really hard to accept. Were it not for the eye witness DNR officer, I don't think I would believe it. I just hope I didn't leave a stone unturned in searching for answers.
I hope this helps. It's my favorite subject of all time.
