Any perch yet??

[SpareTime]

Planning on making out this weekend around the mile roads and the GPYC - anyone have any perchin' luck around these areas yet??

[Natlight]

Was out Wednesday evening 5:30-8:30 PM on Lake St. Clair for the first time with my buddy. We started in front of the nine mile tower in about 12-14 feet of water and continued to drift to GPYC. We tried everything from perch rigs to weighted crawler harness and finally BB with harnesses. BB seemed to work the best, purple and chartruese (?) worked good. We only managed 3 keepers and a few small ones. We weren't quite sure on the best techniques to use. Nobody seems to want to share spots or techiniques around here lately :confused: . Hopefully we can get out there in the next few weeks and do a little better. Good Luck :chillin:

[Gone Fishing]

Nobody seems to want to share spots or techiniques around here lately :confused: .
Here is a copy of a post I made a long time ago relating to technique:
Hey Joe, crawlers do catch fish but I can almost always do better on bigger fish using minnows. Spottails are really not the minnow of choice for Perch. Yes they will hit them but Emerald Shiners are definitely preferred. Emeralds are very hard to keep alive in the heat of summer. They usually don't show up in the bait shops till the weather cools. Check with Mackey's, he usually has them before the other shops. Last year Metro Bait had minnows in September that were very similar to an Emerald and worked very well. As of a week or so ago, all they had were garbage minnows. Also, buy yourself a 10 lb. mudder (mushroom) anchor. Put about 18 inches of chain above the anchor (Perch are curious and may investigate the sound it makes). When you anchor down preferably from the stern so the boat doesn't swing around, start beating it on the bottom to stir things up. This will release small organisms from the bottom which seems to help attract the fish. Tie off the mudder at a length so that the wave action causes the mudder to hit the bottom on its own. This helps to keep from giving your arm such a workout. If you start to experience a lull, use the mudder and if it doesn't work after 10 minutes or so, move. On many days, I might move as many as 10 or more times depending on the action (lots more if I can't find the fish) . Another tip is the type of weeds Perch prefer. Although I've caught them in all types of weeds and even weed free areas, there is a type of shorter stringy weed that tends to have a lot of snails attached to them. I know that is not a very good description, but if you find a good weed bed that has a lot of snails, the Perch are probably (or will be soon) in that area. My underwater camera comes in handy to identify the type of weeds in the area.
Perch rigs work well when the fish are on a feed. I like the slightly larger #4 hooks. You don't miss as many fish when you are using larger minnows and the are easier to remove when the bite is fast. Slip bobbers also work well especially when the fish are a bit spooky or the bite is slow.

Anyway, there's a few thoughts of mine on the subject. I can't wait although I usually don't start to target them till October. Here's a couple pics to get the heart pumping:


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/2049Paul_s_hog_Perch_sm.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/medium/2049Perch_Nov17.JPG

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/2049Oct28sm.jpg

[Natlight]

Thanks Gone Fishing, I always look forward to your posts. Always great photos and stories to go along with them. :D

[Crusher]

Thanks for all the tips.
Great catch, is that from this year?

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks for all the tips.
Great catch, is that from this year?
I wish, my freezer is dangerously low! :) Those were from a few of the better days last fall. Look on the top of the blue bucket, those slabs were all over 14 inches. The big cooler was a 6 man limit. I like to fish many species but it's tough to beat a fall day when you're slinging Perch into the boat 2 at a time. I can't wait! :)

[Houghton laker]

John...I think you just brought a tear to my eyes seeing all those perch! :lol: I remember seeing those at the perch contest last year ...was there with Dave......Will have to get a few tips from you on Fishing the Canadien side....this is my first year with a canadien liscence so I will be a rookie over there and not a clue where to go to or try!

[mwp]

Great catch,look forward to your reports and tips in the future!!Can't wait for the slabs to roll in.Would like to put my five year old on some fish to keep him busy and show him what perchin is all about.

[GOTCHA]

Buy yourself a underwater camera ;) John never leaves home with out it, very helpful when checking weed beds for perch. I'm also waiting for the fall perch fishing, on vaction in Napa Valley, drinking a whole lot of wine :dizzy: will be back this Sun. to do some fishing,see ya..........

[ted stehney]

Great photos Gone Finshing. Just think of all those musky going to sleep hungry because you took their dinner home. LOL I hope to try Colchester soon.

[MSUICEMAN]

john, if you happen to see a boat with two polocks on it following you around, wave.... i'll wave back, i promise! LOL.

stee

[neil duffey]

john, if you happen to see a boat with two polocks on it following you around, wave.... i'll wave back, i promise! LOL.

stee :lol: :lol: now thats funny!

i cant wait to try my hand at fall perch! ice fishing doesnt come soon enough, and i need something to do when im in the duck tender thsi fall :D

[backstrap bill]

Went out sunday and monday about 16 ft of water infront of the GPYC. caught about 50 perch., but only managed 6 keepers and one 14 inch walleye.used perch rig and crawler harness, used minnows and crawlers.they bit on both. lots of dinks, but the bite was on.:)

[ICEGUY]

will post my results. Hope it is not to wavey, I like to use slip bobbers. tightlinesyall

[Ed Michrina]

Yesterday I fished about 3 miles out from Masonic for perch. I drifted until I found a school of nice size fish. Perch rigs worked well until the wind died then the slips worked better. Its starting. :)

[Z202]

Ed, did you use shinners? Where'd you pick them up at? Are most places getting them in now? Thanks for the info.

[Reeltime]

Both Selfridge and Archer/Anglers have them.

[Ed Michrina]

yes most palces have emeralds now. I get mine from my gas dock but I'm sure Metro party/bait store has then by now.

[Gofish0619]

was out thurs night after work for a couple hrs fishing in front of the GPYC about a 1/2 mile out 13ft of water. picked up only 12 keepers and a couple sm bass. started to get real windy so we called it a night. will be out again sat morn for another shot at them perch. :fish: going to try some old gps #s and see if we can't find a good spot. will be on ch68 [ justin time ]

[Big Laker]

I'll be out in Nevada for a week so if all you guys get into em, leave me some till I get back. I will be moving my boat back from Alter so I can concentrate on the perch hunt. Good fishing until then.

[ICEGUY]

Kept only 5 keepers. No bass this trip out. Lake was vey calm. Will be handlining in front of Blue Water and will also try Canadian side Bayer Asprin Plant a little downriver tonight (sat). tightlinesyall

[swamprat1954]

went to l.c.s and caught about 100,kept. these 18 nice ones between 8.5 to 10 in.that's all i want to clean:) http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IM000210.JPG

[ImaRedneck]

SwampRat,
That's a nice mess of fish. I bet they will taste real good in some beer batter!
What were they hitting on?
Redneck

[Houghton laker]

Went perchin again this morning with 4 boats....Mike the Elder....Gofish....Cpt. perch....and myself......we did pretty good on them....ended up with 40 keepers ....Cpt. Perch ended up with 44 and a 20" walleye.......had a mess of fish to clean afterwards!! My partner and myself are the cleaning team!! Emeralds on perch rigs.......will be back out there in the morning! Had someone else from the site fishing by us but could not hear his name??? If you read this chime in and let us know how you did!!

[bripow]

I'll be out there in the AM in my Black/Grey Lund....will give you a shout if I see you HL.




Went perchin again this morning with 4 boats....Mike the Elder....Gofish....Cpt. perch....and myself......we did pretty good on them....ended up with 40 keepers ....Cpt. Perch ended up with 44 and a 20" walleye.......had a mess of fish to clean afterwards!! My partner and myself are the cleaning team!! Emeralds on perch rigs.......will be back out there in the morning! Had someone else from the site fishing by us but could not hear his name??? If you read this chime in and let us know how you did!!

[swamprat1954]

Had someone else from the site fishing by us but could not hear his name??? If you read this chime in and let us know how you did!!that was me and my camera man nick from work.we were only keeping 8.5in. and up.had lakesides minnows.do you know where i can emeralds close by?i launch at jefferson beach marina.i hate lakeside minnows and i think they count each one.:sad: