Help me with perch!

[PackerFan]

This is my first year trying with my own gear for perch. I wanted to know what's a good setup to be able to set the hook in them? I get plenty of bites, but when I try to set them I can never get em. I have a jig at the end of my line with some itty bitty split shots about 1.5 feet up the line. I think one problem may be I don't have enough weight on my line. There's gotta be a better way to do this. Any advice?

PF

[martin1950]

I quit using jigs because of the same thing. I went to using a small single egg hook, like to ones for whitefish, and a small rubber core sinker. I like enough weight to just keep the line straight. And you can either lip'em or hook'em under the dorsal finn real lightly. It works for me either way.

[GVSUKUSH]

I assume you're fishing Reeds Lake, so I'll let you know how I set up for them. I usually have 2 rods going. I rig one spring bobber rod with 2 teardrops (I use jammin jigs) with a spike on the bottom and a waxworm on the top. I set the bottom hook about 6 inches from the bottom. The other rod I have a small Hali jig tipped with a spike that I jig with.

Yesterday I set up in 12 feet of water, which seems to be the depth I've had luck with all year. Iced 9 keeper perch and threw back as many or more. I'd get 3 fish in a minute, then the hole would go cold for 10 minutes. Not much luck on minnows, the fish seemed to prefer the smaller offerings. When you nail down a school of biters, you want to throw down a minnow because it seems to nail the bigger perch, at least in my experience.

On my double teardrop rig I only use one small splitshot and let the fish take the bait (don't set the hook on the first bite, especially while using minnows). Hope that helps.

[PackerFan]

I assume you're fishing Reeds Lake, so I'll let you know how I set up for them. I usually have 2 rods going. I rig one spring bobber rod with 2 teardrops (I use jammin jigs) with a spike on the bottom and a waxworm on the top. I set the bottom hook about 6 inches from the bottom. The other rod I have a small Hali jig tipped with a spike that I jig with.

Yesterday I set up in 12 feet of water, which seems to be the depth I've had luck with all year. Iced 9 keeper perch and threw back as many or more. I'd get 3 fish in a minute, then the hole would go cold for 10 minutes. Not much luck on minnows, the fish seemed to prefer the smaller offerings. When you nail down a school of biters, you want to throw down a minnow because it seems to nail the bigger perch, at least in my experience.

On my double teardrop rig I only use one small splitshot and let the fish take the bait (don't set the hook on the first bite, especially while using minnows). Hope that helps.
Do you use those "spreaders" to have multiple hooks on your line? What are you using for weight?

[GVSUKUSH]

Do you use those "spreaders" to have multiple hooks on your line? What are you using for weight?

Nope, I think you're overthinking this a little bit ;) . I basically put a small peice of shot about 4 inches about the first teardrop. Then just slide the first teardrop up the line about 6 inches from the bottom or so and secure it with an overhand knot. I then tie a small jig/teardrop on the bottom. Pretty simple.

Another way to do it is with a small open faced ice combo is to tie two jigs/tears on the line (space apart) with a small sinker on the bottom. That way you can always find bottom and "hole hop" easier without constantly having to find your depth.

When will you be out there again?

[PackerFan]

I'm not fishing Reeds. I've been going over to White and Muskegon on the weekends. I just don't know if I should add more weight or what. It just feels so light, like it's just a string down there with nothing on the end. I'm gonna try to mix it up a bit this weekend and try different weight.

[STEINFISHSKI]

For the west end of White and Muskegon I like to use a small Swedish Pimple with a spike on each treble hook, or a waxie. The pimple is nice for the 40-50 foot depths to get down faster. Jig aggressivlely to get there attention and slow jiggle or stop jigging to get the take. Silver with pearl or glow tape has been my best colors.

[AutoModGod]

This is my first year trying with my own gear for perch. I wanted to know what's a good setup to be able to set the hook in them? I get plenty of bites, but when I try to set them I can never get em. I have a jig at the end of my line with some itty bitty split shots about 1.5 feet up the line. I think one problem may be I don't have enough weight on my line. There's gotta be a better way to do this. Any advice?

PF


Hmm...

I wonder if you are missing dinks???

I use small jigs (1/64th oz, 1 jig per rod) without extra weight, 3lb line, ultra light rods with light spring bobbers. Never had problems with hook-ups except when dinks are the only thing biting. :)

If you want to find out if you are missing dink bites switch to a small gold tear drop and a spike. :) That will catch 'em.

[GVSUKUSH]

I was in Tawas Bay a few weeks ago and could see 2 and 3 inch perch nipping at my bait, and it looked like decent bites on my spring bobber, but I could never hook any. I think switching to spikes has been my savior this year and this jig. Slide a spike or two on here and your golden.

1/80 once jammin jig
http://www.jamminjigs.com/item_images/1-80_06_pink_large.jpg

[PackerFan]

The thing that drives me nuts is my Dad was catching the perch right next to me. Granted I only think like 2 were keepers, at least it was fun watching. I'll try a smaller jig this Saturday and see what happens. I think I have to get a feel for this ultra-light rod and spring bobber. I'm not sure what an actual bite feels like yet. :)