Perch

[Rick]

Lets talk about perch here.

[codeman]

OK Rick, I get the hint. Hmmmm. Let me think. Perch huh? I do believe I have a thought on this subject. Not so much a thought but a story.

A friend and I were up to Winnie last week checking out the perch action using the usual, popular jigs. We were jigging with one pole and the other we would tip with a crappie minnow and let it sit. I changed the jig frequently trying different styles and colors. What I stumbled upon worked like a charm all three days we were there. Since I use an AquaView, I am able to watch the perch's reaction to the presentation. My set line at the time had a #6 glow/orange Genz Fat Boy tipped with a crappie minnow. Each time I caught a fish on this set up, it would be an 8" plus perch. I decided to turn the camera to watch the perch and found that most of the perch were eating the jig head, not the minnow. They would suck in the head and most of the time just spit it. I tried a bare jig and they would do the same. I mentioned this to my buddy and he switched over. He would miss quite a few fish when he got a bite since they really weren't hooked at all. They were just holding onto the jig head. The following two days we both used this set up and caught a bunch of fish. We lost loads of them too. By the end of the third day, the northerns had bitten off all that we had. We stopped at bait stores in Walker, Backus, Hackensack on the way home and nobody had this particular jig in stock. I just got back from half a dozen places in the Fridley/Blaine/SLP area and found one. I am going to try this up at Mille Lacs this weekend to see if its just as hot. By the way, there were other guys out on the lake hanging it up since they weren't biting, but we were still getting action. Maybe its just one of those days (or three?). What I'm wondering is..does the small amount of orange paint on this jig resemble and match the size of a fresh water shrimp? Something was going on that triggered these perch to bite these particular jigs when nothing else came close. I would appreciate anybody's input.

[Rick]

Winnie, Leech Lake, Devils Lake, Mille Lacs Perch.

Which is the best and why do you thing so?

[Rick]

Some Jumbo's are on the feed and agressive in shallow water right now, within easy walking distance of shore in 8' to 12' of water. Sand/Gravel bottom.

[Rick]

Does anyone have an idea why their aren't more perch anglers during open water season?

[waterfowler]

That's an excellent question. I love eating them. I am going to try and target them on opener after we get our walleyes(ya right). Anyway, I'm hoping to find a school of those little footballs that I had so much fun through the ice with.

Anyone have some sure-fire techniques for summer perch fishing on the big pond???

[Maryjl]

Some one once told me that Perch get wormy in the summer. Is this true?

[waterfowler]

I know they do back in SD during the summer on the smaller lakes/stock dams. All the fish did, bass, perch, northern, bullheads. I have no idea what causes that, but you sure didn't want to eat those fish after seeing the worms on them. They looked similar to wax worms, but not as big. They were coated in a slimy substance also.

[slabberknocker]

Are there any places to catch jumbos around the metro or do you have to head north? I have not caught a perch over 5 inches areound here, but when i go perch fishing back home in SD, we can fill up a pale of perch with nothing under 10". I don't think people fish for perch nearly as much as they do in SD. There, if people had their choice to catch walleye or perch, 75% of the people would probably go after the perch. My personal opinion is that if you set a fresh perch fillet beside a fresh walleye fillet, I will grab the perch first.
Last question, Are a lot of the perch around the metro stunted? And even if there are a tons of small ones, doesnt there have to be a big one mixed in here and there?

[Guest]

I know people around the Bemidji area fish for perch in the summer. As for perch getting "wormy", all fish can get and most already have worms all year long. I'm sure that there are slightly more parasites during the warmwater period, but not enough to cause me to quit fishing for a particular species, perch included. All year long perch are great to catch and eat!
Good luck and tight lines!

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Adam Johnson
www.adamjohnsonfishing.com

[Guest]

I know people around the Bemidji area fish for perch in the summer. As for perch getting "wormy", all fish can get and most already have worms all year long. I'm sure that there are slightly more parasites during the warmwater period, but not enough to cause me to quit fishing for a particular species, perch included. All year long perch are great to catch and eat!
Good luck and tight lines!

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Adam Johnson
www.adamjohnsonfishing.com

[Guest]

The very best perch action I ever had was on Bow String by Deer River MN. In the winter, Huge perch and many of them I was fishing for crappie in the winter in 14ft of water on the west side. I could not keep them off the line. Bow String is the best perch lake in MN. Try it before you call me wrong.

[Rick]

Are the perch moving to deeper water yet or are they still feeding close to the shallow rocks, etc?

I remember fishing Big Rice Lake and the great pike fishing and then heading into the one deep hole and it was loaded with BIG PERCH!!!!

[Rick]

Bobber or Jig, which do you prefer and why?

[Guest]

Both, usually when targeting perch I will "deadstick" or slip bobber with one rod and jig with another, once you get the bite dialed in the bite gets so hot it can be hard to keep up with two rods, switch to the hot presentation, and with the new limit (In my view, a good thing for perch fisherman in minnesota) it doesn't take long to collect a meal or two. I prefer mille lacs for perch, some true jumbos can be found fairly easily, not like the good old days of southern Wisconsin (14+" perch were available) but excellent eaters nonetheless. They can be infected with black spot and yellow grubs occasionally, simply pick the big ones out with the tip of a filet knife, cook completely, and are perfectly safe to eat, better than walleye in my book.

[This message has been edited by coldone (edited 12-03-2001).]

[Rick]

Is this topic worthy of it's own forum.

Let's hear from you perch anglers.

[Guest]

Perch is definitly ready for its own forum. Perch is a species of fish thats underfished and needs its own forum for people to see that is a fun fish to catch and learn ways to catch them.

warroadfisherman

[WarrenA]

Last fall I was on Big Stone during the week around the christmas trees and caught a limit of perch most in the 11" range and a few big bluegills to boot. Personally I would just as soon fish perch as walleye for the simple reason that you can have more fish and have better eating. If I could learn how to catch perch all year long I would die a happy man. Any and all hints tips and technics WILL be most appreciated.

[Guest]

warren.......i certainly will take a platter of deep fried perch fillets over just about any other fish!.....bar none!....my perch fishing usually is done during the winter months out on the ice....no reason ........just like to fish perch thru the ice...guess i just put the summer months aside for the crappie and bluegill fishing .....and reserve the perch for ice fishing.......jon

[Ole1855]

I was on Leech for the week before Memorial Weekend, we were having a tough time finding many walleyes, we caught about 75 northerns from 4-8# but we were getting bored with that so I went in search of perch. I went into the narrows by Grand View, got into about 7' of water and bobber fished. The wife and I picked up about 100 perch in an 1.5 hrs. we sorted through about 5 to get 1 nice one, our self imposed slot was they had to be longer that 11" so we ended up with 22 perch that ran from 11-12.5", not bad and they ate well.

[trux]

ANSWER TO THE WORM QUESTION!
According to a DNR source the white colored worms are fresh water Clam larve. Harmless to consume.
They still look gross though!

[perchpro]

a few years ago my dad and i were fishing on the pond at july bar i think....anyway, we came across a big school of perch, they were big eaters too. we have not gone back since but the next time someone goes to the pond you should try it and post what you get. i don't know if it was a fluke or what??