spring perch

[rickmp]

With ice out right around the corner, was thinking about trying for a few of them perch that might be hitting the shallows. Anyone have any advice as to what baits or lures would be best and where to locate the perch at?

[Guest]

They will be up in the shallows just like the crappies and bluegills. Small jigs and bobbers will work. The bays on Mille Lacs are great in the spring.

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Mille Lacs Guide Service
651-271-5459
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[rickmp]

Thanks Derek, that's what I was figuring, just wanted to see if anyone else had any other ideas.

[Aquaman01]

Cut & pasted from a Univ. of MN site -

<<Yellow perch spawn fairly early, soon after ice-out in April and early May. Water temperature only needs to reach 7° C (45° F) to induce spawning. They build no nest, and there is no parenting of the eggs or young. Males reach reproductive maturity at 2-3 years old and females at 3-4 years old. These adult perch move to shallow, weedy areas of lakes or into slower protected areas of a stream. At night females are escorted by two or more males as they move among the weeds. Females drape their eggs in an accordion-like strand over the vegetation. The males fertilize the eggs as they are released. A single female may lay 10,000-200,000 eggs, depending on her size and health.

The eggs (embryos actually) hatch in about 2 weeks and shortly afterwards migrate to the open water of the lake or drift downstream to pools or backwaters. They stay in the open water until they are about 25 mm (1 in) long and then migrate into weedy areas near shore.>>

Yup. Perch are gonna be there.

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Aquaman
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"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat."