Can't go Walleye fishing?

[DTro]

Now that the walleye season is coming to a close, how about 2lb + perch to pass the time? They are fairly common on the UP of Michigan on Lake Gogebic and the Maple Ridge Motel has been putting up some very impressive pictures lately. I had the pleasure of catching a few of these beasts a few years ago, and until you see them in person, it cannot be explained. They are a freak of nature.

Just a suggestion if anyone is looking for a weekend road trip, especially if you want to put a few miles on your sled (they have been getting a ton of snow). It's actually not that far of a drive to get there either. Probably about 5 from the Minneapolis Metro area.

Here's a picture of a couple of 2lbers caught recently.

[Scupper]

The area where we caught these is about 3 hours further then the area DTro is suggesting but you can use your Minnesota license, Northwest Angle.

I don't know if they were 2lbers but we ended up with close to 20 of them with 2 of them just over 14" and most over 13".

[leech~~]

Maybe not as big but not 3-5hrs away. Mill Lacs still puts out some nice Perch!

[DTro]

Nice Perch can be caught throughout the state of MN.

But, IMO with the exception of Devils Lake, you will not find Perch consistently this freakish within a 5 hour drive.

This is a 2 Liter not a 20oz. Just saying.

[Boar]

Thats amazine! would love to tyr that some day. LOW is currently on a big perch pop. with 10 to 13's common, If you cna get into them. Deep water in the mudd off of reefs is a great place to start. Boy a three over 14 would make a reall cool mount.

[leech~~]

Mill Lacs has a few! 5hr drives cost a lot in fuel and motels rooms!

[perchking]

Those are some nice perch, I would have to say that is a very average perch for LG. Now we are seeing some pushing 16" coming from the depths of Gogebic. The big test is can you lay them on their bellies and not have them fall over?

[Nilsfisher]

wow, nice looking perch guys!

[Scupper]

That is a freak...

[rundrave]

But, IMO with the exception of Devils Lake, you will not find Perch consistently this freakish within a 5 hour drive.

We caught plenty of nice pearch in SD this weekend

[Hardwater_Fan]

Quote:

We caught plenty of nice pearch in SD this weekend

Here's a couple from SD.

[DTro]

All nice Perch, but like Perchking says, average fish up in da U.P eh.

[fishuhalik]

thats crazy. i've never been a big perch guy but it'd be kinda cool to get a few big ol' paulies to add to my stringer mount from this winter

[DTro]

Lot's of pics like this the past couple weeks.

[Rick G]

Dang, that last pic the perch looks ready to explode .

[Knoc]

When cleaning these monsters, are they usually full of eggs? There stomachs look ready to pop!

[leech~~]

When cleaning these monsters, are they usually full of eggs? There stomachs look ready to pop!

All the big late season ones I have cleaned are full of egg's. I do hate the thought of taking all those eggs out of next years production!

[walleye44]

Nice fish!!!

[biff]

Man those gogebic perch are unreal!

[Stick in Mud]

Those are some sick fish!! Now if only gas wasn't 3.60 a gallon...

[Gordie]

The Perch on Devils are a bit shy this year but they are getting them and walleye is still open.

I agree with DTro on the consistency thing as you will not find the size and numbers like you do on the UP of Michigan on Lake Gogebic.

[goosemafia]

has anyone been perch fishing on Ottertail lake and doing any good? i havent had a chance to be out there yet.