Catching perch?

[lrrpinman]

I've never really fished for perch on purpose. Do you fish them more like a walleye or more like panfish? I'm thinking about heading to Mille Lacs this weekend any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[basssmasher*]

my best perch rig is a smaller spoon tipped with a minnowhead.. basically think downsizing for walleyes.. if they are real finicky. switch to a small icefly and a waxworm,, Good luck on the pond and catcha few 4 me!!

[Team Otter]

I would call it a combination of both. Often times I have found that the bigger perch want a smaller presentation much like a bull 'gill. But as for locations, you will see the perch mixed right in with the 'eyes or vice-versa, especially on Mille Lacs.

[PerchJerker]

On mille lacs the jumbos seem especially susceptible to a small presentation with euros or waxies. Use a jigging spoon with minnow head to draw them in, then catch them on the euros.

[Mike Walerak]

I will usually fish the softest bottom I can find for perch. It will hold the bloodworms that attract the bait and jumbos.

When I target them in SD I usually have set lines with a small moonglow jig and minnows of various sizes. I am also jigging some sort of spoon with a minnow head or waxie.

mw

[fishin58]

I like to use a buckshot spoon, tipped with a head or tail if your in a hurry for bait, if ya know what i mean. I think i trigger more bites than my dad, while he is using regular jig, they love it when it bounces on the bottom and when you lay it down bam, We usually fish together in the same hole, 3-4 put together, and i outfish him every time, but he is a stubborn swede and sticks with his presentation, oh well, I keep the big ones coming and with the buckshot I rarely miss em.

[bgreen82]

i have caught only small ones, but the best presentation i have seen is the swedish pimple with minnow head, then small jig with a waxie.

[Wayne Ek]

Couple of nice ones from last week.

[Blake]

Nice perch Agape......and you were on which lake again???

[Wayne Ek]

That was Devils Lake in NoDak, fishing out of Woodland Resort. First time ice fishing there or going out of Woodland. I would go back in a second.

[Fish'n guy]

I have to say that if you can find a muddy basin area you are in business, because these fish feeding mainly on macroinvertebrates like Mike said blood worms, scuds, and several different aquatics insects. A vast majority of these are relating to soft bottoms areas, so I just move around untill I find them. I genrally try to search them out with a small spoon/wax worm or spikes and that seems to work really well. Then I can downsize after I find them and try to mimic the primary forage for the day! My favorite perch jigs are Genz worms (trying different colors), Fat boys, ratso's and shrimpo's, and my favorite spoons are small buckshot rattle spoons, Angel Eyes, Kastmasters, and swedish pimples. One thing to remeber is that the really big jumbos act like a totally different species of fish. In my experiences they tend to be off on their own and roam in schools of all big fish 11"+ perch. So if you start to hit smaller ones then it would probably be wise to keep moving and try fishing deeper or shallower.

Here are some picks of some Perch from earlier this winter:

[Mike Walerak]

Amen Brother! It has been a while since I had my hands on that SD gold!

This is the time of year that those big perch should be cranking it up and going on the binge.

mw

[Blake]

Nice jumbo's fish'nguy!!!Can't wait to get after some of them myself!!

[outfisherman]

Note from admin: Please read forum policy prior to posting again. Thank you.

[Team Otter]

Using fish parts for bait is illegal in MN.

[outfisherman]

Quote:

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Note from admin: Please read forum policy prior to posting again. Thank you.

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Sorry, did not mean to break the rules. I just read the rules again and not sure what I did wrong. Any help to prevent future mistakes is appreciated. I live in NY and story took place in MA. Don't think it is illegal but will have to check now. Thanks for the info.

[Team Otter]

No problem, just didn't know your location, so I had to wipe it out. At any rate, it'd be worth verifying in your state and others too.

[Fish'n guy]

thanks Blake! I'm sure you will have a hardcore blast when you get into them.