Perch fishing with or without bait?

[Sturge1]

The Old Timers in my area do not use bait on their spoons. They seem to catch larger fish but not the numbers, what do you think?
Sturge

[Skeets]

A little meat (Waxies, Spikes, Minnows)on the hook always works better for me!

[Guest]

I've noticed the same thing when using Do-Jiggers and Baby Shads in open water on Erie. Fewer, but bigger fish.

[Guest]

Perch eyes rule!!!
What else do you think I would say given my username ;-)

I use a minnow head on a home-made copper spoon till I get that first perch, then a little surgery...and I am in business!

BTW, don't be cruel, stick a sharp knife between the perch's eyes to dispatch it prior to popping the eyes out.

PerchEye

P.S, don't ask about how to make the home-made spoon as my buddy Jon would kill me if I gave out that little secret. Besides, the perch would quickly become an endangered species...

[This message has been edited by PerchEye (edited 12-11-2002).]

[Matt D]

FYI: Perch eyes are not legal bait in Minnesota.

------------------
Best FISHES,
Matt

[Pig_sticka]

sounds like just a cracker jack. it is illegal to use any game fish as bait, or parts of them.

[Guest]

A very good non live bait option for perch or crappie is the HT MICRO Softie Tails. You slip one on a micro jig like a Daphnia, HOT HEAD, Rat-Finkie, or a HT ULTRA LITE lure and your all set.

They often work wonders under a search rig or on there own when perch are fussy.

The tiny sliver tails of a Berkley power Tube can at times work just as well. You get the subtle teaser action and the scent needed to fool a sneaky sumo.

------------------
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson..><sUMo>

Backwater Guiding
"Ed on the RED"
(701)-281-2300

http://ed-carlson.fishingbuddy.com

[Guest]

"FYI: Perch eyes are not legal bait in Minnesota."

Matt,
FYI, they are legal in New York. (That's why "I love New York")

BTW: Not everyone on this site is from MN.

PerchEye

[Guest]

Small one-inch spoon packed with maggots works best for me when icing perch. If spoons don't work then stick with a horizontal approach and fill the hook with maggots.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[Guest]

Surge1,
Do you know where I can find a spoon of this type? I have an idea of what this spoon looks like but I haven't seen one in any of the stores I go to.
I will give this a shot the first time out if the ice comes this year. I am from Southeast PA and so far the its looking as good as I thought. Can't wait to give this a try thanks!

Morrocco mole....

[This message has been edited by Morrocco Mole (edited 12-12-2002).]

[Matt D]

PerchEye:
1) I assumed they were legal in NY from your post.
2) I am aware that not everyone on the forum is from MN, including myself (ND-where they also are legal).
3) However, most here are from MN. Just wanted to point it out so folks didn't run out and end up getting into trouble for using them.
Sorry if my post bothered you; it was not my intention.
------------------
Best FISHES,
Matt

[This message has been edited by Matt D (edited 12-12-2002).]

[Lunker]

I personally opt for the minnow head on the spoon. Although if you rip it off rather than cut it it seems to work better cause of little bits of skin, fin, and innards that hang off.

[Guest]

MattD,
No offense taking...
It's too bad that the MN folks can't take advantage of using a perch eye as it can be a deadly bait. Many a times I have used a minnow head with limited results, then switched to a perch eye and the perch would start biting. Rarely does a minnow head outfish it. Who knows why the perch (and walleyes) like them, but they do!

Does anyone on this thread have any theories on why they are effective?

In what other states are they illegal?

PerchEye

[This message has been edited by PerchEye (edited 12-14-2002).]

[fishlakeman]

I was up on ottertail last weekend, and found out that I was catching more and larger perch(9.5-11in) using a large walleye size buckshot rattle spoon compared to a smaller spoon with a minnow or minnowhead, or waxie. It really suprized me! I would just let it sit on the bottom, slowly pull it up, and i could feel the dead weight of the perch and set the hook. this was a totally new technique for me, but it out performed anything else I tried.

[Guest]

im from ny. and i also use perch eyes,they work very well! i also use the buckshoot spoons and they too r great!