Suspended Perch-

[riverrat56]

The last two days I have found something I've never seen before, schools of micro sized perch, 2-4" suspended 8' down over 35'+ of water, the school is approximatly 100' around and the fish are stacked up down to 20'. The area I found this in is near a very sharp break that tops out at 12' and the perch don't move out and suspend till about noon, before that there is crappies using the same area. Often there is a few fish tight to the bottom but I cannot get them to bite, not sure if they are more perch or walleyes hanging out waiting for a perch to dip too low.

My real question is has anyone ever seen this before and had any luck targeting suspending or otherwise walleyes relating to this school?

[croixeyes]

Not a perch expert but,maybe they are up there feeding on plankton, I would assume you have checked this out with a camera.Go down and have a look at whats on bottom.

[riverrat56]

No, I've been able to see down too ~18' and have also caught a few....The camera is on the fritz so that isn't an option.

[icehousebob]

I saw suspended Perch on Mille lacs once but it was the bigger ones. I walked out on late ice and was catching small ones near the bottom. The Vex showed something about three to four feet up so I jigged for it. Big Perch. When I came off with my limit, I stopped at a marina's bar and grill for a beer and a burger. The bartender commented that it was too bad the the Perch fishing was so slow. When I told him that the big suspended ones were really hitting, the place went quiet and everybody looked at me. Evidently, I was the only one that day to figure that out.

[eyes]

I have seen this several times ice fishing on Ottertail. Normally caught walleyes during or shortly after seeing the small perch surface. My theory is that they are surfacing to elude being eaten. Hard to prove out, during those days I was vex and camera less.