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View Full Version : Saturday Perch Re-Run



raywriter
03-21-2009, 03:23 PM
Today's perch expedition was almost a re-run of last weekends trip. Started at Bay View with fresh waxies, wigglers, spikes and 2" minnows. We walked out from yellow gate and set up in nine feet. The walk was not too strenuous. Some bad ice near shore. Road leading in is badly rutted.

We had the camera and set it up in the shallows. Almost immediately, a walleye stopped for a look, followed by a pike. We tried for perch a while longer, but got no takers. Too many predators.

After that we trudged out to fifteen feet and saw perch right away. We were one-half mile from shore. I'm sure because we drove to this spot previously and measured it on the trip mileage screen.

The bite was fairly steady and we landed probably forty fish with ten keepers. Another walleye stopped by, but the perch returned quickly. We didn't have much time, so we started taking in lines. As the last waxworm and small jig combination was about to be reeled in a large pike head showed up on the screen and he inhaled the tidbit. My friend Duane had a strong two-second pull, one head shake, and it was all over. The pike snipped the line as they usually do in this situation.

It was a great way to end the trip! Again, finesse presentation was necessary. Perch would grab only tiny jigs or plain hooks with a single waxie, or three spikes. They would not take minnows, and just played with wigglers. We could see them biting and re-acting to our baits. Good learning experience.

weekend jimmy
03-22-2009, 05:13 PM
how the ice holding up?? I havent' been out since the last day of Eye season. I've heard some reports about trucks going through at Butler Is. I've been a little leery about doing out. Any input as to conditions would be great.

Was there any color that was working better for the perch??

raywriter
03-22-2009, 06:43 PM
The ice was great once we walked out fifty yards from shore. Still 30" or more. Just avoid walking on the visible truck tire ruts out on the bay. The ruts are deep and filled with water that is skimmed over with thin ice.

As for color. Chartreuse was best by far. But... not just any chartreuse. I make my own lures for finesse fishing. I start with a thin wire, long shank hook. Next I wrap thin solder around the shank for weight. Then I dip the wrapped part of the hook in brilliant white base paint, then when that coat is dry, I follow up with a dip in chartreuse. (I also make other colors).

What you end up with is a weighted thin wire hook that impales a waxworm , spike, or wiggler with minimum damage. The wigglers swim like minnows after hooking. These rigs definetly catch perch when many other common perch rigs dont get hit.

The Bait Shop Guy
03-22-2009, 08:42 PM
I fished off of Butler's Island tonight and the ice was beautiful. I walked out, but there were several people out there on quads. There are some cruddy spots along shore and close to the island, but they are pretty obvious and easy to avoid. I believe the spot the trucks went through was over the reef that runs northeast from the island.

I fished about 2 1/2 hours and caught 30 perch, keeping three nice jumbos. I just hopped from hole to hole with a gold Hali jig tipped with spikes and waxies.

weekend jimmy
03-22-2009, 09:18 PM
thanks for the info. Sounds like a trip for some perch would be good one even with my son who is 4. Size doesn't matter to him much just as long as he can pull something through the hole.