Perch Fishing

[lineman49]

Anyone been out for perch lately? Are docks still in at SP is launch open/ able to be used even without docks? Any emerals around ? Thanks for any info.! Can't find Big buck so far might as well go fishing.

[Alaskan Joe]

Everyone seems to agree that fresh, live emerald shiners are the best bait for perch. But what is next? Live goldens? Salted emeralds?

I am asking because I am thinking about salting a small batch of emeralds, given that they were tough to come by last fall. Interested in your opinions....

[lineman49]

I think the live goldens would out fish the salted emeralds but when they are on the feed I think they hit anything. I always keep my left over emeralds. I salt them & put them in the freezer. I still have some in the freezer from last fall & I will use them. jmo.

[Mark]

Everyone seems to agree that fresh, live emerald shiners are the best bait for perch. But what is next? Live goldens? Salted emeralds?

I am asking because I am thinking about salting a small batch of emeralds, given that they were tough to come by last fall. Interested in your opinions....

I keep them alive 'til I get home and send my wife out to run a bunch of errands. Strain off the water and put them in a baggy. Sprinkle a few Tablespoons of salt in there and after a few minutes spread them out onto a sheet pan, sprinkle with enough salt to just get a thin layer on them and leave them in the freezer for an hour or two. Bag them again and store in the freezer. When using them, keep on ice. If they thaw out...Do Not Refreeze! They get stinky.

[peas247]

[QUOTE=Alaskan Joe;52256]Everyone seems to agree that fresh, live emerald shiners are the best bait for perch. But what is next? Live goldens? Salted emeralds?

if u know how to salt minnows good...ill take salteds over live goldens everytime

[lineman49]

[QUOTE=peas247;52261]

Everyone seems to agree that fresh, live emerald shiners are the best bait for perch. But what is next? Live goldens? Salted emeralds?

if u know how to salt minnows good...ill take salteds over live goldens everytime

What's the secret to salting them good? Thanks.

[RedPearl]

[QUOTE=lineman49;52271]

What's the secret to salting them good? Thanks.

What I usually do that works good and is very easy: I'll dip some minnows to take fishing, or just for salt preserving, and right in the parking lot of where I dip them, say the foot of ferry, I'll put just the live flipping minnows in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket that has a sealable top. I usually use a lowe's bucket, but anything that seals up tight. Then I'll cut holes in the top of non-iodized salt cans and pour them in the bucket and mix up with the minnows and salt with my hand. I don't think you can use too much salt and it's pretty cheap. I try and avoid having any standing water in the bucket when all is said and done, and the salt will pull some fluid out of the fish so keep that in mind. If it's warm I'll put an ice pack in there to keep them cool until I get home. Once I get home I put the entire bucket in a fridge downstairs. Because you have the sealed lid, you get no smell in the fridge. I think the fresh minnows like that last longer, and don't smell as much either.

Then when I go perch fishing I'll use a smaller container to grab some handfuls of salty minnows, the 5 gallon bucket will stay in the fridge all summer. I've netted minnows in march and used them in september, but I wouldn't keep them until the next year.

Never freeze them, they will get soft and fall of the hook too easy. When the fishing has been good anything works. I've actually done experiments and I have found that in order of preference, live emeralds are the best. Usually salted emeralds worked better than other live minnows, but not always seemed like it depended on the day. Sometimes half a salted minnow worked better than a whole one. And sometimes one hook with a salty, and one with a live minnow worked best. The salted minnows can come off the hook easier than a live one, you set the hook and miss you will have to rebait. Sometimes I think that works as chum and brings fish too you. At least that's what I tell myself.

I'm sure you will find a variety of ways to do this, I wanted something quick and easy and it seems to work fine.

[peas247]

right after i dip them i add salt to the water and almost brine them...i just roll them on pp towles and get them as dry as possible...throw fifty or so in a pan full of salt...flip them around bag n freeze...they stay flexable and super vibrant...make sure u label ur bags with name quanity and how there perserved...theyll check ya for it out there fyi

[Fitz]

right after i dip them i add salt to the water and almost brine them...i just roll them on pp towles and get them as dry as possible...throw fifty or so in a pan full of salt...flip them around bag n freeze...they stay flexable and super vibrant...make sure u label ur bags with name quanity and how there perserved...theyll check ya for it out there fyi

Are you guys just using regular table salt ?

[peas247]

no...non-ionized or kosher salt