Most perch I have caught have 7” or so their air sac is out so I keep them. So I have been taught to keep them if air sac is out. My understanding is Once it’s out they will die If released.
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Most perch I have caught have 7” or so their air sac is out so I keep them. So I have been taught to keep them if air sac is out. My understanding is Once it’s out they will die If released.
This is a great point, and highly controversial to some anglers. Over the years I have caught perch in 6 to 45 feet of water. and have consistently noticed distended air bladder in perch caught in water over 30 feet. I don't ever recall seeing it in fish caught under 30 feet. I have heard the stories and read the articles on perforating the air bladder and releasing the fish, my personal experience is they become seagull food within 10 minutes, so I don't do it. Fishing west of the islands I have witnessed very few cases of distended air bladder in perch, but I have seen the gulls eating a whole bunch of undersized perch when fishing around packs of boats. I only release under size perch if they are lip hooked and energetic. Gill and belly hooked perch go in the bucket regardless of size.
5285, this is because you value our resource. Awesome! I would say most of us on here do. A dying fish if at legal size goes in the box.
Fished at C can then moved to B Friday. Slow bite. Three guys caught 61. 21 pounds. Fished 8 until 2:00.
8/19-20
Great to be back out fishing after an unplanned 2 week break. Went out by myself mid afternoon Wednesday, It took almost 4 hours to catch a limit, lots of undersized perch and walleye thrown back. Fished the north side of Big Pickerel, south of B can, with a crappy rig, and goldies from A and Js. Little over 8 lbs at Shatto's.
Went to the same spot by myself Thursday afternoon and all I could catch were some white perch and sheepheads. Moved to D can and my luck improved. It took 3 and a half hours but I got my limit, lots of shorts and 4" walleye gently returned when the seagulls weren't looking. All fish caught on 3 hook crappy rigs with goldies from A and Js. 9 pounds at Shatto's. Weather looks great the next 3 days, and hope to have some buddies up this weekend.
8/21
Wasted a trip over to D can this afternoon by myself, was there an hour moved 3 times caught several white perch and a sheephead. Got a text from a buddy about some action at A can so I moved over there. Idled around till I found some decent marks and dropped 2 lines. Since the wind was non existent I just let the boat drift. After about 5 minutes drifting maybe 10 feet, both rods had hits, a triple and a single. Hit the spot lock and settled in. It was on and off usualy both rods then nothing for 10 or fifteen minutes. Took 3 hours to catch a limit, did some sorting and they weighed 10 lbs at Shatto's. Used 3 hook crappy rigs with half ounce weight, and nice small goldies from A and Js. 3 of us heading out mid morning looks like a nice day.
8\22
Headed back to the north of A can this morning at 10 with a buddy. Set up on the same spot as yesterday while looking at some pretty good marks on the bottom and up about 2 feet. As soon as the boat stopped we were covered with midges, head to toe, had to keep wiping them off my glasses to be able to see. Got to enjoy there company for a couple of hours till we got enough of a breeze to carry them off. We were catching perch only on the top hook of hour crappy rigs, so I put 12 inches of leader between the weight and the bottom of the rig to get it higher off the bottom, that started producing some doubles and more consistent singles. It wasn't a fast bite it took us 3 hours to catch our limits. Fished with goldies from A and Js, and the perch weighed 20 lbs at Shato's.
8\23
3 of us went back to the area north of A can that I had been fishing the last 3 days. Started fishing at 10 am and headed back around 2 pm with our 90 perch. It took a while for the guys with me to get used to the light bite, and they went through a lot of bait till they got the hang of it. Only had a few shorts to throw back, and a few white perch that we fed the seagulls. Still using 3 hook crappy rigs with most perch being caught on the top hooks. Got 4 scoops of those nice size (1 inch) goldies from A and Js Bait, and the 90 fish weighed 29 lbs at Shatto's.Attachment 6491
Fished the same program as above for 3 days with 4 guys. we ran all over the lake from Water intake, Crane Reef, B can and A can. Caught about 90% of our fish around A can in 3 days. 90 perch on Thursday and 25 pounds at cleaners. 30 fish on Friday and 12 pounds at cleaners and 70 perch on Saturday, with 19 pounds at cleaners. Fished about 6 hours each day. On Thursday we got some large emerald shiners at Hi-way Dons that we had to cut in half and thirds. I think this lead to the bigger catch on Thursday out of the three days. Friday and Saturday we used Goldies from Butch and Denny's.
Bite was light. Used crappie rigs with an additional snelled hook on sinker clip that caught a lot of fish on Thursday and Friday however like above, the bite on Saturday was coming off the top hook! Fishing was a little slow at times however we limited on 30 packs of Busch Latte each day to make a great trip with two old sets of brothers!
8/24
Out again by myself this afternoon. Thought I would try a spot around L can where I saw quite a few boats yesterday. Idling around I found some marks and set up. Just as I got the second rod on the bottom, the first one went down. As soon as I set the hook I knew it was a sheephead. As I was bringing it up the second rod bent hard over the side of the boat, I heard a snap and watched the rod tip and last 3 inches of my favorite rod slide down the line and into the water. Obviously I was angry, but as I released the first fish I remembered a book about the native fish of Lake Erie that I had read 40 years ago. The author described how amazing it was that a few species had survived the commercial over harvesting, poisons, and pollution the lake has suffered over the last hundred years, and that the Fresh Water Drum was one of them. That memory had a calming effect on me, and I was actually smiling as I released the 24" offender. I did promptly leave the area, and moved to where I hoped the fish would be a little more considerate of my St Croix ultra lite rods.
Ended up back at the same spot north of A can that I have been fishing for a week now, and the perch were still there. 2 and a half hours to catch a limit. Very subtle nibbles, almost imperceptible on the rod tip, and most fish caught on the top hook. Still using the nice small goldies bought from A and Js, on 3 hook crappy rigs. Fish weighed 10 lbs at Shatto's
Your right a quality rod like a St Croix should give a lifetime of service if handled properly. However; if your lazy like me, and don,t put them in a proper rod holder, rather lay them over the gunwale (see photo) then they can break when a large fish slams your bait. It was definitely my fault not the rod or the sheephead.Attachment 6496
8/25
Took a neighbor out with me this afternoon, went to the same spot 1 mile north of A can. Very few boats on the lake today, passed 5 at L can and 2 at A can. Maybe the rest caught there fish early and headed in before I went out. Little chop on the water from the north wind, but not enough we needed to drop the anchor. Marked some fish and set the spotlock on the trolling motor. The bite had been light for the last few days but today was really light, just the slightest stop in the flexing of the rod tip signaled the bite, you either set the hook or lost your bait. The neighbor had a hard time with it and only caught 8 fish, it took me 2 and a half hours to catch a limit. Used 3 hook crappy rigs and goldies from A and Js. I gave him all the perch so i don't know the weight, but they were the same size We have been catching there.
Thanks for the new report. Nice to let the neighbor have the fish too. I've seen a couple guys set a pole like that too, bad practice. I've seen a couple go over the side.
8/28&30
Went to the east side of L can Friday afternoon with my nieces husband. He had never perch fished Lake Erie and wanted to give it a try. I marked some fish about 200 yards east of the can. It took us about 3 hours to catch our limit of perch, didn't have to move around they just kept coming with no more than 10 minute breaks between the bites. Again it was a pretty light bite, but he caught on really quick. Fish weighed 19 lbs at Shatto's, and were caught on crappy rigs, and goldies from A and Js.
My regular fishing buddy came up Saturday, but the waves never got below 3 feet, so he spent the night to try again Sunday. We decided to wait till the lake settled down Sunday morning and left the marina around 11 am. I was feeling confident because A and Js had a 50/50 mix of shiners and goldies. Tried west of L can first had some marks but fished a half hour for one perch. Idled around the east side and didn't see any fish, then went a quarter mile north and tried for a half hour with only 2 perch. Drove up to A can, spent 20 minutes looking for good marks, finally found some about mile north of A can close to where I was catching perch last week. Set there for about 45 minutes and only caught 4. Thought I might give the Toledo intake a try, and on the way noticed some boats anchored about half way to the intake closer to shore so I drove down to them and found they were on some pretty good marks. We caught the rest of our limits in about 2 and a half hours. The perch definitely bit better on the shiners than the goldies. All the fish were taken on crappy rigs, with all 3 hooks producing equally. Fish weighed 19 lbs at Shatto's
5285. What was your depth when you finally got into them? Thx
22 feet of water
9\15
Only fished twice in the last two weeks. Friday 9/4 went 2 miles south of A can in 22 fow by myself it took 5 hours to catch a limit using crappy rig and goldies from A and Js. 8 lbs at Shatto's.
Went back to the same spot at noon today, only took 2 hours to catch my 30. Still using 3 hook crappy rig and today A and Js had emerald shiners with about a third goldies mixed in. fish weighed 9 lbs at Shatto's. Planning on heading back out tomorrow before the wind kicks up Thursday and Friday.
My 15 weighed 7lb at Marblehead fish cleaning, what quality of fish are you catching. Hope someone isn't putting their thumb on the scale.
That does sound heavy unless they were all 13 to 14 inchers. Usually 30 8 to 10 inch perch weigh 8 to 9 lbs.
9\16
Great day, back to same spot South of A can 22 fow. Only had 5 perch in the first hour, then they turned on, finished up in a half hour. Had 6 triples and the last hit with 29 in the box was a double, had to release one. No sheephead or white perch. Used a 3 hook crappy rig with shiners from A and Js. Saw the question on weight so I checked the scales at Shatto's. I assumed they had the weight of the tub deducted from the scales, turns out they don't. I threw 3 tubs on the scale they weighed 3 lbs 5 ounces, so the weights I have been listing are about a pound over. Today's weighed 10 lbs, the fish were 8 to 10 inches with 2 11" a 12" and 2 gut hooked 7". So that would be closer to 9 lbs. Forecast shows the wind laying down tomorrow afternoon, hope to get back out then.
9/19-20
After the wind laid down Saturday afternoon 4 of us went to the spot south of A can where I had been catching for the last couple weeks, water was muddy from the blow on Friday so we moved on. Tried Big pickerel, A can, B can, and D can. Made several moves at each spot, but after 4 hours we only had 19 perch. Decided to head north and scout around. Found some nice marks half way between Niagara Reef and C can in 30 fow, Caught 60 nice 8 to 11 inch perch in the hour before sunset. Using crappy rigs with shiners and goldies from A and Js.
The couple that went out with me Saturday wanted to fish again Sunday morning. I was busy so I let them take the boat back to the same spot. They had their limit in a couple hours. nice size fish again.Attachment 6533
9/22-23-24-25-26
Last Tuesday afternoon went out with my neighbor north of Niagara reef 30 fow. It was just windy enough that we couldn't keep his anchor holding. Spent 3 and a half hours catching one or two then slipping. Nice fish but we only got 37. Took him in my boat Wednesday to the same spot and caught our limit in the same amount of time. Most were 10 to 12 inch with a few 13s. Thursday went to the same spot by myself for a 2 and a half hour limit. Friday my brother came up and we headed out about 9am to the same spot. caught 37 pretty quick then they stopped. Moved around and tried several spots within a half mile but couldn't get any to bite. Moved down to Water Dogs neighborhood south of G can, pulled a few then decided to head back up to Niagara. Made for an 8 hour day but we got our limit. Saturday 3 of us went back to North of Niagara reef. Fished for 6 hours to catch our fish. Had to make several short moves to get back on the bite. I considered it a pretty good week. Way better than last year at this time. As always we were using 3 hook crappy rigs with shiners and goldies from A n Js. I didn't keep any of the perch (freezers full) gave them all away, so I don't know what they weighedAttachment 6563
10/3
4 of us went out Saturday morning about 9:30. Stopped at L can for about a half hour and caught 4-8" perch. Decided to head on up to that 30 foot of water North of Niagara where I had been fishing the last couple of weeks to see if we could find some bigger fish. Idled around a quarter mile circle and found some decent marks. Took about 2 and a half hours to catch our limit. Caught the perch on crappy rigs with cut Emerald shiners from Scott and Dick's. The guy's took the fish to Shatto's to get cleaned, they said the 120 perch weighed 37lbs.
10/5
They're getting bigger. Took my neighbor back to the north side of Niagara in 30 fow found a school, and caught 17 in an hour and a half. It was a slow bite but every time I said I was going to move we caught another fish. They were all 10 to 12 inches and I hate to leave fish to find fish but we had a 20 minute lull so it was time to move. Looked for another school for about 15 minutes and set up again. Bite was a little faster, perch were still nice size. Ended up taking 5 hours to get our 60 but they filled a 5 gallon bucket. Weather was absolutely perfect, we fished from 10 to 3, and I don't remember a more relaxing and pleasant day on the lake. We used 3 hook crappy rigs weighted with a half ounce sinker and #4 tru turn hooks. Bait was emerald shiners and small goldie mix from Butch and Denny's . Looks like Friday the wind will lay down enough to try it again.Attachment 6570
10\6 to 11\1
Doesn't feel like it's been a month since I have posted, time flies when you get busy. For the last month I have been fishing within 200 yards of a way point on the north side of Niagara reef in 30 fow that I made back in September. I have been fishing 2 to 4 days a week mostly by myself and it has been unbelievably consistent, with limits taking from 2 to 4 hours and the fish have been mostly 9 to 11 inches with quite a few 12s also. A and Js has had a good supply of nice size shiners, to use on our 3 hook crappy rigs, with all the fish cleaned at Shatto's
I have had the same success just south of G can. I have been also catching 6-8 small walleye each trip out with an occasional keeper. Curious if you are also catching the occasional walleye also?
Same here but at the toledo light house the freezer is full of perch for the long winter and the boat has been pulled out. Hope next year is a repeat.
I was out in the lighthouse area Sunday early and again Monday late. Didn't do well either day. Kept a dozen Sunday with another 6 or 8 smalls thrown back. That was me and my grandson. Monday was on another guy's boat. 4 of us started about 2 fished till sunset, 6 fish. Great bait from ANJ. Think I'm going to try tomorrow early again. Probably run out of Catawaba. If the wind isn't bad maybe run out to Niagara.
Fished out of Catawba today. Pretty slow only kept a dozen between 2 of us. Had about 6 small walleye, 1 worth measuring. Started near the green can had a real slow pick of decent fish. Made several small moves then ran to near G can. None paid off. Ended up back where we started and got a few more. Fished 8 till 1. Probably should have stayed out but you never know. Never really marked a lot of fish in any spot. May try again Saturday.
11/7-8-9
Saturday morning 3 of us went to the north side of Niagara Reef in 30 fow. Bite was good for an hour then quit. As I was moving I took the sonar off of bottom lock and marked a bunch of walleye from 15 to 25 feet. Looked around for a while and couldn't find any perch so we headed to the south side of L can, and finished our 3 man limit. Total trip was 4 hours.
Sunday 3 of us went back to the south side of L can, the bite was slow but steady, never moved the boat, and the 90 fish took 5 hours to catch.
Monday took some different guys back to the same spot south of L can and started looking for perch. Didn't mark any fish until I got about a mile and a half south of A can. caught 90 perch in 4 hours without moving.
used crappy rigs all 3 days and shiners from A and Js. Gave all the fish away so I don't know the weights. Had some 8" mostly 9 & 10" and a decent amount of 11 & 12".
Probably pull the boat Thanksgiving weekend, but I hope to get 4 or 5 more trips in before then.
Finally found a good school of perch. Been trying since June but all I could find was small groups, catch 1 or 2 and then they were gone. Went to the intake last week and found some good marks, caught 4 then the wind kicked up and I couldn't hold the boat so I came in. Went back Saturday afternoon, again too much wind for the spot lock so I anchored up and 2 of us enjoyed a good bite. There are flags for a net (I assume perch) inside the buoys, I pulled right up to it and dropped the anchor. Caught them all on 3 hook crappy rigs with emerald shiners. Seeing several commercial nets around the Western Basin. I guess they killed all the perch in the Central Basin so they might as well come over here and do the same.Attachment 7263 Attachment 7262
I was wondering when they were gonna heat up. Havent seen many reports of any good catches. Toledo intake?
I tried for perch Saturday morning. Off Lakeside, Marblehead lighthouse and break wall at Cedar Point. Zero perch. Lots of farm animals.
I was out tubing saturday afternoon. I saw a few good "perch type" marks around half way between CIC and PC. Was hoping to try for them on Sunday but, weather didn't cooperate. 20 Fow.
Rickerd
Perch tournament advertised on Perchguy Different kind of format.
7/30
4 of us went to B can, that's where I had last fished and several folks told me there was still a good bite there. Apparently they had moved on, we caught 8 perch in 2 hours with 4 moves around the area, wasn't seeing any good marks, and there didn't appear to be any fish moving in and out.
We were in a 30' with an anchor and moving around was enough of a chore I decided to try elsewhere. Headed west and saw some boats fishing South of A can. Cruised around and found some good marks, so we set up. Immediately started pulling doubles and singles enjoying a fast bite for a half hour and then they quit biting and disappeared from the screen. I noticed at the same time the clouds moved from in front of the sun. I could see more clouds drifting in and decided to stay put, when the sun was blocked the fish were back and we had a good bite. Sun would shine bright and they would shut down. we hung out for 3 hours and got our fish, but you could predict when they were going to bite by the cloud movement. caught all our perch on 3 hook crappy rigs and emerald shiners from Bite Me Bait.
Does anyone know approximately how many miles it is from catawba out to g can?
Hey Tony from catawba ramp you should be just a touch over 2 mi to G