Perch

[Lucky Duck]

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

I really thought those high priced rods like St Croix did not break very easily. Is that common that a big fish will snap a high quality rod?

[5285]

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.

[dunn782]

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.

[5285]

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.

[jar11]

I tried for perch Saturday morning. Off Lakeside, Marblehead lighthouse and break wall at Cedar Point. Zero perch. Lots of farm animals.

[5285]

Starting to get some entries in for the perch tournament. There are 15 of the 60 team limit registered. There will be lots of door prizes passed out at the weigh in and this is a 100% payback tournament. Details can be found at Perchguy

[5285]

No Reason to Cheat Perch Tournament results {in ounces}

[5285]

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.

[5285]

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.

[5285]

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.