Perch 10/6 and 10/7

[dayze_awayze]

Perch fished Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, we moved quite a few times near Green. Started off by the head boats (south east of Green) with no good results. Moved a mile north with zero bites but good marks. Moved another 1.5 miles north by Rattlesnake and caught over 120 fish. Lots of sorting. A few 12 and 13 inch, but tons of 5 inch perch and super aggressive 4-5 inch walleye. Kept 45 in 2.5 hours.

Sunday, fished the same spot we started at on Saturday. Southeast of Green. Slow start, then steady and aggressive bite for next 1.5 hours. Very little sorting. Most of our 2 man limit was over 10 inches. Caught a couple 3 lb white bass, some monster farm animals and only 3 - 5 inch walleye. The perch were fat and aggressive. We had 13 doubles.

The perch wanted the bait sitting on the bottom for about 30 seconds, then a very slow lift. They would hit it before you got it 18 inches off the bottom most of the time. We used various spreaders with bling (chartreuse or fire tiger) and a tangle free (3 hook) rig. Used emeralds. Part of the time, they wouldn't touch the large shiners, other times, that is all they wanted. Didn't cut any of the shiners like we usually do when they are bass minnow sized.

Got the tangle free rigs and the emerald shiners from Rickard's. Most of the shiners were dead when we hooked them. Didn't matter. Ran the hook through the eyes. That seems to have been the preferred presentation. We tried hooking through the head, mouth and double hooking the body. The perch didn't seem as interested as when the hook was through the eyes.

Overall, great weekend of fishing. Weather on Saturday was a little wet and uncomfortable off and on. It was worth waiting out though.

A little side note to the butt heads going through West Harbor passing a disabled boat at about 1:45 pm on Saturday.
1. When someone needs help on the water, stop and help! You would want someone to help you!
2. If you see someone trying to tow a disabled boat, slow down and stay clear.

We watched a dozen boats pass a disabled boat in the harbor. It was easy to tell they were not under power. The boat kept stalling, and was turned sideways, blocking half of the channel. We approached, tried to turn around to put our stern to their bow to hook a tow rope. We had boats within 10 feet of us doing 10 mph (in a no wake zone), pushing us off target of being able to assist another boater having a bad day. I know the sky was turning black and you were evidently afraid of getting your boats wet. Don't be complete jerks to everyone else.

I generally hate going through West Harbor! I am not sure why so many boaters in that area are so rude and how they think 10-15 mph in a no wake zone is acceptable. It is difficult to navigate a narrow channel when you have a 40 foot boat pushing a foot and a half of white water. There are other reasons for no wake zones than to inconvenience you.

Enough of my ranting. Fishing was great. Cant wait load up on lake erie gold again next weekend.

[Fishing Addiction]

Good report and thanks for helping someone in need of assistance.

[PatSea]

Thanks for the detailed report. Going up tomorrow. This gives us a starting point. Thanks for helping a fellow boater. Many don't realize they are required to "render assistance".