Catching perch with pin head shiners.

[waterdog]

About me:
I have not posted on this site since 2017 but have read this forum off and on for the past 4 years. I have never been one to give bogus information or stand by and let someone steer this fishing community wrong with bogus information while I was actively posting. Check my history if in doubt.

I decided to post now because some of the newer members seem to be having trouble hooking and harvesting perch while fishing with pin head shiners. The two things that I have learned over the years while perch fishing with pin head shiners is to downsize my fish hooks. I always carry along a supply of #8 fine wire rotating hooks most often red in color, (Tru-Turn, Mr Crappie or Eagle claw) to name a few, and a quality hook disgorger with a small enough end to remove hooks from smaller fish. To me bait holder hooks are not suitable since they are made from heavier wire and don’t penetrate as easy as the fine wire hooks.

The small wire diameter of the #8 hooks allow you to get those pin heads on the hook without breaking or destroying them, I hooked my pinheads through the eyes and then back out thru the body or the reverse of that method. This make the bait presentation more durable with less lost bait with fewer empty hooks after a bite resulting in a higher catch rate the perch have a harder time getting the bait off without getting the hook in their mouth.

I hope this helps with catching perch while using pin heads.

wakina; Thank you for sharing and I hope you will post more often on any hot spots and techniques in order to help those looking to enjoy a better fishing experience.
When I use golden shiners I put the hook in the gut sack and ripe it out then do a full hook up from the head to the tail.
I also use red tru turn hooks, these hold up to the big sheep head and some nice walleye.
(head boat captain once shared this advice with me some years ago)
~Water Dog

[wakina]

wakina; Thank you for sharing and I hope you will post more often on any hot spots and techniques in order to help those looking to enjoy a better fishing experience.
When I use golden shiners I put the hook in the gut sack and ripe it out then do a full hook up from the head to the tail.
I also use red tru turn hooks, these hold up to the big sheep head and some nice walleye.
(head boat captain once shared this advice with me some years ago)
~Water Dog

I sure wish that I could share hot spots with the members but until Sunday August 1, 2021 I had not been on the water since 2017 due to personal medical issues and an elderly parent that lived with me and needed my attention she passed this last November at age 97.

I sold my boat in 2018 with all of my walleye gear as a package deal to the owner of Paradise Acres Campground, all 10 rods & 10 line counter reels and 8 inline boards as well as 2 stern planers, 2 boxes of crank baits most of which had never been wet and about 50 worm harnesses. I kept all of my perch gear just in case, i am glad I did.

It seems that by taking my doctors advise as well as slowing down my life style I was able to overcome my medical problems to the point that I felt comfortable enough to go back out on the water again. I went out with a head boat from fisherman's wharf, the Miss Cindy. 12 People caught a total of 36 perch with the captain and first mate catching half of them. I caught 3 keepers all of which were over the 10" mark and one throw back about 5" which was released unharmed. We fished north of Crib Reef for the first stop and next stop and about halfway between Niagara and C-can, next we moved to just west of the rattles of Rattle Snake Island the final stop was about 1/2 mile SE of Green Island. Only one sheep head was caught on-board all day and no white perch that I am aware of and one 18" walleye. We used a mix of Goldies and emerald shiners. the bite was non existent most of the day.