Toledo water intake and west ( perch)

[wkndwarrior63]

Great wknd on water. No post so thought would start one. Been fishing mile east of intake but fish have been off and on. Moved west of intake this wknd and fishing has been alot better. Mile east of lighthouse in 20 ft of water both days. 2 man Limit Saturday 14lbs at cleaners, Sunday 8lbs at cleaners for 32 fish. Goldies and shiner mix cut them in half. Ran out of bait both days.

[airshot]

On saturday I started east of intake, good marks but perch did not cooperate. Started moving to the west, stiil good marks but perch were closed mouths. After numerous stops going west, started getting hits. Ended up halfway between intake and light house. Only 7 keepers (9" and over) another 9 dinkies, but then the breeze stopped, and heat turned on. Called it quits...but really nice morning !!!

[airshot]

Tried the intake area again today, started west side but mostly junk fish, moved to east side among pack of boats. Bite was very slow, lots of dinkys, light breeze stopped blowing, so did the bite, got really hot so called it quits. Only 12 keepers.

[wkndwarrior63]

Saturday couldn't have been nicer. Two boats near me within a half mile. Non stop action again, shiners from b&ds. No farm animals and alot of small future perch let go. Gravel pit today. 8lbs at cleaners for my 30. Going out next 2 days before big blow hits on weds,and thurs.

[wkndwarrior63]

Today was another great day. Started east of lighthouse 17ft. Non stop action, only kept 8inch and bigger. Freezer starting to get full. Went through 2 scoops of shiners. ^^^^^ on the downside I had a guy anchor within 30ft of my boat.. I didn't say anything but my radio did get a lot louder. When I pulled my anchor, I was within 10ft of his boat. It takes all kinds, if your reading this blog, be considerate of others. Fish move all over that lake, and might come your way sooner or later.

[fishfinder]

Glad you are getting your freezer filled up. I hope to get out next week if the weather allows

[Chix_wing]

Launched out of Cullen Park yesterday around noon. Docks have been taken out but we were able to launch anyway since my wife can now dump me in and park the truck. Getting out was more challenging but thanks to the keel guard on the Ranger, I was able to beach the boat on the ramp and go retrieve the truck.

We went out to the lighthouse and setup right on the edge of the channel in 21 FOW. Wasn't marking much but that's how perch fishing goes, for me anyway. We anchored and didn't move until the sun was about to set. Kept 43 very nice sized perch, much bigger than last year. Plenty are 10"+, and we threw back at least as many as we kept that were less than 7" or less. Two scoops of very lively emeralds from Fisherman's Cave only attracted one junk fish - a sheep that bit when I put a mushy chunk of minnow that was re-used from a few catches. Otherwise, perch after perch after perch. There were two other boats that were there the same time we were and seemed to be doing well. When the sun started to set around 5pm, we started packing up the boat for the ride back to shore. My wife had her last minnow and rod sitting in a rod holder to keep it in until the very last minute. She reluctantly started reeling it in to end our season and as luck would have it, a 12" yellow perch slammed it as she was reeling it up. How fortunate are we to live so close to this fabulous natural resource!

As is the case for many of us, I look a couple of times per day for posts from Juls, Pork Chop or any others to see what is working. A sincere thank you to all of the contributors in this forum who have taught me so much.

[airshot]

Been fishing for perch for over 60 years and always filleted my own fish ( hate bones). Anyway considering having some cleaned as my arthritus in my hands is making the cleaning difficult. Curious as to what they charge nowadays for cleaning and do they skin them or just butterfly with skin on ??
Still enjoy the catching, but cleaning is getting difficult. Thanks in advance...

[fishfinder]

airshot, If I lived closer I would go out with you and clean the perch for you

[itsbob]

Most places scale fish in a tumbler then butterfly them.They don't skin them.Not sure how much to clean perch now