OK, what am I doing wrong...

[ReelTime]

Always use fresh(live) minnows, the salted/preserved stuff is an extremely poor substitute.

I disagree. Not sure about the Gander Mountain stuff but I catch allot of perch on frozen lake shiners and even when we take out live shiners I cut them in half.

Bryan just listen to skipper9 and you will be fine.

[skipper9]

This is just my opinion.. I am not saying anyones choice of bait is wrong.. I tell everyone with whatever works well for them.. I find that either live or frozen shiners work equally well. I do not cut minnows in half unless they are huge.. I think that cut minnows attract junk fish.. Hyway baits frozen minnow supply is the perfect perch minnow right now.

[BAD KARMA]

bryan take skippers advise or if you can go with him. i started using the rig he uses and his good advise and doubled my catch rate. if you get on them perch you will have a great time especially with kids, mine dosent want to troll for walleyes anymore since we have been perch fishing.

just got back in the states glad to here the fishing is still good. been catching them canada walleyes there alot easier, dont think there as smart lol. just kidding dont want to offend any canadian walleye central guys. Skipper i dont have a problem of getting up at 3 a.m. if that means catching fish. talk to you guys later or see you on the water bad karma.

[wayne johnson]

here on the western end of the lake the perch have an abautence of minnows right now, a single hook rig like a lindy style rigs are working better, half minnow are working better,
but if skipper 9 catches perch like he catches walleye then listen to him he great, but the western boys are coming perching
with him later this season to see ho's the perch kings of the lake. Better pratice jim, Wayne and Capt Mike

[branhamautomotive]

i will be a witness to the perch skills of skipper 9 i think he just have to look over the boat and the fish just jump in the cooler. Something we have done to help get the bit going is a simple jar witha lid many hole in it fillt full of water and a dozen or so shinners drop it over the side with a small rope tied around the jar....nothing like a free meal on bottom they cant get to. not a 100% thing but has helped before

[lundyeye]

Went out friday and sat am, north and west of sputnik in Mich waters and boated over 250 yellows between 3 hardcores!! Just drop spreader to the bottom and give it 3 to 4 ft of slack and when you see the bite the hook is already in their guts!!! Getting ready for a deep fry tonight!!! fish on!!

[ReelTime]

OK all this perch smack talk has got me interested. Haven't done alot of perchin myself but definately up for a good time.

[RUSS]

Was out last night..and i mean night...went to fav spot n of b can,,not to much going on so made a move got into some more but no size..moved towards home and stop just out side of turtle reef. Still getting fish but no size... But just as the dark came on the fish size went up and count did too..could not see any other boats out at all...2 guys 46 fish..thnik they might be moveing in to skinny water..think i am going to niagra reef next time...i did real good there last year late in season...

Eyes have it ch 9...russ

make sure the light in your gps works too...

[branhamautomotive]

sometimes there is a differance between goldies and shinners. have been out with a mixed batch before and on purpose put a goldie on one and a shinner on another and for most of the day most of the fish came up on the shinner with the goldie still there. Sometimes it does not matter. I was out last weekend with a mixed bait but mostly goldies, and the bit was up and down. Not really a bite though just noticed a little extra weight on the end of the line like this time coming off the bottom it felt like and extra sinker had been added to my line and thats all there was to let us know fish on

Dont know if this is just dumb luck or not, but last year eary in the season something swallowed one hook and i bent it a little getting out, seemed like 7-10 fish came up on the bent hook. Does hook angle matter? or was it just dumb luck?

[LAST CAST]

This might help.
Make sure you use Emerald Shinners either frozen or alive.
Use a #6 gold sharp hook.
I always insert the hook from the tail then back towards the head. Perch almost always swallow the head first so if the hook is in the head area the better.
I start with gold blade spreader and if not bitting I go to small silver blade spreader or no blades at all.
Drop to the bottom let sit for about 1 or 2 minutes then raise your rod very slowly if you feel a small tap or just a tug set the hook if you feel a fish on the other end reel up if not back down to the bottom.
Sometimes you might have to let on the bottom for a longer time.
If you do not catch anything in 30 minutes or nothing on your screen, move.
Hope this helps.
LAST CAST.