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Our Walleye guests that are scheduled for tomorrow came in this afternoon and wanted to try perching.
We took them East of S Bass in 24 ft of water and they caught their 60 in less than 2 hours. Size was not that great with most 6 to 8 with a few bigger.
We caught on small emerald chunks on crappie rigs and fly rigs in green. What was notable is we did not catch anything on purple, that was hot yesterday.

So yesterday we got 90 around the lighthouse. A few nice fish, 10″+ and 1 about 12″. But mostly 8″-9″ and 1 or 2 gut hooked drinks. Overall I thought the grade was a little ho hum. Was 25# at the cleaner. They thought we did real well. Of course they’re not going to say you guys suck. That is 8.3# per limit. I recall a real nice day a few years and 2 limits were 22# or 11#/limit. So what’s your average limit weight and what’s a good one. Do you weigh your own? I clean 90% of my own and had a scale to weigh them long ago but it died. Need a new one.

Daughter and I both got our limit before 9am straight out of Fenwick in 23 fow. N41.67516, W083.13626. Marked some specs on bottom there and anchored and never moved.
We used 8# mono on cheap rods. 1 oz weights. Spreader with no bling and snells with #6 gold aberdeens. Emerald shiners from A&J.
Lots of doubles. Only two “white perch” or whatever those things are. We sorted until we ran out of bait around 10am. The bite was still strong when we left. By the time we left there were 50 other boats there. Very enjoyable morning.
I will say that we caught some of our biggest perch on just left over pieces of minnows. Eg., just a mutilated head, or a mutilated body with no head. Maybe this was an exceptional bite, but I don’t see how it matters what kind of shiner you use. There was no way to tell these were emerald pieces versus any other variety.

My first perch trip ever yesterday was enjoyable and we limited out quickly. However, our biggest perch was only 10″. Most were 8″ and we threw back many smaller than that. They’re tasty but it’s a lot of work cleaning those things for two bites per fish. And I’d prefer not to use up my bait on those little ones.
How do you target bigger perch?

Looking for recommendations to Camp 1 night on a Weekday and fish the following day for Perch. Trailering boat and looking for the best logistics of Launching, Shiners and Perch grounds. Lots of choices with smaller places but not looking to spend much time camping. Considering Wild wings but may be too far west at the moment. I appreciate all the great advice given here!

Great day of perching. We had 2 sets of guests for morning and afternoon trips. This morning we caught 120 on a mix of emeralds, goldies, and some small Arkansas shiners from Highway Baits. Those little Arkansas were the best. They are no more than an inch in size but silver like an emerald. We used mostly fly rigs in green this morning south of Kelly’s.

In the afternoon the wind started picking up and we moved west with our new guests to the lee of S Bass. We switched to crappie rigs and upped the weight from 1/2 to a full ounce. We dodged the rain and at times set it out waiting for the worst to pass. But our afternoon guests also got their limit of 90. We used the little Arkansas and emeralds cut in thirds or fourths. They defiantly preferred a small bait.

We are of tomorrow due to wind but hope to be back chasing Walleye Sunday with guests from southern Ohio.

Could only get frozen shiners today. Fished 9-1:30pm in the south passage west of Kellys. Lots of marks on the graph but a slow bite for 2 fishermen. Managed to grind out our 60 fish limit. Nice grade 24lbs at cleaners. 25 feet of water.

Baha299

4 hours today , a lot of sorting , most released and not eaten by the sea gulls. some white perch , not one sheep head. the bite started slow, then it took off and then…… 1 hour more to catch the last 10.
some boats to the west of me and more to the nw of me.
SE of G can 22 fow a shiner golden mix spreaders no bling and a brisk swing at the back of the boat.

Back soon,
~Water Dog

A little over 2 hours today, some sorting and many white perch, no farm animals that is a first!
SE of G can 22 fow, golden shiner mix, spreaders no bling.
This has been the best yellow perch season that I can remember. Not sure how long it will last. DNR paid me a visit at the docks to confirm my 30 ~! He told me that things were slow over in Lucas county.
Boats to the west off me and some to the north.
back soon,
~Water Dog

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Many perch posts lately so thought I’d ask some general questions regarding hook size.

Understanding that there are many personal approaches to perch fishing (spreaders, crappie rigs, slow jig, ‘in the mud’, etc), what hook SIZE works best for everyone? I generally have used #6 to #4 hooks but have heard of others fishing with #2. I’d rather use a bit larger hook and, of course a bit larger minnow. But when minnows are small, the #6 seems to hold them best and also catches the throw-backs before they strip my bait.

All feedback would be appreciated! Thank you!