Sure is. I tend to chase perch this time of year and ignore the panfish because of it.
But not entirely. Like this Sat morning when I am going tip up crazy in search of pike and will have a gill set up in hand.
Perch, at least in the drowned river mouths I fish for them, are in deep water and seem to no be as effected by "the doldrums".
I guess it is kind of like the deer in mid October, tougher to hunt as they are changing patterns.
Good luck out there.
