Perch must really not like me

[PabstBlueRibbon]

i just need a few tips, it seems as if ive tried everything from regular tear drops, jack hooks, jigging raps, hali jigs, and even plain weighted hooks tipped with both waxies and minnows. varied depths, different jigging patterns everything

i mostly fish on lakes and sometimes go out on the bay. i try to fish in deeper water and shallower water. northing works as of lately and im quite stumped having always caught perch and stuff like that any tips would be appreciated

[Swift]

You sure they're there? Been some weird weather and they may not be where they would be during a more "normal" winter. Find the food, found the fish

[PabstBlueRibbon]

we get bites every now and then by some pretty good size perch but really no takers, yeah been real weird up here lately i hope this cold stays

[66birdman]

Try Cut bait (fresh perch) or perch eyes.  providing that is legal where you are.  The lake I fish here in Idaho is the same way.  Sometimes we go more than an hour trying to get the first fish for cutbait.  Then it is non stop action once we put a tastly lil morsel of perch on the hook.

[PabstBlueRibbon]

my dad told me that one time i never thought to try it. ive just been using minnow heads like i always do

[66birdman]

Your dad is a smart man.  Take a small perch, scale it, fillet one side of it and cut it into smallish strips.  make sure to hook thru the skin and it will stay on your hook all day.  that stuff is impossible to get off of there.

[PabstBlueRibbon]

what kinda set up are we talking here a tear drop or a jigging rapala? ill have to try that when i go out next time

[66birdman]

I use lots of things.  Crappie jigs, tear drops, jigging raps, kastmasters, plain jigheads....as long as it is tipped with a piece of cut bait they tear it up. 

[fiesty]

maybe the perch don't drink PBR...

[PabstBlueRibbon]

im gonna put your theory to the test today about using cut up perch.

impossible nobody hates PBR

[66birdman]

im gonna put your theory to the test today about using cut up perch.

impossible nobody hates PBR

Good luck!

[jig-jig THUMP]

Here's a trick when using perch meat.  Take a fresh caught one and scale off the underbelly first thing (this must be done first or you kinda ruin what comes next).  After the belly is scaled take a sharp knife (maybe a small fillet knife but any sharp pocket knife should work) and cut out that wedge of skin/flesh that starts at the back of the 2 fins below and behind the gills and run your cut all the way to the vent hole.  Should result in a wedge of meat/skin the shape of a triangle that is maybe 1 inch base by 3 inches high.  Put that wedge down on a flat surface (small piece of board) WITH SKIN SIDE DOWN AND PEARLY WHITE GUT SIDE UP.  Then cut this into wedges maybe 3/8 inch wide by 1-1/4" long coming to a pt.  Put a wedge on either a jig or spoon like it's a mini piece of porkrind and see how that works for you.  Try to minimize handling of the pearl white surface of these pieces as that color seems to wear off if you do much to it.  These baits are tough and do catch perch.  I've even salted some down and had them ready for future trips so I didn't have to fix them in the middle of a fishing trip.

Good luck if you try these.

jjT

[Jigmup]

Wigglers!

[Jigmup]

Also try droppers if you haven't already. They have a way of making neutral fish bite!

[PabstBlueRibbon]

what is a dropper? i went out and still nothing today got a few bites but no takers =(

[Jigmup]

what is a dropper? i went out and still nothing today got a few bites but no takers =(
[/quote
spoon type bait where the bottom hook hangs 1-2 inches below the body of the spoon. Easy DIY!

[PabstBlueRibbon]

oh like a hali jig with the chain that comes down, where can you get wigglers?

[JigChaser08]

neon green tungsten jig..tipped with a spike..works everytime

[Jigmup]

try looking up wholesale bait companies. There is one in Wisconsin that I order from. I think you have to order wigglers by the pint. Keeping them alive is tricky but well worth the effort.

[shaftthrower]

Has anyone ever tried the preserved wigglers from Knutsons?

[fishon35]

Your dad is a smart man.  Take a small perch, scale it, fillet one side of it and cut it into smallish strips.  make sure to hook thru the skin and it will stay on your hook all day.  that stuff is impossible to get off of there.

What a good idea... never even thought of it.  What's the size of the "smallish strips?" 

[evanesce]

I tried using pieces of hot dog as bait when I had nothing left.  A couple nibbles but it wasn't very effective.  What you think of the hot dog idea?  Was it true they aren't really interested in hot dogs?  Too salty, perhaps?

[Gillpill]

diamond jig from CJ&S or their rocker cant keep perch off of them. orange is a good color

[PabstBlueRibbon]

diamond jig from CJ&S or their rocker cant keep perch off of them. orange is a good color

i have one of them and i never even knew it.

[66birdman]

What a good idea... never even thought of it.  What's the size of the "smallish strips?"

Depends on the size of the perch.  I like using the belly meat because it has an irridesant look to the inside.  I cut that into lil jig trailer looking things with two legs.  hard to beat it

[redneckrance]

My favorite perch bait is perch eyeballs, Fresh perch cutbait works great too. I can make a can of maggots last several trips because all I use them for is 1 perch! I also like using Mike's Walleye scent on my perch rigs. I will use a flashy, and or aggressive lure to catch the most aggressive fish, but then switch to a flutter bug or other small ice fly to catch the rest. You can watch them on the fishfinder right at first, meeting the lure 2-4ft. off the bottom, thats your aggressive ones. Then they either start stalling, or not even coming off the bottom. Thats when you switch to something smaller and less flashy, then when that stops working switch back to your "call" lure. Rapala jigging raps work great for this, and anything with a rattle. Big rattle traps, or rattl'n raps make good call lures. And sometime when the bite dies all of a sudden its not because of lockjaw its because of a bigger fish, thats where the "call" lures shine Some guys use rope and a chunk of metal to "bomb" the bottom with to stir up dust and attract perch. Good luck PBR

[fiesty]

good info....ya get em yet PBR??

[1fan4ice]

maybe the perch don't drink PBR...

What!!!  If so you dont want those fish anyway

[fiesty]

you guys and your PBR...perch up here like a little bourbon....

[Gillpill]

i have one of them and i never even knew it.

Ha lol they work a lot of the time for me