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If you intend to release the laker, try removing hook while fish is still in hole. I changed out most of my treble hooks to single hooks on my jigs and you can pop the hook out quickly with a pair of pliers or forceps. A friend of mine is really good at doing this and he shamed me into doing it. Never had to touch the fish and keeps you hands a lot warmer and drier. Give it a try. Takes a little practice.
Just want to note with the very cold temperatures to be sure to get the fish back into the water quickly before they freeze, doesn't take long for the fin tips and eyes to ice up when temps are in the single digits and below. Also try to handle the fish with care, stay away from the gill area and don't squeeze too much near the head and belly. Instead of holding them vertically for a picture, it is better for the fish to cradle them with two hands and squeeze only around the tail if needed. I've seen damaged gill plates on fish that were held by them, the tissue wasn't meant to support the weight of the whole fish there; and studies have shown that the spine gets damaged when they are held by the lip and start to thrash around. They may swim away but will die afterwards but there is no way of knowing about it.Of course this is only for fish you intend to release, do what you want with keepers. There are plenty of lakers to go around and it won't hurt to remove some, the best eating fish are the smaller ones. Consider letting the larger fish(28"+) go so we can all have a chance at some bigger fish, would be nice to see more 15-20 pounders around. Not picking on anyone in particular and don't want anyone to feel the need to get defensive, just trying to pass on what I have learned so we can all enjoy this resource. Curious what others have to add, thanks.
I brought home 10 all between 9-10 in. Also caught a lot of dinks so it took awhile to get those 10.
Not bad. Sounds like you had action. I fished out Vet's about 4 years ago and really enjoyed it, but haven't been back since. I don't have much interest in Lakers, but it doesn't seem like there has been a lot of perch action posted on this thread. Thanks for the info.
I'll be up perching on Monday. Got to fill the freezer.
Just want to note with the very cold temperatures to be sure to get the fish back into the water quickly before they freeze, doesn't take long for the fin tips and eyes to ice up when temps are in the single digits and below. Also try to handle the fish with care, stay away from the gill area and don't squeeze too much near the head and belly. Instead of holding them vertically for a picture, it is better for the fish to cradle them with two hands and squeeze only around the tail if needed. I've seen damaged gill plates on fish that were held by them, the tissue wasn't meant to support the weight of the whole fish there; and studies have shown that the spine gets damaged when they are held by the lip and start to thrash around. They may swim away but will die afterwards but there is no way of knowing about it.Of course this is only for fish you intend to release, do what you want with keepers. There are plenty of lakers to go around and it won't hurt to remove some, the best eating fish are the smaller ones. Consider letting the larger fish(28"+) go so we can all have a chance at some bigger fish, would be nice to see more 15-20 pounders around. Not picking on anyone in particular and don't want anyone to feel the need to get defensive, just trying to pass on what I have learned so we can all enjoy this resource. Curious what others have to add, thanks.[/quote. I agree with you 1000%There are plenty of fish for everyone-if we take care of them and it would be nice to catch more in the 15-20 lb range (hope to get one of them on Friday)
I've got to switch over to CnR laker fishing or I'm going to run out of room! Fish fry tonight
yeah...it seriously was. Had to see all the texts from my friends as they caught 10 freakin' million trout on the king there before I could even get out. Patience was a virtue though. We hit the lake hard last weekend, and I felt great.
Of course this is only for fish you intend to release, do what you want with keepers. There are plenty of lakers to go around and it won't hurt to remove some, the best eating fish are the smaller ones. Consider letting the larger fish(28"+) go so we can all have a chance at some bigger fish, would be nice to see more 15-20 pounders around.
I have a question for you "Super Jiggers". When you're using a flasher are you guys looking for fish in the holes you drill with your flasher before you start fishing? When I'm fishing perch I can usually tell when I check a hole if there are perch there, but when I go for lakers and check my holes before I start, I never see anything. Just wondering, I just can't ever seem to really get into Lakers in any numbers.
Is anyone taking atv's on Harris yet? I don't want to bring mine on Friday if there isn't enough ice.
Plenty of perch action happening everywhere you look on that lake. The laker guys done took over the thread on us.