fishing early perch?

[SDFlagChaser]

i have never really gone after perch this early.  Are they going to be shallower now than later in the year?  any other useful tips are also appreciated.

[slipperybob]

I find them all over...deeper water seems to have more runts but have the numbers.  Shallow water has a lot of predators, but really fun to catch with light tackle.

[jig-jig THUMP]

Depends on the lake and the primary forage.  In lakes with good amounts of both deep and shallow areas I have found them in both.  But I think that the ones that I caught shallow were keyed in on the forage there and likewise for the deeper ones.  In other words, not every perch is going to be doing the exact same thing at the same time.

I will say that it seemed like the shallow ones were more agressive when they turned on, but they seemed more hit or miss.

jjT

[fishman31]

Larger groups in deeper structure and as season progresses they will move up to spawning grounds.  If you are in basin lakes in SD check out the holes around 30 feet.

[Swift]

Seems they make more moves really shallow early in the season on some lakes, smallish groups but on and off all day. Believe most of it is easy food, as the weeds begin to die off and the easy pickings slow they spend less time shallow until pre-spawn

[kingfisher]

good luck

[Waynesburgjay]

I've found jumbos in 9 or 10 ft. of water in the early season and caught them as quick as I could get my line back down but it doesn't happen very often.
I'm usually on a flat in 18 - 25 ft. and move around alot til I find them.