fish eyes

[tipup_time]

looking into using perch and walleye eyes to tip jigging spoons.. tried to take them out of a perch today and ended up ruining it.. any tips as far as getting them out and storing them?

[iceman260]

Don't try storing them use them as you catch them, to pop them out buy or make a eye popper. Take a piece of stiff stainless steel wire bend it around a dowel leave too straight ends about an inch or two long insert the end into a piece of 1/4 0r 3/8 inch copper tubing and crimp sut in a vise or hit with a hammer, You know have an eye popper. You can make two sizes and put one on the oter end of the same piece of tubing.

[CLUB 32]

I agree use them as you catch them.  I met a guy on the ice who had a paper clip in his pocket and slid it under the eye and popped it out, worked real good.

[FenDog]

I'm sure an eye popper will work just fine if you like but I personally don't see the need to add another item you have to take with you that isn't needed.

As for how to get the eyes out it's not that easy to explain but with practice I'm sure you be able to pop one out with your thumb in about 3 seconds without breaking it.

I'll try to explain:

*hold the fish in your weak hand with the belly toward yours
*with your other hand hold the head and push your thumb in under the eye you want to remove.
*while pushing in work your thumb under the eye. At this point the eye should have come out of the socket
*you'll notice it is still attached so you simply need to pinch the stuff that is still attached with your thumb and forefinger and rip it out.
*Done

If you break an eye taking it out no worry just flip the fish over and rip out the other one (they have two unless it's one I released earlier).

The first eye is always the hardest to get because you're fishing with a bare jig. Once you tip your jig with an eye you're all set. When the eye needs replacing just rip one out of the next catch and re-bait.

Oh.... when you hook the eye you'll notice a hard cartilage like piece in it. You want to hook through it and the eye will stay on the hook much longer.

[Shovel74]

I agree with fen, the push from behind method works great.  If you carry a nailclipper, use the thumbpiece to help get behind the eye as you push it out from inside the mouth. 

[fishermanna82]

me and my dad where sitting next to each other last year we both had the same lure on but i was using a minnow head and he was using a perch eye. we where fishing a spot where perch just rome by there self. every fish that swam by i caught and e did not even get a hit.

[afwrestler1986]

me and my dad where sitting next to each other last year we both had the same lure on but i was using a minnow head and he was using a perch eye. we where fishing a spot where perch just rome by there self. every fish that swam by i caught and e did not even get a hit.

That is odd. Yesterday was the exact opposite of what you had happen. I have never been skunked with perch eyes. 

[smj8322]

Hey FenDog.. I hope you're not serious about removing the eyes from fish your throwing back..

[Idahogator]

Half a paper clip shoved into a short piece of wooden dowel will give a better handle and float.

[chumster]

I just use an old teaspoon.

[mikefishon]

i just use my thumb hate looking through pockets for stuff.as for storage, met a old timer that would kept them between the cheek and gum so they wouldn't freeze blahhh!!! no lie!!

[krayfish]

Also dont hook it threw the center of the eye,you want it to be reflective and not drip out the fluid in the eye.Hook it threw the side...

[SISIF]

If you break an eye taking it out no worry just flip the fish over and rip out the other one (they have two unless it's one I released earlier).

 

[PyroZuki]

I've never had a problem just pullin the eye out with my jig hook. Just slip the hook behind the eye, then gently pull the hook through the eye, then pull.


Seems to work...

Pyro

[deebsey]

me and my dad where sitting next to each other last year we both had the same lure on but i was using a minnow head and he was using a perch eye. we where fishing a spot where perch just rome by there self. every fish that swam by i caught and e did not even get a hit.

Must of been smaller fish its my experience that larger fish love the eyes.

I have a paper clip hanging out the end of a bic pen

[panfishman13]

interesting, no one yet uses their knife...
to pop an eye with a knife just stick the point of the knife in between the socket and the eye itself, cut all the way around, then lever the eye up and cut the attaching parts.
for me the hardest part of using perch eyes is catching that first fish.

[Idahogator]

   Best part of the eye is lost by not using a paper clip end, stuck into pre-drilled pilot holes in a small
  piece of wooden dowel stick.
  Any other way of removal results in the loss of the long dangly optic nerve. Just try it a few times 'til
  the result leaves about 1/2" of white nerve hanging off the back of the eye. You get the best bait with the best natural attractor still attached.

                    Tom

[marcus]

I stick my pinky in the perch mouth and push the eye out some, then use my thumb nail to dig it out . Most are good one in ten or so I still burst, but this is easy. I hook into some of the white stuff hanging off. works for many fish.

[Champlain Islander]

I just pop them out with my thumb. Easy as pie and I rarely break them. But......I have to say that I rarely fish perch with eyes anymore. I commercially fish for them with hook and line using a bare bibbit without tipping with anything and catch a bucket or more almost every time out. I fish next to guys still using eyes and they catch fish but the big ones usually go for the bibbits. I fish with a lot of different guys and almost nobody uses bait anymore other than some using minnows as chum but I don't even do that.

[marcus]

what is a bibbit?

[Shorefisher]

http://www.ehow.com/video_2353975_ice-fishing-bibbits.html

[fishtrap21]

You don't tip them with a-thing?

[IDbasser]

Hey FenDog.. I hope you're not serious about removing the eyes from fish your throwing back..

x2

[fishtrap21]

wow.

[SISIF]

I removed the ones form some walleyes I was filleting. All I did was take the cheek out and then you can push the eye out from behind easily.