catching perch in winter holding area's

[walleye wizard]

        I dont know about you guys but I love to go to lake george, and hammer the perch in the winter time!!
                Since I havent been able to do that the past 2 years, I am thinking about taking my boat out to where I do good jigging on hard water!  It is kind of a hike up there, and I am questioning whether ill do well enough to justify the trip? I was wondering if anyone else has been heading to their ice fishing hot spots in a boat and doing just as good as they did out on the ice? Also, do I use the same jigs as I did years ago when the lake actually froze??       
                                                                             Thanks Guys!

[crayfishbob]

Perch do typicly go to deep water late fall and stay there early in the winter. If I was in a boat, I'd be rigging deepwater rigs from 20 # test. 1 oz sinker on the bottom, two SHORT droppers with plain #4 hooks. One at 12" , one at 18". Tie a loop in the top for a snap swivel to your line. Use live minnows ( certified, of course) and possibly perch eye on a willow leaf.

Drift , stop and fish when its hammer down. I've cought more fish at 40' plus than any other depth combined.

Would it be worth trying now ? I say yes but would favor Oneida lake over Lake george, just for the size differance.

[pike-perch01]

in 2003 on lake george i caught perch in the area that i always ice fish.there was no ice that year.i vertically jigged with a swedish pimple tipped with maggots.in 35-40 ft of water

[NyLuke]

in 2003 on lake george i caught perch in the area that i always ice fish.there was no ice that year.i vertically jigged with a swedish pimple tipped with maggots.in 35-40 ft of water

Iwas out on the King last week .. Caught 5 Smallies, 5 Lakers and over 100 perch..   They were just where they were supposed to be.. Pimples w/maggots and/or percheyes did the trick.. 30 feet water right over a weedbed that always produces.. As somebody mentioned the size there isnt all that great.. Had to weed thru fish to get my 50 keepers, but it was sure fun.. And without the ice.. what else can you do?

[hali-man]

I have used almost the same technique as Crayfishbob to hammer some perch in a Ontario bay. Tightline to the bottom with a crappie rig and minnows...

[walleye wizard]

       Thanks for the tips guys, I am definitely going to head out saturday morning, they are talkin temps around 60 degrees. So I guess im pulling the boat back out. I will let you guys know how I did.

[openface]

 :-\never fished for perch before what are they ??and whats a jiggin pole ??....seeyou saturday D.I.C.K.

[JNEMETH]

Would shore fishing for perch work in conditions like we have now ?

[ChenBassHead]

If you can find the right spots it can be awesome.  I fished a lake around here the other day where theres a 14 ft deep culvert right next to the road...actually, it goes under the road connecting the side I was fishing with the main lake.  The perch were stacked in there, and I absolutely hammered em with waxies and fatheads.  Other places just weren't productive at all.  Find the right structure and depth near shore and you'll get em!

[willbilly]

Shouldn't this be moved to Perch Tips!!!     

[crayfishbob]

Would shore fishing for perch work in conditions like we have now ?

Why not ? They must think its spring right now !    

[hali-man]

Would shore fishing for perch work in conditions like we have now ?

YES!  8)

[scout57]

boat fished cazenovia lake today.fished some of thesame areas that I ice fish and did very well.most fish were caught on fatheads.I think I wouldhave done better with emeralds but no big deal.caught 1 perch that was 13.5".biggest perch I have evercaught on this lake.so the answer to the above Question is yes...

[AugustWest]

PWR BAIT and I belted Oneida today looking for perch...with GPS's loaded.
We found NO perch...but we found the EYES

[kdu12]

How many and what size?

Please tell!!

[AugustWest]

A lot of shorts...but we boated off with our share of legals