COLD WATER PERCH - PART 1

By: Ray Hansen

Throughout the upper Midwest and Northwoods, an opportunity exists to catch yellow perch in shallow water not far off shore, late in the open water season. Of course, once October and November roll around, many outdoorsmen are thinking about deer hunting, chasing ducks, or fall walleyes. Most do not think about fishing again until the lakes freeze over.

In this blog I’ll tell you about some tactics for catching these fish. With the unusual warm weather we have enjoyed over the past few fall seasons, you may even find yourself fishing on a comfortable day for once!

Start Your Search in Spring Spots

Fall perch movements often put them right back in places and depths you found them on opening day of the walleye season. One of my favorite spots is along the shores of a lake that has a slowly tapering flat extending out a couple hundred yards to a depth of six to nine feet, where it quickly plunges to twenty-five feet. Scattered weed patches cover the flat, rock outcroppings are found in places, and old logs provide some variety. When a stiff breeze rolls a good chop up over the drop-off and toward shore, this spot can be great.

In fact, I have shared this spot with duck hunters on occasion, and I suppose they were not glad to see me. I stay as far from their blinds as I can, and I always thought that maybe ducks avoiding my boat might pass that much closer to the hunters.

Looking for sharp breaklines parallel to shore is a good trick in the fall, since you can quickly check deep water if the shallower spots have no fish. Always be ready to switch species on fall trips as well. Your locator might reveal a school of walleyes at the base of the drop for example, and if you are prepared to work them you might take home a very nice bonus.

Use a “Stop & Go” Approach

When targeting perch at this time of year, I’ve found it best to anchor long enough to fan-cast an area in search of active fish. After about ten minutes of serious searching, pull anchor, drift a cast-length farther, and stop again. Perch school in larger numbers than walleyes, and may work the bottom in a group that faces the wind-generated current, moving into it. If you hit one fish, work that spot thoroughly, but direct every fourth cast or so to a spot upcurrent (usually upwind) from where the last fish hit.

Rig Slightly Heavy

One of my all-time favorite rigs in the situation I have described is one that leaves a trail of silt as it bumps along bottom. Tie it by setting up medium / heavy action spinning gear and thin diameter eight or ten pound test monofilament. Cortland “Cam-O-Flage” has worked well for me over the years.

Pass your line through a one-quarter or three-eighths ounce egg sinker, and tie on a medium size barrel swivel as a stopper. Next add a two-foot leader of six or eight pound test line to the remaining free end of the swivel and finish with a small floating jighead like the Northland “Gum Drop”. Bait up with a lively minnow and you're set.

As you may guess, eight or ten pound line is not necessary for perch, but it helps handle the heavier egg sinkers better and lets you pull free when the sinker snags something.

End of part one.

Return tomorrow for part two of this blog. I hope you get some ideas about late season fishing that adds something to you enjoyment of the great outdoors.