Perch Tips?

[John Miller]

Hi guys and gals.  I want to give perch fishing a try.  Can someone get me started with some sound  advice?  I figure I can fish for tiny fish that bite often before I settle into a season of doing the alternative. 

location

rigging

depth

whatever you got.  Thanks, John

[Scott McKee]

Here's what I know about perch fishing:

When you're musky fishing on Chautauqua and you have to catch a fish, any fish, drop a twister grub to the bottom wherever you are and you'll catch a perch.  My experience is that you could catch 1000 or so a day if you wanted to.  They breed like ship rats on shore leave with fist fulls of $100's down there.   I tried it once on a weekend trip for two hours.  They did taste good, but it took Jiggin' Joe longer to clean them than it did for us to catch them.  I felt shame after lunch and went back to musky fishing.  Good luck!

[John Miller]

Shame doesn't sting so much with a belly full of sweet perch fillets

[Scott McKee]

The "shame" thing was sort of over stated.  I thought about stopping at Tom's point for an hour and catching dinner.

[Mike "the facilities" Fortunate]

Right now you can go to beaver island marina and catch tons off the dock, in boat in the lake by the Catt... you have to go out a few miles last I heard... there will be a whole flock of boats 40+ feet..... either place use 1/2-1oz sinker and fish the bottom with minnows!!!...sometimes we have great luck between motor island and grand island right in that wed bed but if the boats are anchored there no good..(under 10')

[Scott McKee]

Is Beaver Island Marina open yet?  If it is, they usually kick you out if you're fishing on the docks.  If you are in a boat, they'll try to make you leave, but you have every right to fish there.

[John Miller]

My brother and I ended up taking a ride across the lake to Point Abino.  We took home 36 perch, most of which were in the 10-12 inch range. Alot of fun, cleaning them not so much fun.  Eating them made it all worth it. Not bad for our first perch trip ever.