Summer Perch

[Neck Collar]

Looking for experience:

Anyone had success catching perch during the summer on the same lakes they pull them through the ice?
I've caught some while walleye fishing in the past but never in numbers.

Wondering if it's feasible or a waste of time and effort.

Thanks,

 

[ND58201]

Perch have worms in the summer and taste like ass.. better to catch them when the water is cold if you are going to eat them

 

[Lapper]

It’s a proven fact that perch only eat in the winter and hibernate most of the summer. One might wake up now and again if a lure hits them in the head and then it’s only an anger strike not actually feeding. I read it on the interweb so it’s gotta be true.

 

[Captain Ahab]

I've found August to be the best month to hit open water perch. They're schooled up and biting at that time.

 

[Achucker]

Maybe it was just luck of being a kid but we use to catch a crap load of perch from some mine ponds. They would bite a just a hook. Never really fished for them since though

 

[guywhofishes]

I’ve done well slip bobbering leeches in July - windy - 6-9 fow outside/against weed beds

(small reservoirs and sloughs with limited structure/depth)

 

[SDMF]

August, on deep structure opposite Walleye and Pike. If the walleyes/pike are on top of the structure, the perch are on the edges and vice-versa. 1/8oz or lighter jigs and crawler chunks.

 

[Ericb]

We used to catch buckets full of perch of my Grandparents dock during the summer. There cabin was on a steep hill with a rock wall. I think the perch hid in the rocks and came out to eat our worms. Present day I have found when am getting my bait constantly stolen if I slow down and go very small I can get into them. When this happens they are usually plentiful.

 

[ShootnBlanks]

Like Ericb, downsized some. Small jigs and twisters, small tube baits, or just small jig and worm and seem to always find some

 

[LBrandt]

I think a guy just needs to down size the presentation and they are really picky. On some of the lakes I fish you get a JUMBO every once in awhile while fishing for wallys.

 

[NDSportsman]

We used to catch lots of nice perch right off the dock as kids but bullheads seem to be too prevalent now days. Found a school of jumbos one summer about 20 years ago and just hammered them right under the boat. They are hard to find schooled up in the summer it seems so don't usually try to target them. Pick up a nice one now and then on spinners or cranks trolling flats for walleyes.

 

[gonefshn]

Devils can be pretty good for perch in the summer. Bite usually starts mid July.

 

[sierra1995]

biggest perch i've ever caught was in the summer. 16", only weighed 1.65 lbs though. Hit a clown Salmo Hornet #5 at 2.5 mph. Also got a 13" perch that day.

 

[Mort]

Hmm learning something today.....wait till late July-Aug to fish Perch......

 

[snow]

September up on rocky reefs,shallow 3-5fow bobber/leech does the job.

 

[Casey Buchholz]

I caught quite a few perch on Sunday over on Ashtabula. All caught while pitching cranks or jigs with minnows.

 

[Riggen&Jiggen]

If the lake has weeds focus on pockets in the weeds. Most perch will not be on the outside edges because that is where the predators are. For lakes with minimal weeds but has deep holes I would fish deep later in the summer due to the bug hatches out of the mud. On Sak I have caught perch 60ft deep but most common depths are 30 to 40 ft. So basically fish in cover if the lake has it and if not look deeper especially on lakes with a good population of pike and walleye. If the perch don't have to worry to much about getting eaten they will occupy the same water as walleye. Anything with a piece of nightcrawler has worked best for me (live bait rig, jig or hook under a bobber).

 

[deleted member]

We fished em in the summer all the time on devils in the late 80s early 90s. Boat was small, family was big and anchoring someplace was the logical solution to that. Used the typical winter presentation. Castmasters with minnow heads. Don't know why we quit doing it.

 

[SDMF]

Hmm learning something today.....wait till late July-Aug to fish Perch......

I'm certainly not saying that they can't be caught earlier in the year. I was only stating the time and structure I've been able to find them somewhat consistently.

 

[guywhofishes]

late summer is famously good for perch on Big Stone and other classic jumbo perch lakes