perch/spot lock question

[guff]

Have had experiences in the past where I have been watching nearby guys hooking into perch but the perch will not bite for me. Talked to guys back at the launch and figured I basically was using same techniques as they were. The only difference I could see was that they were anchored while I was using my Minn Kota on spot lock to stay in one spot. Wondering if vibration or noise is scaring away the perch. These perch were in shallow water (10 to 20 feet). I would cast out a considerable distance but still no good results. Next time out I will try anchoring. Just wondering what other's experiences might be. I have had good results basically fishing over the side of the boat in 50-60 fow so would say spot lock is not a problem in deeper water. 

[rolmops]

When you find a school you should anchor off to the side and cast upwind with a slide bobber on your line so you so can control your depth. The wind will push your bait over the school. Another way is to drift over the school without any engine and just go back to your beginning point by circling around.  I mostly use mini-mites tipped with a maggot. It is best to cast into water that before  the school so the bait can sink to the depth you want before it reaches the school while drifting or casting. The bigger perch are always deeper than the small ones.

Edited January 18 by rolmops

[glh456]

I use spot lock all the time perch fishing & never seemed to notice a difference of catching or not catching.

[guff]

Thanks for the info guys. Rolmops - Does any special color mini- mite work better than other colors ? Also what is best weight say in 10 fow?

[GAMBLER]

Dropping an anchor will spook them way easier than spot lock.  Now, if you spot lock right on top of them, you are shooting yourself in the foot.  I'd be willing to bet they are doing something different like using lighter floro or a different bait.  It can make all the difference in the world in  the crystal clear lakes like Seneca.  

[Prof T]

I also believe spot lock can be the most stealthy way to anchor. Never felt I couldn't stay on a school with it vs an anchor.

 

I have seen situations like you describe when a boat length can make a huge difference between great action and time for a nap. My solution is to cast in search of the school, then ease towards them shallow water. Also, if a boat has a good school concentrated under them, you might be better of sliding well away from them to begin establishing your own pod. That can be the most productive. Tip #3: learn to use your electronics.

[bulletbob]

meh... What did everyone do 50 years ago, before digital high tech fish finders, GPS, spot lock etc,etc, etc... They anchored up or drifted, depending on weather, and they caught plenty of fish...

[Frogger]

BBob, I’m not saying you don’t need technology to catch them, but I sure as heck don’t miss lugging my anchors up and down, let the rope out, wind switched, do it all over again…….. back in the day. Today if you caught your limit of perch it’s a great feeling, back in the day I needed three days rest……

[bulletbob]

 I never really considered perch a spooky fish really.. If they are around, typically they hit and aren't line shy.. I know everyone here uses small minnows, or small grub bodies etc, but personally, I have always caught them on plain old worms i dug out of the yard, caught at night after a  rain, or simply picked off  the driveway after a heavy rain.. I am NOT a perch specialist like some guys, and am just as happy catching rock bass, sunnies, or crappies... bob

[GAMBLER]

1 hour ago, bulletbob said:

meh... What did everyone do 50 years ago, before digital high tech fish finders, GPS, spot lock etc,etc, etc... They anchored up or drifted, depending on weather, and they caught plenty of fish...

50 years ago we didn't have zebra and quagga mussels that made the water super clear.........

[Sk8man]

Frogger. It was probably from arm wrestling Signalman for the honor of pulling up the anchor. 

Bob: Anyone who thinks they have perch totally figured out is fooling themself.  They have become more line shy and more easily spooked by the clear water as Brian says.

Spot lock is very useful when the water isn't moderately rough but it can jump the lock under those conditions and can be a constant battle. Sometimes perch want the bait moving so drifting can be more effective and as soon as you stop and lock up or anchor they may stop hitting. Sometimes they respond better to jigs dragged along the bottom and won't touch suspended bait. When anchoring some guys just get in a hurry and throw the anchor out and then wonder why the fish aren't hitting. It pays to gently and quietly slide the anchor into the water; and some folks make a lot of noise walking around in their aluminum boats and drop things on the floor etc.....not great either.

If using an anchor it can be productive drifting until you find a school or pod of perch and coast by them and slowly and quietly slide the anchor in the water once past them aways and cast back into them from a bit of a distance. It is especially important to be away from them and not directly on top of them when you stop or anchor. Usually once the boat has been there anchored up awhile the perch can be less skiddish and may end up near and under the boat and it is a matter of trying to keep them there once it happens which is a reason for using one rod as a "dead stick". There are times when perch don't give a rats butt about any of it and will hit regardless of what you are doing.... if you have the right bait.

[Pequod1]

I guess I shoot myself in the foot a lot Brian. But you know the way I shoot and probably would miss more often than not

just about 14’ is the magic number for not spooking perch.  I can still jig them up under me at that depth.  I would say a little deeper in Skaneateles and some areas of canandaigua where it’s clear.  
perch move around in tight little schools almost like a flock of sparrows. They move so you better too  In the fingerlakes, drift and cast until you find them, spotlock until they stop biting and then drift some more.

And by the way, don’t leave home without some worms on board.  They worked 50 yrs ago and still work today.  Just have to fish them in areas without gobies.  The last two years I have been putting some nice Erie late summer perch on board using whatever worms I had left over from walleye fishing.  

 

[T-Rok]

I like using a double rig. Small vertical jig on top with a palomar knot so it kicks out sideways. I put a small piece of worm on that hook. Then bottom of rig is a tungsten horizontal jig with a plastic minnow.. gulp or sassy shad. I have fished with people using real minnows and plastics seem to work just the same, but you dont need to but minnows or keep changing them as they fall off or get eaten. The worm on top is for scent to draw them in. I get tons of double headers. Better to catch 2 at a time than 1. Also, I am sure I am not alone here, but it sure seems like the more you jig, the more perch that show up. You can get a whole school to come to your boat with enough baits/people. I would bet the other guys you seen just beat you to luring the school to them first. Early bird gets the fish. 

[rolmops]

On 1/29/2024 at 11:24 AM, guff said:

Thanks for the info guys. Rolmops - Does any special color mini- mite work better than other colors ? Also what is best weight say in 10 fow?

I like green

[Gill-T]

I am pretty sure if you bounced an anchor or cinder block on the lake floor, the dirt kicked up would probably attract them. I can’t believe in the spooky theory of perch-but schools do move just to move and feed. 

[Sk8man]

When ice fishing if you look down the hole and watch perch when someone makes loud noise on the ice (as in power auger nearby, walking with cleats without snow etc.) they scatter - sometimes for quite awhile before they return. Also, when the water is very clear in shallow water in a boat you can come up on a school, and when someone walks around or moves on the boat they can scatter. Even when they detect movement of the boat in shallow clear water. I've seen it happen dozens of times over many years so it isn't a "random event or behavior".

[Gill-T]

 

[Gill-T]

https://www.thehulltruth.com/great-lakes/880906-ways-attract-perch-your-boat.html

[Pequod1]

It really depends on where you are, the clarity of the water and depth. Less is correct for  most of the fingerlakes . I have watched them “ fly away” when someone makes a noise on Seneca or canandaigua. But letting the jig pound the bottom in other lakes , bays and Erie seems to trigger a strike at times.  

[Sk8man]

Great, but that is not the water clarity we deal with. It looks there as cloudy as after a rain, and yes the perch are less wary in that condition, but all I know is what I have seen during much of my 78 years fishing the Finger Lakes .

[Frogger]

I remember the ole ballon trick for staying with the school…….

[Sk8man]

yep you got it Mike.

[Gill-T]

No doubt Les, if I had a choice on who’s boat I would go on, it would be yours. 

[Sk8man]

You are welcome on my boat anytime Gill

[guff]

Heard about the balloon trick. Never tried it. Does it work? Would be great if it did. Tie a balloon to a perch and follow the balloon.  Rght?