Thread: Help catching perch...PLEASE

i am going to Swift Creek Lake in Chesterfield, VA on 2/28/07. I plan on taking crappie jigs and minnows. I don't succeed often with perch but want to. Can anyone offer suggestions on the depth, cover tackle i should use? What to look for on the depth finder. THanks for any help you can offer. PB

sent you a PM!:D

Originally Posted by PondBoy

i am going to Swift Creek Lake in Chesterfield, VA on 2/28/07. I plan on taking crappie jigs and minnows. I don't succeed often with perch but want to. Can anyone offer suggestions on the depth, cover tackle i should use? What to look for on the depth finder. THanks for any help you can offer. PB

Dang Crappisaurusrex
I want to learn too

5 1/2' ultra lite rod, small spinning reel. #4 silver thread, small slip corks, lead shot, #6 circle hook, crickets. rig your line w/the cork so it can be adjusted. fish around rocks and boat docks, and brush piles and laydown trees, the smaller fish will be nearer the surface, so start about a foot off the bottom. when using a circle hook the fish wont get gut hooked (a gut hooked perch is a real pain), but dont set the hook (this is very hard not to do) just let the fish take the bait and pull the cork under and reel and you got him.

Good luck

Big:D

i want to learn too but no darn perch here where i live lol

excellent site for perch fishing tips www.tera-link.com/web/perch.htm

Originally Posted by PondBoy

i am going to Swift Creek Lake in Chesterfield, VA on 2/28/07. I plan on taking crappie jigs and minnows. I don't succeed often with perch but want to. Can anyone offer suggestions on the depth, cover tackle i should use? What to look for on the depth finder. THanks for any help you can offer. PB

Perch are schooling fish so look for fish near the bottom. Fish for them on the bottom. Rig up with a bell sinker of your chose on the bottom of your line. I use size six Egle Claw hooks. Bait with cut bait, small chunks on hook. If you locate fish try this method. I'm sure you will catch a bunch of fish. I've got 50 plus years of experience. Have fun and good fishing.

Up here in MI. on the west coast fishing Lake Michigan I have had great luck around rock piles and structure (which there is very little of and probably concentrates the fish). Have done well using 1/8" cast masters tipped w/ minnows and w/o. I usually will tight line, but the wife uses a slip bobber and does just fine. Ken is right about cut bait too so if you run out a bait start cuttin up the smaller ones.

I used to catch them on plain Mr. Twister floating jigheads with minnows. Use 4-6 lb. test line and clamp on a clincher sinker about 14" up the line. The floating jighead will keep the minnow off the bottom. You can always substitute other baits besides minnows, but don't get too heavy or the floating jighead won't be able to hold your bait off the bottom. A piece of nightcrawler will work, but a whole nightcrawler will sink your jighead. I prefer one redworm to a nightcrawler.

Sibiki Jigs And Livers On The Bottom! Find The Perch With Sibikis Then Fish The Livers In The Area!