Jumbo Perch

[Thomas O]

Being that perch are probably one of the most sought after fish that we ice fishermen and women chase all winter long, where is the best chance at a true giant like 14 to 15 inches? Is it Devils Lake, Lake Gogebic in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Lake Simcoe in Ontario, maybe the Canadian side of Lake St.Clare like St. Lukes or Mitchells Bay. I'm not looking for exact spots but just everyones opinion. I was fortunate years ago to ice fish Sturgeon Bay in Northern Lake Mich. before the perch were netted out and in one outing we caught the biggest perch I've ever seen, 16 1/2 inches. Also many 13 to 15 inchers. I know that area no longer produces any perch and most years it doesn't freeze anyways. Do perch even get that big anymore. My biggest in the last few years was 13 inches on Lake St. Clare and it was a beauty. Just wondering.

[Crappie Kid]

Chicago harbors, just south of Solidarity drive (Planitarium).

Not frozen safe yet but you can sometimes punch holes from the docs.

We had quite a few average 12" last December.

[dewyg]

I had numerous perch between 12 & 15 inches last year on LOTW. Every two- three hours a school, would go by under our shack and they would be all this size of fish. We were in 33ft of water, it was totally amazing. This lasted for 6 wks, the seemed to circle the island we were fishing off of.

[eyedoktr]

Sodus Bay, off Lake Ontario in NY, has some of the jumbos you seek. I have had days that I have thrown back anything under 12" and still taken home 20-25 fish.

If you're adventurous, There is always open water fishing in Seneca Lake, NY. Those that know what they are doing would laugh at a bucketful of one pound fish. Two pounders are very common and three pound perch are caught every year. There is a tournament every spring where the top 5 fish usually weigh nearly 10 pounds.

[Icefishingmaniac]

Do you have a picture of that perch? That must be a great fight. I wish I could consistently find 10 inch perch now.


Icefishingmaniac

[eyedoktr]

icefishingmaniac, it's too bad you live so far away. I could quarantee you bunches of 10" perch (and bigger). Irondequoit Bay off Lake Ontario near Rochester,NY has been outstanding this year. A buddy and I went out a couple of weeks ago and kept 55 perch, only 5-6 were less than 10" we both could have easily had our limits (50 each) of 9" and larger perch.

[Thomas O]

Icefishingmaniac, we caught those huge perch back in Feb. of 91. I have pictures in a scrap book that I took with a regular camera and they really don't do justice to them. I remember taking the 10 biggest, keeping them on ice, and taking them to work with me on Mon. morning.My fishing buddies at the time were shocked to see such big perch. I still fish with a few of those guys and when the topic of big perch comes up they still remember those fish. Looking back I should have had a couple of them mounted but they sure tasted good. We had a great fish fry afterwards. One of the better pictures has me filleting them with an electric knife and you can really see how truly large these perch were. They look like walleyes only they have big black stripes and orange fins. They came out of 55ft of water. We drove my Brother-in-Laws Jeep cherokee about 4 miles out on the ice on a trail other trucks had made earlier. You needed a 4-wheel drive truck and it was still scary. Inquire some older guys on this site that remember Sturgeon Bay in the early 90's and I'm sure some had the same experience. Take care .

[Dacotah Eye]

The biggest Perch I ever caught was 15 3/4". I should have had it mounted. These lakes around here are pretty well fished out now.

[Jeff Dosch]

I have seen some 13-14 inch perch already this season. We are going to see some of the biggest perch we have seen for years coming out of Devils Lake this winter.
Jeff Dosch

[zpeters73]

Caught a 14 1/4" perch last winter in NE SD.

[SDFISH3]

Lots of 14+ perch in the NE South Dakota glacial lakes region. We dont even keep em unless there over 11". The guys from Iowa and Minnesota are the ones leaving the lake with 9"ers.

Here's a pic of my 15.5

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=725&cat=500&ppuser=104975

[NWBuck]

The guys
>from Iowa and Minnesota are the ones leaving the lake with
>9"ers.

Right...we come there maybe once a year and it's our fault. Your picture shows that you are really into this whole "catch and release" concept as well.

[Dacotah Eye]

> The guys
>>from Iowa and Minnesota are the ones leaving the lake with
>>9"ers.
>
>Right...we come there maybe once a year and it's our fault.
>Your picture shows that you are really into this whole "catch
>and release" concept as well.
Now boys, we don't need a border war on here. There are people on both sides of the border that could use a little attitude adjustment. There are plenty of locals in the NE part of our state that think they have to fill the bucket every time on the ice.:boxing: :badidea: :cheers:

[SS-Slayer]

I have never fished for the jumbos but I did land a regular inland perch that was 13.5". If you go fish Lake Gogebic, call the Root Cellar Lodge. I went there in the summer and fished for eyes. Heck of a great place to eat and that Gene was a real standup guy
Rick

[iceman98]

I think the reason there are still big perch in NE SD is because the South Dakotans don't know how to catch them! :)

[Dacotah Eye]

>I think the reason there are still big perch in NE SD is
>because the South Dakotans don't know how to catch them! :)
I'm gonna use all DuPont lures this year. Think that will improve my odds??? It's not nice to pick on us hicks from the sticks.:shame: :cheers:

[Purchjerk]

The Bay of Green Bay is rebounding pretty well, not to the great quantity catches of the 90's, but it's looking good. Last boat trip out on Nov. 25th, my 6yr old son caught a 14".