7 Tricks For More Perch This Summer

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When the dog days of summer set in on large lakes, it is common to see fewer anglers chasing popular species such as walleye and bass due to a much tougher bite. This is often when guides and charter captains make a switch to perch to keep rods doubled over and table fare for their guests. While perch can often be easy to find and catch, anglers often need a few tricks to get bites under a variety of circumstances.

Here are seven things to consider before your next perch trip.

Sonar

The key to catching almost any species is to find them first. Perch are generally located on or within a few feet of the bottom. This makes them very easy to spot on traditional 2D sonar at on-plane speeds, which allows unproductive water to be quickly eliminated. Side Imaging is also a good piece of equipment to cover water once the general area has been determined, or when perch are located in shallower water, as the boat going over them might cause them to spook.

The forward-facing sonar buzz is still buzzing because it allows you to not only see the fish, but how they are reacting to your presentation. In deeper water I typically use my unit in down mode to see everyone’s lures in the boat and how the fish are reacting.

Boat Control

Perch often school up in deeper water during the summer months. Anglers in the past would throw an anchor to be able to fish vertically and present lures with very little movement. The problem with that is that after a few moves hoisting a heavy anchor up and down, it tends to make even the most gung-ho angler a tired. It also tends to spook fish. Fortunately, advancements in trolling motor technology such as Spot Lock allows you to basically hover in place without having to constantly adjust the motor. In shallower water where an anchor would surely spook perch my dual 15-foot Minn Kota Talon’s pin me in place at the touch of a button in water nearly 15 feet deep.

Rattle Spoon

Much like when ice fishing, when you are anchored in place you often need a trick to get the fish to come to you, even if its just a few yards. A small rattle spoon like the VMC Rattle Spoon can be the perfect way to bring fish just a little closer. Often the rattle spoon isn’t the best “closer”, but it helps you get bites on your other rods. When the bite gets super picky replace the rattle spoons treble hook with a chain dropper for a more finesse like approach.

Jigging Rap

Fun fact, big perch are cannibals and a perch-colored No. 2 or No. 3 Rapala Jigging Rap is a great way to catch perch all year long. In the summer this effective lure is often shelved by many anglers when it shouldn’t be. Work it aggressively to draw fish in or just barely move it, if not even just dead sticking it can be very productive.

Plastics

On a recent outing the perch where all over, but very tight lipped on our multi hook minnow rigs. Light bites and getting picked clean caused frustration. Most anglers don’t think about switching from live bait back to plastics when the bite gets tough, but that’s exactly what we did. Small finesse plastics like Zman Micro Wormz, Stingerz or Baby Ballerz that have a small thin tail will allow for lure movement without moving the bait within the water column. This little adjustment surprisingly will get hard strikes on what was a tough bite on livebait. Make sure to use small jig heads with an appropriately matched hook like those found on a VMC Mooneye.

Crappie Rig

Going back in time the only thing Great Lakes perch fisherman used was a spreader with two pretied snells. In more recent years a crappie style “tree rig” has taken the crown. Whether it is the cleaner water or the ability to put hooks at different distances off the bottom, these rigs catch a lot of perch. Store bought versions have arms or leaders off of the main line, but those tied by hardcore perch anglers more often resemble a drop shot rig with two or three hooks.

Meat

Modern artificials work exceptionally well, but I still want to have all of the weapons in my arsenal when headed out to fish. That means having bait also. Live bait can be expensive, hard to keep alive and often hard to get.

I can confirm that using perch eyes and even a belly strip from a perch works great to tip with (make sure its legal on your waterway), but here is another simpler and legal option. After a fishing trip instead of dumping out your leftover minnows save them in a freezer bag and fill it with low proof vodka to preserve them. Make sure they are as dry as possible before adding the vodka and get them into a freezer as soon as possible after adding the alcohol. This preservation technique works extremely well for up to about a year.

Don’t let the heat of summer get you down, head out perch fishing and utilize these tips to get yourself the best sandwich of the season.

Capt. Ross Robertson

Bigwater Fishing

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