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What depth is best for ice fishing perch?
Ice anglers typically target perch on flats in 20 to 35 feet of water during most of the winter season. Although, early season perch can be caught in 12 to 15 feet before the aquatic plants start to die off.
What is the perch limit on Saginaw Bay?
The new regulations went into effect immediately. For walleye, the daily possession limit is increased from five (5) to eight (8) fish and the minimum size limit is reduced from 15 to 13 inches. For yellow perch, the daily possession limit is reduced from 50 to 25 fish.
Where can I find big perch ice fishing?
At first ice, look for perch near or in areas still holding healthy weeds in lakes. Bays, slow-tapering drop offs near weed lines, soft-bottom zones, flats, or reefs are all good areas. In rivers, look for perch in similar areas but out of the main river current.
What is the best bait for perch ice fishing?
- Northland Lures Buck Shot Spoon or Forage Minnow – In Super Glo Chub.
- Jensen Eggs/Pautzki Eggs – Orange Shrimp.
- Live Minnows.
- Super Small Tungsten Jig Heads.
- Small grubs or Mizmo Tubes.
Is there a size limit on perch in Michigan?
i) The daily possession limit for Yellow Perch shall be twenty-five (25), with no more than five (5) Yellow Perch 12 inches or greater.
How do you attract perch ice fishing?
What is the best time to catch perch?
Perch fishing is usually best in the early morning or evening hours during late spring and early summer and late afternoon or evening in late summer. In autumn, both morning and late afternoon-evening provide excellent fishing. In the natural lakes, the best fishing is usually from late summer until late fall.
What line do you use for ice fishing perch?
Chances are, that sediment will attract perch, and you’ll be pulling them onto the ice in no time! Use a leader – Especially in clear water, a leader will land more fish. We recommend 2 to 4-pound braided line with a 2 to 3-foot fluorocarbon leader. That combo is incredibly sensitive and all but invisible.
What happened to the perch in Lake Michigan?
Lake Michigan perch have suffered from extremely poor recruitment, or survival of young fish, since the early 1990s. Most researchers link the decline of the native fish to drastic changes in the lake’s food web brought on by invasive zebra and quagga mussels in the last several decades.
What is the walleye limit on Saginaw Bay?
The daily limit for walleye on the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay is eight fish and the minimum size limit is 13 inches. This is currently the most generous limit for walleye found anywhere in the Great Lakes.
How do you ice fish in Saginaw Bay?
Where can I find jumbo perch?
What depth do perch like in winter?
The typical depths are 19 to 36 feet. Shallower mudflats in 8 to 12 feet are used primarily when the vegetation is still green. If plants are dead, perch move to deeper flats.
What colors do perch like ice fishing?
In dark water (or when perch are scattered in clear water) flash lures work well. The bigger the lure, the more flash and vibration. Most flash lures for perch weigh 1/8 to 1/4 ounce. Phosphorescent or metallic lures, like gold-silver, green, and orange attract perch.
What color do perch like?
As far as color goes for lure selection its really going to depend on the body of water you are fishing, but generally I like starting out with UV green, UV pink or orange and then a natural perch color.
What depth should I ice fish?
In my experience, I’ve found that most of the best ice-fishing action comes in water from 3-to-20 feet deep. I like to set up my traps so that they cover a variety of depths. Areas with rock piles, weed beds, or dramatic contours are all good spots.
What time of day is best for ice fishing?
The best time of day to ice fish is during the first couple of hours after sunrise, and for about 2 hours both before and after sunset. These are the times when most fish are heading to their feeding grounds, and when most species are active. What is this?
Why are there no perch in Lake Erie?
A combination of factors over recent years, most notably poor hatches, has decimated the Lake Erie perch population, especially in the central basin, from Huron east to Fairport Harbor.
How many rods can you fish with in Michigan?
An individual shall not use more than 3 single lines or 3 single rods and lines, or a single line and a single rod and line, and shall not attach more than 6 hooks on all lines. The commission may decrease the number of rods per angler.
Do senior citizens need a fishing license in Michigan?
The NREPA currently requires all persons 65 years of age and older who wish to fish the state’s waters to obtain fishing licenses and allows Michigan seniors to purchase a “senior restricted fishing license”, “senior all-species fishing license”, or a senior 24-hour fishing license at discounted rates.
What size perch is a keeper?
Keepers start at 8″, Smaller ones have been in the pail before. I prefer them in the 8 – 10 inch range for eating, but will gladly keep some of the slabs.
Where can I find late ice perch?
Leech Lake has really kicked in as a great winter late ice perch factory. Many perch on Leech are coming off of large sand and sand grass flats where fish. Mille Lacs, Winnebago and Lake Winnie are also top bets that see suicidal shallow bites on jumbo perch.
Where can I find early ice perch?
Early in the ice fishing season, most perch anglers start out on shoreline-connected structure because of the thin ice conditions. Once there is more ice on the lakes, anglers can begin searching for perch in deeper water and on mid-lake structure.
Where is the best perch fishing in Michigan?
Good fishing for perch can be found out of numerous Lake Michigan ports, the Les Cheneaux Islands area of northern Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. Inland lakes with notable perch fisheries include Gogebic, Independence, Burt, Hubbard, Crystal, Higgins and Elk.