During this time of year, perch fishing is most consistent as perch seek food and stable water temps between 60 and 70 degrees. Fall – Once the water cools in late September or early October, perch become more scattered, and may be found near structure like piers and harbors, or farther offshore in deeper water.
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Is perch fishing open on Lake Michigan?
Perch fishing in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan reopened Tuesday, June 16.
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.
Is there a perch season in Michigan?
Michigan Yellow Perch Fishing. Available All Year! Lifelong anglers still love the thrill of targeting these fish, and they are a tremendous species for those experienced anglers looking for perch to fill a cooler. Michigan is teeming throughout the state with outstanding yellow perch action.
What is the best bait for perch?
Perch fishing with worms tends to produce the best results, but maggots, prawns and lobworms are also amongst the best bait for catching perch. You can also try feeding the perch, spreading some maggots over the area you intend to fish. But don’t go overboard as perch are small and can fill themselves up quickly.
How many perch can you keep 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.
What month is best for perch fishing?
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.
Where is the best perch fishing?
Fishing piers and docks are especially some of the best yellow perch fishing spots during warm months. If your favorite lake has one, pick a comfortable sitting spot, bait a lightly weighted hook with a small live minnow, release the bait to the bottom, then relax until a perch bites. Most times, that’s all it takes.
What is the biggest perch ever caught?
That’s because, in 2014, a 12-year-old girl from Eagle caught a 15.5-inch, 2-pound, 11.68-ounce whopper – giving her the world record for the largest perch ever caught on a tip-up.
How do you catch perch in Lake Michigan?
The best presentation in deep water is a perch rig, which is basically a feathered crappie rig; tip the hooks with baby roach minnows. Consider using a heavier weight (up to 1 ounce or more) that will fall quickly and hold at the bottom. The color of the tassels makes all the difference.
How do you find a perch in a lake?
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 temperature do perch prefer?
Water temperature is often the trigger for spawning – around 50 degrees. The preferred temperature range for perch is 63 to 77 degrees, but the optimal temperatures are 70-75 degrees.
What size hooks for perch?
Hooks. Bait hooks ranging from size 4 to 8 are ideal for most of the baits used for perch fishing. Some prefer hooks on the larger side because they are easier to remove and less likely to be swallowed.
Where do perch go at night?
At night the best places to fish for them would be in lighted spots where bridge or pier lights cast a shadow line along the water. The perch tend to move in and out of these shadow lines to intercept small baitfish or other prey items much like stripers do.
How do you rig for perch fishing?
How many fishing rods can a person have 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 I need a fishing license for catch and release in Michigan?
You’re required to carry your license and the ID you used to purchase it and show both if requested. You’ll also need a license when you’re targeting amphibians, crustaceans and reptiles in public waters in the state.
How big do crappie have to be to keep in Michigan?
Size limit: 14 inches.
Can you fish for perch all year round?
About the Perch Freshwater perch are generally easy to catch all year round, but spawn in the spring and can be bigger in the winter time. They tend to travel in shoals, so when you find one, it usually means there are more around.
What time of day do perch bite in winter?
When fishing for perch in winter, the best time of day is the period between morning and noon. What is this? The water temperature is now at its absolute lowest, and the perch have slowed down their metabolism and feeding activity considerably.
How do you catch early spring perch?
Look for rocky areas or logs, anything that will attract fish and where the water is going to be warmer. Find a zone that has it all — rocks, weeds, wood, and warmer temperatures — and it can be an absolute nuclear spot for perch.
What size perch is worth keeping?
I find that 9-11 are the best keepers. 12+ the rib cage gets a lot more rugged and they’re hard to clean, and you don’t get that much more meat from a 13 than from an 11. Big ones are great for a picture, but 9-11 is ideal for eating.
Are perch bottom feeders?
Angling: Yellow perch are day feeders and are primarily bottom feeders with a slow deliberate bite. They eat almost anything, but prefer minnows, insect larvae, plankton, and worms.
Are perch good to eat?
The perch boasts white flesh that has an excellent flavor with a sweet taste and firm crumbly texture. It has a flavor that is mostly likened to that of the walleye but with more appeal. The perch fish boasts white flesh that has an excellent mildly sweet taste and firm crumbly texture.