Where can I find early ice perch?


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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 do you find perch when ice fishing?

Winter Locations to Fish Perch 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.

Where are the perch biting in Michigan?

Michigan City typically has the most consistent summer perch bite and the highest catch rate. The most popular places are near Mt. Baldy and Black Ditch, just to the west of Mt. Baldy in 20-40 feet of water.

Can you ice fish for perch?

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How deep should you ice fish for 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 best bait for perch ice fishing?

Perch feed on insects, freshwater shrimp, and smaller baitfish. Start with an ice jig and soft plastic tipped with a waxie to mimic insects and shrimp.

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 is the best time to fish for perch?

Because perch live a life of danger, they favor day over night for feeding, and are most active just after sunrise and in the late afternoon, just before sundown. The only time you’ll find perch active after dark is during the spawn, when the spring water temps rise to between 44 and 55 degrees.

Where can I find late ice perch?

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What is the best perch fishing lakes 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 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 catch finicky perch ice fishing?

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Where can I find white perch ice fishing?

White perch can be found in fresh waters throughout New England. Sebago Lake in Maine and Lake Champlain in Vermont both hold huge numbers of whites. New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee is well known for regularly producing white perch heavier than 3 pounds.

How do you jig a perch?

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What line do you use for ice fishing perch?

That said, there are times when I’ll use one, two and four-pound mono, or even braided line in some situations. First off, I like using braided line (four or six-pound) with a fluorocarbon leader when I’m fishing for perch on Devils Lake or anywhere over 20 feet or so.

Where can I find jumbo perch?

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How do you get jumbo perch?

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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.

How deep are perch?

In shallow lakes, perch might spend the summer in 15-20ft / 4.5-6m of water, while in deeper ones, they’ll gather around submerged islands, rocky shoals and points in water 20-30ft / 6-9m deep, sometimes more.

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?

Where are the big perch in the winter?

At first ice, perch can be scattered anywhere, but by mid-winter most will be on mid- to deep flats. They’ll stay there until the last weeks of the season, before moving close to their spawning sites. Shallow flats, weedy bays and reedy shorelines will produce some of the year’s best perch fishing during ice out.

How do you catch big perch in the winter?

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How do you target perch in the winter?

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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.

How do you catch perch in cold water?

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