Pequod1

Definitely what happened on Sodus. I think you should try those two fingerlakes ski dooz. They are not quite as big as Lake Ontario Rockies but with a little weeding out, you can have a bunch in the 1 lb class. In addition, you can get some perch in either lake and maybe even a walleye in Skaneateles

I gave up on finding them in big Sodus yrs ago. Just not there like they were. But, I would suggest you try either Keuka or Skaneateles lakes. They are loaded right now

I have an update for this thread on spot lock/perch. The past two weeks I have been perching on a very clear lake. Visibility down to around 22’ . I wondered if the Minn kota would have any effect on the perch clearly visible under my boat so I watched how they reacted to me turning the Minn kota on and off. Nothing! I was quite surprised. I did this as shallow as 15’ with no effect on the perch. This was not a one day incident. I experimented on 4 separate days even in glass calm conditions with the same results.

Nice report. Your technique of slack line fishing is right on. Early spring perch react like this everywhere I fish for them. Expect them to get more aggressive after the spawn and then begin to actively feed..

I remember a story that Gambler told me about tying a ballon to a perch in a local bay. If I’m not mistaken, the ballooned fish started taking off like crazy. Turns out a pike got it !

It really depends on where you are, the clarity of the water and depth. Less is correct for most of the fingerlakes . I have watched them “ fly away” when someone makes a noise on Seneca or canandaigua. But letting the jig pound the bottom in other lakes , bays and Erie seems to trigger a strike at times.

I guess I shoot myself in the foot a lot Brian. But you know the way I shoot and probably would miss more often than not just about 14’ is the magic number for not spooking perch. I can still jig them up under me at that depth. I would say a little deeper in Skaneateles and some areas of canandaigua where it’s clear. perch move around in tight little schools almost like a flock of sparrows. They move so you better too In the fingerlakes, drift and cast until you find them, spotlock until they stop biting and then drift some more. And by the way, don’t leave home without some worms on board. They worked 50 yrs ago and still work today. Just have to fish them in areas without gobies. The last two years I have been putting some nice Erie late summer perch on board using whatever worms I had left over from walleye fishing.

Les. They are it the same thing. Silver bass have very pronounced stripes along the side and in Erie get very big. White bass sometimes locally called white perch have a more rounded shape and a single lateral line stripe. a lot of lakes have both species along with Erie and Ontario. Bob, I have a lake that’s close and you did not mention I think you should try. Pm me.