Pequod1

I never write on the hunting forum but I want to share this story that happened today to me. Firstly, those of you that know me, know I am a fisherman first and a hunter second but I have been putzing around at it for 50 yrs. Last eve. I shot a nice doe. Since the arrow indicated liver shot I decided to wait and track her in the morn. After close to four hours without a blood trail I came across a narrow grassy path through a thicket and into a small clearing of tall dried up grass. I looked to my left and there she was lying down - so I thought. I walked up to about 6' and "he" lifted his head showing one 3 pt. antler and one broke off. I thought well it was late and I just didn't see the antler when I shot. Next thing I know, he stands up and stares at me, rotates around so I could look for any holes in him ( none) and doesn't move. All of 6' I decided to back out of the opening and sure enough he circles around and parallels my walk, and only 20' . I stop, he stops, - I walk , he walks. Finally he stares at me and gave a light stomp of his foot. I thought, holy ****, he is going to charge. I took my pack off and got my weapon out, a 5" knife! For some dumb reason, I gave a doe yelp. That was stupid. Now he is in love with me and follows again. (I wonder what the autopsy report would have been when they found a three pt. antler up my you know what) I continued walking quickly away and finally he gave up. This lasted at least 15 min and I did get two quick pictures with the phone. Tomorrow, I am going perch fishing again. A hell of a lot safer.

Got 28 today out of the Cat. Fished 78' about halfway between the Cat and Sturgeon.

Thanks for trying. Going to try myself later in August. They have been getting them on the head boat in Conneaut.

Pretty good article on the perch population in Erie in today's Buffalo outdoors by Will Elliott. I don't know how to copy and paste on my I pad but google it. Essentially, there is a drop in the perch population and no one knows why. It also went on to say that the New York harvest of Erie perch is below the sustainable levels and the DEC discussion of lowering the 50 fish limit was "off the table"

Nice, one of these days I will get out with you. Still chasing the little yellow striped fish for now.

Excellent RD. That is the #1 way to go. The larger perch just suck that minnow down without you knowing it. A reel sensitive rod helps too. I use custom rods built by another member here, and the lightest set up I can get away with.

Plenty of perch still not spawned out at Sturgeon yesterday. caught as many as we wanted. Some people did not do as well and watching them it seems to come down to two big problems they have. First, they need plenty of road, chain and a good anchor. Can't catch fish if you can't hold bottom and constantly move out of the hot spot. The second thing I noticed was their set ups. My God, what is this the 50's? Get rid of those giant spreader bars, stiff short rods and 10 lb+ mono. Keep it long, light and simple and you might just get more perch.

They have been spawning, , but you will be able to catch them through May and many times up to mid June. A few guys have mentioned it and I agree, don't restrict yourself to the pack. Move around and find your own fish. You will do better.