perch and then walleyes.

[pike doctor]

Some friends and I are coming to the big pond either next weekend, or the week after. We are probably going out of Lybacks. We want to target perch with walleyes being our second target.

I was wondering if I could get some advice on what lures and types of structure you guys use to start searching for perch. Should we use minnows, waxies, plastic? I know that you look for deep mud later in the season, but I am kind of clueless about early ice.

As for the walleyes, same questions. I am not looking for as much info on baits as I am types of structure. Also, what type of minnows work best? We are more interested in catching a big one than catching a bunch of eaters. That’s what the perch are for.

We want to be there from before sun up until at least an hour after the sun sets. Any help with movement throughout the day would really be appreciated. Any idea when the hottest perch action might be? I know these questions are fairly vauge, but I am a newbie to the lake.

[maros91]

I have heard that they catch decent perch in the bays on jigging spoons and a minnow head early ice. I suppose many of the rock reefs by Lybacks would hold walleyes. Closer to the top of the reef during "primetime" and of the edge during mid day. I myself wait until I can get a wheeler to the mud flats and fish for walleyes and then target the perch after wally season closes. We did get into the perch out of lybacks in mid March. Key is to stay mobile. Drill a bunch of holes and hole hop. 5 minutes at a hole, don't graph anything move on. If that reef isn't producing move to the next one. For walleyes I like to use orange swedish pimple with a minnow head, if that don't work I use buckshot rattle spoons-perch colored. Keep trying different baits until one hits, who knows they may just like plain hook and a minnow. I used these baits on the mud, maybe the fish on the rocks are different, I don't know, I don't fish the rocks to often. For perch- In March I used the smallest perched colored jig-n-rap tipped with a minnow head, they also bit on larvae. Just be mobile and you will find active fish.

[Team Otter]

Yup, what Biff said. Don't forget your fluorocarbon.

[walleyeking19]

last year i had some good luck with the smallest green swedish pimple they make tipped with a wax worm

[federline]

>>> Any idea when the hottest perch action might be?

This can be a voodoo science sometimes. That said, after spending weekends up there last year, 9:30am seemed to be perch happy hour for most of the whole season, even the doldrums of late ice and -15 below days. Your milage may vary, and you'll get lots of people that give a different time. That's what it was for me tho , it was almost scary it rang so true - we were always over rock piles in deep water - 27 feet or so on top of the rocks.

[dougger222]

My friend was out yesterday and caught a good number of nice perch. Didn't ask were he was out of but I know he keeps his fish house and Tyvee near the South East side of the lake.

May stop by on the way up to LOW next week.

In the years past have done good in the bays early for perch but have always had to pick through a lot to get nice ones.

[ole]

Drove down 169 today on way home, very few people attempting to get out as far as we could see. With last nights snow it may have put a damper on those thinking about trying.