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Posted

don't normally fish for perch so I was wondering what people think the  average size is in the Metro and what size you would keep for the frying pan?

 

Posted

Average size in the metro is about 4 or 5 inches. 7 inches would be a trophy. Gonna have to travel if you want keeper perch.

Posted

I agree with JB, Lucky to see a 7-8" perch in the metro

Posted

yesterday I fished one of my crappie holes that I haven't been to for a good 7to8 years now and only caught perch no cracrappies to be found to my surprise. don't normally go after perch they seem to be a bit small got some at 7" but would like to see at least 10" before keeping maybe I'm dreaming. is this considered an eater?

Posted

Anything over 8 inches would be a keeper. 10 inches qualifies as a jumbo. And nowhere, within an hour of the metro are going to hold any of those jumbos. Head to Mille Lacs, or Big Stone. Those are probably your closest options that would be a sure bet.

Posted

I think that 10 inches is a few inches too short to be considered a jumbo.

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted
42 minutes ago, kfk said:

I think that 10 inches is a few inches too short to be considered a jumbo.

Could not agree more , Think that you would even have to go farther north of Mille Lacs.

Posted

Very interesting. Will have to keep a eye on this lake see if they get a bit bigger in a year or two. Would show a picture of one but every time I try I bumped out of this website than have to start my post over. Thanks to everyone for your input.

Posted

Head to ND for perch. you won't ever experience perch fishing like that!

  • Thumbs Up 2
Posted

That's for sure. There are definitely some jumbo perch in North Dakota.

Posted

So the fishing shows I've been watching where they fish Devil's Lake etc... and are pulling out football sized perch are realistic?  I imagine it isn't all footballs all the time is it?

 

Posted

Correct, you don't catch footballs all the time, and sometimes, even on Devils, the Great South Dakota Prairie lakes, Big Stone, Mille Lacs,  etc.. you don't catch any footballs at all, or any perch for that matter, or sometimes they're all 8". It's still fishing, finding the right structure, drilling lots of holes, and experimenting with bait and presentation. 

Then some days you find them, and the next day they're gone.

Good Luck !!

 

 

Posted

 I agree with you but if those fishing shows has any truth to them Devil's lake would give you the best chance at some monster perch.

Posted

I actually might be swapping my annual lake of the woods trip in March for a trip over to NE South Dakota, for a chance at those jumbo perch. 

Posted
On 1/27/2016 at 6:32 PM, JBMasterAngler said:

Anything over 8 inches would be a keeper. 10 inches qualifies as a jumbo. And nowhere, within an hour of the metro are going to hold any of those jumbos. Head to Mille Lacs, or Big Stone. Those are probably your closest options that would be a sure bet.

I've never fished cannon down by faribault, but it sounds like those who are willing to put in the time are able to find perch over 10". At least according to what people have been posting this year.

Zelmsdawg

Posted
On 1/28/2016 at 4:21 PM, AaronTC05 said:

So the fishing shows I've been watching where they fish Devil's Lake etc... and are pulling out football sized perch are realistic?  I imagine it isn't all footballs all the time is it?

 

Yeah, very realistic! Best part is being on a small 10 acre farm pond that the ND DNR just stock like crazy with perch and eyes! It's a blast while the gettings good but once word gets out those ponds don't survive the weekend. Good thing is theres lots of ponds, just watch the stocking report.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted
On 1/29/2016 at 3:26 AM, JBMasterAngler said:

I actually might be swapping my annual lake of the woods trip in March for a trip over to NE South Dakota, for a chance at those jumbo perch. 

trust me, it took us 6 hours from Savage to Woodlands Resort last weekend, which is probably the same amount of time it takes you to get to L.O.T.W.  We caught 20+ perch, smallest for a keeper was 10"  largest was just shy of 14"  my son caught the biggest perch and walleyes for the trip.  We didn't throw a perch back until the last day and we tried to fish deep water, we should have gone back to the place where we knew they were

Fished the first day with a guide and hit the same spot on the second day.  

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IMG_2142.JPG

  • Thumbs Up 3
Posted
On 2/22/2016 at 0:46 PM, picksbigwagon said:

trust me, it took us 6 hours from Savage to Woodlands Resort last weekend, which is probably the same amount of time it takes you to get to L.O.T.W.  We caught 20+ perch, smallest for a keeper was 10"  largest was just shy of 14"  my son caught the biggest perch and walleyes for the trip.  We didn't throw a perch back until the last day and we tried to fish deep water, we should have gone back to the place where we knew they were

Fished the first day with a guide and hit the same spot on the second day.  

IMG_2138.JPG

IMG_2142.JPG

So are you saying that you caught around 20 perch total in your 2 day trip to Devils Lake?  That sounds like awful results based on the reputation that lake has.

Posted

We outfished the guide and the other two people with us on Friday, of course -18 temps shut them down in the morning, and our fish in the aternoon was more than anyone else in the fish cleaning house.  saturday we had flasher and auger issues but still caught fish, we didn't see many other buckets of fish.  The bite was tough and we came home with fish, I call it successfull, theperson I responded was thinking about not going to Lake of the woods, and I gave him an option

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Wood land is awesome!! Fished out of there 2 years ago with the perch patrol. We limited out on jumbo  perch every day with 4 of us, and 10 inch fish where the smallest keepers we kept. Got 2 perch over 2 lbs and a bunch in the 1.5 to 1.75 lbs range too. Haven't been yo LOW since. We always go in march for perch, thinking of going in December for walleyes next year.

 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mbeyer
      i'd like to read about your lake trout trips....do you post them somewhere?
    • smurfy
      🤣 not fer some of us!!!!!!!!!!
    • smurfy
      i couldnt find it.....but maybe???
    • leech~~
      Looks great! Thought we started a smoker thread?  🤔
    • leech~~
      Well, that's not getting 10 years old now is it!  🥱🥱
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across Big Traverse Bay, with resorts and outfitters still in full swing offering both day houses and sleeper fish houses. The bite in February has been excellent, with lots of fish being caught and plenty of opportunities for fresh fish fries. Some ice roads are now extending over 20 miles out, keeping anglers on productive schools of walleyes and saugers. Ice conditions continue to build, making this one of the best late-season ice years in recent memory. If you’re fishing on your own, bring an auger extension, as ice thickness is significant. Most fish houses are positioned over deep mud, while some remain on or near structure. As always, expect to sort through some smaller fish, but that’s a good sign of a healthy fishery. With fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th, the extended season on Lake of the Woods offers plenty of time to plan your trip. Pike fishing never closes, and with the thick ice conditions, this year is shaping up to be fantastic for targeting trophy pike. March: The Go-To Month for Trophy Pike March is prime time for big northern pike, as these aggressive predators begin staging for the upcoming spawn. Lake of the Woods is loaded with pike over 40 inches, and tip-up fishing can be lights out this time of year. Anglers targeting pike should set baits under tip-ups in shallow water (6-15 feet) near pre-spawn areas, weedy areas, river mouths, or back bays. Current Fishing Depths & Patterns: Most fish are being caught in 26-32 feet of water. Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, eelpout, pike, tullibees, and even some crappies are in the mix. Suspended walleyes are showing up—watch electronics closely. Plenty of limits are being caught, with many anglers taking home bonus perch this season. Best Techniques: Jigging Line: Jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head continue to be the top producer. Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap-style lures are also working well for aggressive fish. Lures with built-in lights have been very effective in the stained water (Reminder: In Minnesota, lighted lures are legal as long as the battery is mercury-free and the hook is attached directly to the lure, not on a dropper line). Deadstick: A plain hook or small jig with a live minnow, set 6 inches to a foot off the bottom, continues to catch neutral or less aggressive fish. Time of Day: Bite windows vary daily. Some days, mornings are best; other days, the afternoon bite turns on. Walleyes can move through at any time, so staying patient and watching electronics is key. On the Rainy River...  Mornings and evenings continue to be the best times for targeting walleyes. A jig and minnow or jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head remains the go-to presentation. Sturgeon fishing has been solid, with some giants being iced (Reminder: The current sturgeon season is catch-and-release). Safety Note: Ice conditions on the Rainy River are good, but they can change rapidly due to current. Always check with resorts or outfitters before heading out. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing remains excellent throughout the islands region of Lake of the Woods. Resorts are moving fish houses regularly, keeping guests on active schools of walleyes. Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees. Big crappies continue to be caught just over the border in Canada. If you're interested in targeting crappies, check with a NW Angle resort for guide services and ice conditions. Plan Your Ice Fishing Adventure! Lake of the Woods offers an extended ice fishing season, with:  Fish houses allowed overnight through March 31st  Walleye & sauger season open through April 14th  Pike season never closes—March is prime time for trophies!  Perch and crappie seasons open year-round Whether you’re looking for a day house rental, a sleeper fish house, or comfortable lodging at a resort with or without a meal plan, there’s still time to plan your late-season ice fishing adventure.    
    • smurfy
      Off da smoker!😉
    • smurfy
      At least he's got a shirt on! 😊🤣😜
    • leech~~
      Sounds like a nice last day.  I like how you photoshop a different shirt on that same picture the last few years!  🤣
    • JerkinLips
      Beautiful day on Vermilion Sunday for the last day of walleye season.  Lots of people were fishing in portables, or out in the open.  Was entertaining watching many of the wheel and skid houses being pulled off of the lake.  Checked half a dozen spots where wheel houses were removed and didn't find any trash at all.  Sounds like people are getting the message.  I may go out on the lake when the snow is melted to do a further check and cleanup if needed.   Fishing was average for this time of the year.  Had a decent bite from 2pm to 4pm when I caught my biggest eye (pictured 22 inch).  Decent finish to a good season.  Now on to lake trout fishing.   Hope everyone had an enjoyable and successful ice fishing season.  Going to be a long time before this year's open water season.  
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