Perch report from the flats

[Blackjackdavey1]

Went out of Liberty Beach to the flats was set up by 1pm picked up a few 8inchers in the first 2 hours. Then at about 3:30 the bite really picked up, started with 2 walleyes around 13-14inches then the jumbos moved in picked up 7 jumbos all going atleast 13 with one 14 and about 10 others between 8 and 10inches. This was some awsome perch fishing, my friend had never seen perch that big before so he was really blown away as was i. We were not on a flat but just off them. The flat was 24-25ft and we were in about 32-34 useing small tear drop hooks in pink and yellow with crappie minnows. we punched probably 20 holes in the 4hours we fished and it was well worth it. Hope to get out again on tues will post again if all goes well or not. Ice breaker bobbers rock!!!!

[tweedlap]

Great info! We are headed to Waubay this weekend to get a few of those "yellow ones".

Thanks,

Tweedlap

[bigeyes]

Blackjack, did most of your jumbos(12"+) come in just a few minutes one after another. Those big ones travel in very tight schools and when you are lucky enough to have them come thru it doesn't matter what you use as they will bull charge it and hit immeadiatly. Sounds like you were in the right spot. They have been very hard to find now for the fourth year in a row but when you get on them they will usually stay as long as you can be very fast about getting the one off your hook and getting your bait back down. If they don't have a reason to stay they move on very quickly. My biggest problem is when you really start to get into them a pack of walleyes usually comes in a busts them up then you might as well move on. BTW you were in the right spot for jumbos and I am not talking about which mud flat you were on.

[Blackjackdavey1]

yES BIGEYES THEY CAME IN VERY QUICKLY, We were on smaller perch and then i picked up a 13 then my friend picked one up about 10 yards away.For about 15-20 min it was all jumbos then like ghosts they were gone we had holes all over the place and we jumped around giving only a few min at a hole to see if we could follow them but we could not find them again. We were right on the edge of the flat no more then 30 yards from the top of the flat. These were some awsome perch i have never caught perch like that and thank the gods for putting them under us. I usually don't target perch that often, but i can't stop thinking about those hogs. i keep looking at the digital photos with my mouth hanging open like a small child!!! Do you think there is a good population of perch that size? I have read that they are on the rebound? How do i post digital photos on this site i would love to show off the pics?

[over the limit]

TRY USING THE IMAGE TAB

IN THE REPLY FORM UNDER THE INSTANT UBB CODE

FOR PICTURES

[bigeyes]

Blackjack-yes that is how they usually work on Milly(at least in the last several years) Schooled very tightly and like you say once they leave I have never got them to come back or relocated the same school. The are gone as fast as they come. The population(12"+) is ok, but not great. I believe this due to many long days of running and gunning holes all over the central basin and having very limited sucess, but if you find them it is really fun. Bad news is I have never been able to go back to the same spot and hammer them again at a later date. It seems to be a one and done process.

[Blackjackdavey1]

I was thinking the same thing that going back to that same spot would be pointless better to move. are the flats the only option for good perch or do the rock reefs hold any during the winter?I moved to Finlayson 3 years ago so i'am still experimenting with Mille Lacs with good results so far. Any more info always helps..I'll do my best to ligure out how to post those pics.Thanks..

[bigeyes]

Not sure on the rocks there must be some, but I believe the big schools are rooming the deep basin. Did you notice what they were spitting up/what there airsac was pushing out. if you did then you will know why I believe they are mainly in the main lake mud.

[Blackjackdavey1]

Yes their air sacks were pushed out but did not notice what they were spiting out. good point though. hope to be able to check that out with some more jumbos in the future. I will stick to the mud flat edges and keep punching holes..