Ok so i went to rire yesterday and I started out looking for some kokanee. I was fishing in 32' of water and had a several fish come by at about15' with no luck. So I switched to a really small jig like I use for perch and started to catch perch. Normally I fish for perch right on the bottom or just off it. I did not catch a lot of perch But they were any where form 17' to 22' off the bottom. I am trying to figure these little guys out and this was new to me. Is this normal or does it happen often that they were so far off the bottom? By the way the fishing was good 8 Kokanee,6 trout and 9 Perch.
Thanks
Jim[fishin]
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In my experience this is very unusual. I can sometimes get them to come up 4 or 5 feet off the bottom to take a jig, but I don't think I have ever caught one suspended. Maybe they were chasing bait or something.
Windriver
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During this winter fishing Perch, I have seen people catch Perch @ 20' in 50' of water. While at Ririe 2 different times, I seen Perch swim by just under the ice while I was fishing the bottom at about 48'. I could have reached down and grabbed them if I would have had gloves on. I have also caught Perch trolling on Ririe at about 20' deep. I have seen schools of Perch in the summer at Ririe suspended at about 45' deep in 130' of water. Perch are a little tough to figure out at times. To me tho, if a Trout can swim anywhere in the water column, then so can a perch. I usually do best on the bottom, but there are times I can not get to the bottom on some lakes and reservoirs because the Perch are hitting towards the top. I fish with the theory that if I find one Perch, then there should be more, no matter what the depth is.
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I thought it was unusual also. pvrt is right i went to day again fished the same spot and the same thing happened again. Almost all the fish were caught 17' off the bottom.
Jim[fishin]
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