My brother and I caught some big perch this weekend. Our biggest was 1lb 6oz and another was 1lb 4oz, personal bests for both of us. The fishing was slow during the middle of the day. About an hour before the sun dipped below the mountains the bite turned on and it was fast fishing for an hour or so. And most of the fish were big. I was surprised at how well these big perch battle. What a blast.
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Wow....those perch are so big they look like bass! If only all Yellow Perch were that size!
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Those are sweet! Seems like once they reach a certain length - the start growing in girth even more. CHUNKS.
Would be curious to know where you found 'em (but understand if you don't wanna say, or a pm would be fine).
I've seen probably the beefiest come from Starvation.
I mostly seem to find a smaller class in my neighboring puddles.
Definitely looking forward to perch under ice! Such a blat when you get on a good school!
Thanks for the pix. Nice catchin!
The only ones I caught of that size were out of Yuba years ago.
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Coyote, you're not far from several reservoirs that grow big perch, the only catch is it will cost you $98.50 a year and a little extra gas to get at them. Well worth it in my book.
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Is there a place to get decent sized perch in the Preston area through the ice?
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We caught them in a small pond on private property. I should mention we were invited. From what I understand they were introduced a while back and completely took over the pond. I was using a small powerbait grub that I found at Cabelas. It is fire tiger colored. Fished it on a small round hook with a small splitshot about 4 inches up. Let is sit and then moved it very slowly and they play with it before picking it up. It required a lot of patience. I've fished this pond one other time in the summer and the fishing was much faster but the fish were smaller. We could catch literally hundreds but only a couple would reach 1lb.
Quick question... I read on a website that an effective method for fishing for perch is to use perch meat. Does anyone know if that is legal in Utah? Do the Utah regulations apply to private ponds as well as public bodies of water? Thanks.
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I'll send you a PM.
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Whoops, I meant that to be private.
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Here is what the fishing guidebook says about using perch for bait in Utah, "dead yellow perch may be used as bait only in Deer Creek, Echo, Fish Lake, Gunnison, Hyrum, Johnson, Jordanelle, Matua, Mill Meadow, Newton, Pineview, Rock Port, Starvation, Utah Lake, Willard Bay and Yuba Reservoirs". - 2011 Utah Fishing Guide Book page 9.
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Yep you are correct, Using perch meat is one of the great ways to catch perch damm cannibals [
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If you can pop out the perch's eye and put it on your hook no joke the eye is suppose to a delicacy for perch [pirate]
As far as you other question goes perch meat can be
Dead yellow perch may be used as bait
only in Deer Creek, Echo, Fish Lake,
Gunnison, Hyrum, Johnson, Jordanelle,
Mantua, Mill Meadow, Newton, Pineview,
Rockport, Starvation, Utah Lake,
Willard Bay and Yuba reservoirs.
I could be wrong but "Private ponds" follow the same regs public waters only Private pond owners have to register the pond with the dwr and get it certified.
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Nice perch, we caught a lot of bigger ones this year at Starvation, here's a picture of our biggest form Sept.
Was using perch meat.
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I'd wager that the person who owns the pond gets to decide what kind of fish are in it, how many you can catch, what you can use for bait, when you can fish, when you can't, what size you can keep, etc ...... Within reason. Probably can't allow dynamite, endangered species, etc ....
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+1 private ponds do not follow the dwr guide book the owner makes the rules I would think also.
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[center]+1 - the eyes have it.
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Was great bait when ice fishing. Land a few perch, pluck a couple eye-balls, and put away the waxworms. They're so good at de-baiting a hook of waxworms without hardly moving a rod tip, or spring bobber even - yet the eye stays on SO much better, and lasts much longer.
I think it's worth refreshing them after a while, once the juices have been squeezed out.
You'll notice in this bag - a few eyeless perch. My son seemed to enjoy that job a little TOO much!
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Got a tool for the task from Sportsman's - basically a wooden dowel with a couple metal 'loops' in each end - perfect for the job. LOTS cleaner than gouging with a blade.
Fillet strips do well too - I like to leave the skin on for added color/flash.
Of note: you can't use whole perch at Newton or Pineview - and any cut-bait needs to be 1" or less dimension.
Though I've been thinking I should save some of them dinky 3"inchers and drag them for kitties at Willard.