What seems to be working better for you with perch? I know that many have a preference with color, but does it seem to make a difference if you use a horizontal jig rather than a vertical hanging jig or spoon?
I am looking to learn!
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I am no pro on fishing for perch, but for me, it really hasn't made a difference. I generally use a smaller ice fly - vertical or horizontal. Some on here will say color doesn't really matter if the fishing is fast, but I usually try to have 2 different colors on my 2 rods. More times than not, I will have more success on one color over the other, with my 2 holes being only about 3 feet apart. I will say that you will have much better success having your lure tipped with a waxie or meal worm.
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Verticle fluorescent orange, tipped with wax worm.
Never tried anything else[:/]
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Hey don't underestimate Bama he knows his panfish really well. I've watched him catch fish when no one else around was.
I've see videos that say there is a difference between vertical or horizontal jigs but I've never seen much difference myself. I do want to know if Bama switched holes with the colors when he noticed he was catching more from one color. I tend to believe location is more important than color. But it's just my theory. Later J
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I've rarely seen perch be all that selective. They are usually in such large schools that they are in mass competition for any bait dropped in front of them. If you can see them on your sonar and they won't bite then you might have to change your presentation around - horizontal to vertical, change color, active jigging to dead-stick.
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[cool][#0000FF]I have been pouring, painting and fishing jigs for several decades. I have over 40 jig molds and make a whole lotta different sizes and shapes of jigs. And I have caught at least a grundle and a half of perch on them.
My personal belief is that finding the fish is the most important thing...and active fish are better than finicky ones. If you find active, hungry fish it matters little what you offer them. But when they got lockjaw it can be important to show them something they can see better, smell better and that stimulates them to bite better.
The size, color, shape and attitude (vertical or horizontal) of the lure does not seem to be as important at first ice. There is still a lot of oxygen in the water and there is good light penetration before the ice gets thicker and covered with snow. As the ice season progresses it gets darker down there and perch are more active in brighter light. Also the oxygen levels drop and fish naturally slow down.
A third factor in perch finickyism (my word) is that the big females get much fatter with the growing egg masses. They usually spawn right about ice out time. With all those eggs filling their tummies they just don't have room for big meals and often quit feeding all together. And even if they do swim up and mouth a small baited jig...out of instinct or wishful thinking...the bite hardly registers on your end of the line.
Early in the year I send down 1/4 oz. to 1/2 oz. jigging spoons and blade baits...tipped with big chunks of crawler or perch meat. Those lures hang both vertically or horizontally. Both work and the hits are solid. No spring bobbers needed. By this time of year (mid February) the most successful perchers are those who use tiny jigs, small bits of bait and spring bobbers. Of course, on any given water on any given day you may experience a wide open bite on bigger stuff, but generally you will do better with downsized offerings.
I will have to say that I have a personal belief in fishing jigs with "horizontal hold". There are two jig molds I use a lot for making such lures. One is the Ultra Minnow mold. The other is a small crappie tube jig mold...that I have modified to put the hook eye in the center to balance the weight. Then I flatten the lead, wrap the body with craft cord and paint it in good ice colors. I call these "Flat Rinkees". Rat Finkees was already taken. Both of these lures hold horizontal and there are days when they noticeably outfish other lures of similar size and color that do not present the same.
Another thing I like about the horizontal hold is that the hooksets are easier...with a higher percentage of hookups...and with the fish hooking themselves more often.
Here are a couple of pics.
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Thank you. I appreciate your excellent responses and will take advantage of your experience. I will let you know when I get my first jig made!
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those are some dang good looking jigs. I like 'em!
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[cool][#0000FF]Thanks. The fishies seem to like 'em. That's the important thing. Fishermen are a lot easier to catch.
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